Page 39 of Contracted

Ethan’s voice turned sharp. “Jarrod?”

“The one and only.”

“We gave him everything,” Ethan growled.

“It clearly wasn’t enough.”

Valentino stepped closer. “You have a tracker on her phone?”

“I do.” I refocused on Ethan, though rage was misting my vision red. “I need to get her back.”

Ethan nodded. “Of course you do. But you’re not going alone.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want anyone helping me, not if it will expose Pietro and your wife to the Irish dogs.”

“Serafino is right,” Carlo said in a low voice. “No one should go running headfirst into a battle for some worthless whore—“

I was in his face before I’d even realized I’d taken the steps to get to him. I thrust out a hand and curled it around his bull neck. “She isn’t worthless,” I snarled. “She’s everything to me. Say one more bad word about her and I’ll kill you with my bare hands.”

“Serafino, step away,” Ethan commanded softly. “You’re my brother but even I can’t protect you when you go and make threats to my consigliere.”

I glowered at the man who’d dared to demean my woman. It was almost impossible now to believe I’d been terrified to hand my heart over to a woman only for her to crush the life out of it, when losing her permanently would accomplish that task far more effortlessly.

I released my grip from Carlo’s throat, ignoring him then as I looked around the room at my brothers and Valentino. “I’m leaving now. Come with me if you want, but I don’t expect anyone to put their life—“

“Just try and stop me,” Alessandro interjected with a glint in his eyes. “You’d do the same for any of us.”

Evander unholstered his gun and checked it. “Count me in.”

“Let’s put some holes in those Irish bastards,” Valentino growled.

Carlo crossed his arms and gritted, “This isn’t a good idea.”

He didn’t need to tell us that. As I headed to the elevator that would take me to the rooftop helipad, I couldn’t help but be grateful for the dangerous and deadly men backing me up.

I only hoped I wasn’t leading them to their graves.

Chapter Twenty-One

Delilah

The driver braked the car to a stop in front of a nondescript warehouse. Cutting the engine, he climbed out of the car and opened up the back passenger door, gesturing for me to get out.

I nodded and unclipped my seatbelt with unsteady hands. It was pointless to argue. The more I complied, the less chance I had of getting hurt.

At least for now.

Jarrod holstered his gun, then stayed close behind me as I followed the driver toward a single door guarded by a soldier, though I noted more soldiers doing their rounds outside the warehouse. We stepped inside onto a concrete floor, the dimly-lit, cavernous space crowded with long tables where haggard-looking women weighed and bagged coke. They didn’t look up as we took the metal stairs to the next level, not even when my heels rang out sharply.

I didn’t doubt if they paused for even a second they’d be assaulted by the two guards wandering around the room with their firearms. Though my heart ached for the women, I had enough of my own problems to deal with, namely staying alive. Still, it was tempting to act on a sudden impulse to turn around and shove Jarrod down the stairs.

My legs were starting to turn to jelly, my heart in my throat as the driver in front of me stepped up onto the overhead level. It took everything I had to ignore the next image in my head where I instead threw myself down the stairs and ended my life. At least then I wouldn’t be raped and tortured before I was killed.

I lifted my chin. No. I’d do everything in my power to survive. Time was my friend. If I couldn’t escape I only hoped and prayed Serafino would do everything in his power to save me.

You’re his whore, why would he bother?

The thought was like a sucker punch to my gut, the desolation then coming over me almost bringing me to my knees.

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