"Oh stop it, Master." She rolls her eyes and kisses his cheek. Fuck me. "You know, if I was missing, the entire world would be burning right now." Charlotte smiles at Kronos and he kisses her head.
"Mossimo andmi reina, Aribella, have been taken from me."
Miguel places a hand on my shoulder, and for once, I'm happy to have his support.
"Oh. That's not good. Of course, we will help." She looks at all three of them. "Hypnos will help you, and Ayres will be there to fight for you." Ayres takes the woman's left hand as Hypnos takes her left. Holy fuck, has the girl tamed them?
"Kronos can lend men as well, but I need one of my men here to help me with our children."
Kronos growls and pulls her into him by the neck. She goes willingly and has a guilty grin on her face. "Little rabbit, you know you're not in charge."
Ayres snorts and Hypnos laughs. "Yes, I am." She runs a hand up Kronos's chest and I see the love in his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, what she said." Kronos relents. "Hypnos, go and get what they need. Ayres, you know what to do."
As Kronos kisses Charlotte, jealousy eats at me. My heart aches with a need that I know cannot be filled by anyone but Aribella.
"Thank you," Miguel and I say at the same time. We hang up, and Diego whistles. "Holy hell. Did you see how that tiny little thing gave orders?"
"Yeah," Miguel has a shit-eating grin on his face. "That's why they've been underground for two years. That's their wife, and they have twin girls."
Miguel looks lost in thought. "It's also why I've taken more of an accounting position. Liliana can’t have children and I’ve been trying to consol her."
"Fuck man, why didn't you tell me?" I frown at him. 'No way you should be here." Guilt. Fucking guilt eats at me as I think about everyone I lost and who I may be putting in danger.
"Yes, I do. Dad left you in charge, but Diego and I are supposed to be your go to men. We have let you down, let us help."
Diego cuts in. "Bianchi can wait until we get over this. He has two daughters, so I know he would never steal women. He loves those girls and his wife."
Miguel stands against his car, and I move next to him as Diego continues. "He only runs drugs and money laundering through the casinos. Women are off the table."
"Why does he want your territory, then?" I ask, confused as to why they are in a battle.
Diego laughs. "Because I stole his last four shipments and got the state to look into this casino."
"Fuck, Diego," I mutter. 'You..." Miguel laughs and cuts me off.
"Let him have his fun."
Grumbling, I nod. "Alright, we have to get to the Power's territory so I can get started with Hypnos."
Diego tells us to keep him updated and hangs up. Miguel sighs. "I know Bianchi may not be behind this, but we need to check him out."
"Unfortunately, I agree with you." I put my phone in my pocket and let the anger set in. I know I'm going to need it for what is surely about to come.
My phone goes off, irritating me. Taking it back out of my pocket, I see the unknown number flashing on my screen. Clicking the message, I brace myself.
It's a video of Aribella being salted. "Fuck." Miguel gasps and I stare at her.
She's being tortured for no fucking reason. It gets worse as the man keeps talking. He keeps his back to the camera the entire time as he pours salt down her throat. The other person is justout of the camera's view and we cannot see them. But I can see the small feminine hands and make out it's a woman.
As the vinegar goes down Aribella's throat, I shout in agony. "Mother fuckers!"
Miguel takes my phone from me and turns the video off. "We have to stay focused, brother. I know this is not what you wanted to see, but we have to stay on our game."
I know he's right, but to see Aribella being hurt like this is gut-wrenching. My phone goes off again and this time it's a text message.
Unknown:Your girl ran, leaving Mossimo to the wolves. You had until five to make up your mind about who to save. Now you'll get Mossimo's dead body."