Page 82 of Crime Lord’s Captive

“What happened?” she asked.

“Introduced Vinny to our contact a week ago. When Vinny went to meet him today, the contact decided to test him. Vinny wasn’t expecting it. He was shot three times in the chest. Five of my men died.”

Lyla covered her mouth, unable to comprehend what he was saying. “The contact decided to test Vinny? Why?”

“They’re like wild dogs. They sensed that he wasn’t strong enough.” Gavin’s voice began to shred as his emotions came through. “I rushed down there, but he was already dead. The contact took the shipment, the money, everything. I never should have let him go alone.” Gavin slammed his fist into the back of the seat and the guard in the passenger seat rocked forward from the blow. “Fuck!”

Something clicked in her brain. “You were making Vinny the crime lord?” Lyla asked in numb horror.

“He wanted it. The money, the power...” Gavin shook his head. “I thought I could train him, teach him the ropes. I—”

As Gavin’s voice faded, Lyla reached out and placed a hand on his thigh. His body was tight and coiled, ready to strike. Lyla resisted the urge to draw away. This was Gavin. He wouldn’t hurt her. He didn’t acknowledge her touch, but he didn’t push her away. Lyla fought back tears. Vinny wasn’t strong enough to take on men like Pervert and his partner. Vinny was cheerful, easygoing and didn’t possess the instincts of a predator like Gavin who had been trained from birth to lead.

When they pulled up to Carmen’s home, Lyla couldn’t move. How could she tell her cousin that her husband was dead? Did Carmen know that Vinny agreed to take Gavin’s place in the underworld?

Gavin grasped Lyla’s hand and pulled her out of the SUV. Security at the door nodded to Gavin and backed down as he rang the doorbell. Lyla’s heart pounded as they heard footsteps and Carmen opened the door. She clearly hadn’t gone to sleep despite the early morning hour. Her inquiring look shifted when she saw Gavin standing there. Her eyes locked on his face and then Carmen backed up, shaking her head wildly.

Gavin reached for her. “I’m sorry, Carmen—”

“No!” Carmen screamed. “No! Don’t say it.”

“I’ll find who did this and—”

Carmen leapt forward and beat her fists against Gavin’s chest. “You promised me, Gavin!”

The shrill scream chilled Lyla to the bone. She hauled her cousin backward just as Carmen hit Gavin across the face. Fear gave Lyla the strength she needed to haul Carmen away. Carmen was out of control. She ripped herself out of Lyla’s hold and grabbed the closest thing to her—a priceless vase and hurled it at the wall.Rainbow shards rained down around Carmen, but she didn’t pause. Lyla watched with her hands over her mouth as Carmen systematically destroyed priceless pieces of art, even beating a metal statue with an iron poker until it was a misshapen blob.

“Blade,” Gavin bit out.

Blade walked forward cautiously with something in his hand.

“What is that?” Lyla asked.

“A sedative,” Gavin said a moment before Blade stuck a needle into Carmen’s neck.

“No!” Lyla shouted.

Carmen whirled and tried to hit Blade with the poker. Blade effortlessly disarmed Carmen who hit the ground hard. Lyla knelt beside her cousin who was breathing hard, eyes dilated with shock and grief.

“He can’t be gone,” Carmen whispered, tears leaking out of the sides of her eyes. “I can’t live without him.”

Lyla stroked her hair back from her face. “I’m so sorry.”

Carmen’s eyes fluttered shut. Blade took Carmen from her. Lyla led the way upstairs to Carmen’s room and turned the covers back. Blade gently set Carmen on the bed. Lyla glared at him.

“You carry sedatives on you?” Lyla asked.

“I’m always prepared,” he said and walked out of the room.

Lyla wet a washcloth and wiped Carmen’s tear streaked face before she climbed into bed with her. Lyla hugged her cousin who trembled uncontrollably. Carmen buried her face against Lyla’s chest and let out a keening sound that ripped her heart to shreds. Lyla murmured soothingly into Carmen’s hair as her cousin clutched at her. Vinny was the closest thing Gavin had to a brother and best friend. They had been raised together. Her heart pounded with dread and fear. What would Gavin do?

When Carmen went unconscious and the shaking stopped, Lyla went downstairs and found Gavin on the phone. Carmen’s inconsolable rage and grief left Lyla feeling raw and terrified for Gavin. She wrapped her arms around herself and waited for him to get off the phone. Lyla could taste violence in the air and it turned her stomach. The sun rose, revealing the destruction Carmen wrought in her museum-like home.

“How is she?” Gavin asked when he turned to her.

She was relieved to see that Carmen’s slap hadn’t left a mark on him. “Not good.”

Gavin nodded. “I’m going to get them. I’ll avenge Vinny.”

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