Page 107 of Hearts Of Darkness

“Bullshit, there’s no body. I’ve been searching—”

“Try the bottom of Lake Tota. You might have more luck.”

The certainty in his voice leaves no room for doubt. For the briefest of moments, I consider ending it all with my hands wrapped around his neck. Thirty bullets in my body would make it pretty damn quick, but I can’t leave Eve behind. I know what Tomas will do to her. I’ve seen how his eyes linger on her body.

The injustice is fucking breathtaking. Every bait, every provocation that has driven my bloodlust to such extremes has been perpetuated by this man—my own brother.

“I killed our father because of what you did!” I roar, unable to contain my anger. “You led me to believe it was he who’d taken her.”

Emilio shrugs. “I gave the order. It was time.”

My skull is pounding. Sweet oblivion is beckoning. I’mlosing focus… If we ever get out of this, I’ll grieve for my daughter then. In the meantime, I need to save my angel. If I do one decent thing in my life, it needs to be that.

“Three,” I say wearily, dropping to my knees and giving him the impression of a defeated man. “You said you’d be taking three things from me today. I assume Isabella is the first…”She didn’t deserve to die, and neither does Eve.“Our mother, the second—”

“Fuck no, that bitch doesn’t count, butyou do, don’t you, sweetheart?” Emilio jerks his head in Eve’s direction.

I force myself to look at her. When I do, my heart stops dead for a beat or two. Sometime in the last few minutes she’s come around. She’s staring straight at me, her blue sapphires punching a line straight through to my soul, stripping away all of my bravado, all of my bullshit.

Idid this to her.Iforced her to accept this life, and for the first time my guilt is a swinging guillotine above my head.

How much did she hear?

“And the last?” I say, never taking my eyes off her. I see both defiance and strength there. She has never looked more beautiful.

“Your anonymity.”

My head jerks up.“What?”

Emilio looks even more delighted. He knows he’s hitting me where it hurts.

“Approximately one hour ago your name, picture and new compound coordinates were sent to the DEA. I emailed them directly to Eve Miller’s father myself—a personal touch, if you like. Of course, he’ll be dead soon too. No more hiding in the shadows for you, baby brother. It’s time to embrace thelimelight, and answer for your crimes.”

“Our crimes,” I mutter, the world falling away beneath my feet. I’ve always looked upon my anonymity as my one saving grace. As long as I kept my identity concealed, Eve and I had a chance. Now, we’ll be hounded for the rest of our lives. “What makes you think I won’t implicate you?”

“Be my guest,” he says expansively, throwing his arms out wide. “I never enjoyed hiding away. I earned my name, my respect… From now on, I intend to bask in it.”

He’s psychotic. He’ll be dead within a week.

“You really thought this through, huh?”

“Smokescreens and mirrors, baby brother. Gomez couldn’t be turned to my way of thinking, but his son was an easier proposition. With their processing plants guaranteed and Tomas and his men stepping into your role, the New York deal was agreed last night. But it’s not all bad news. You’re officially a wanted fugitive.”

“Dante.”

Her soft voice is calling to me. Pleading, comforting, encouraging. Our eyes meet, a thousand words unspoken, yet somehow articulated and accepted. The rest of the rope disintegrates, and my hands are finally free. I take one last moment to gaze upon her broken face.

“My devil,” she says quietly.

“Forgive me,” I murmur.

She nods, as if she understands.“Always.”

32

EVE

My head is throbbing, and my vision is obscured by all the matted clumps of hair, but I can still pinpoint the exact moment I see his monster take over.

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