Page 119 of King of Obsession

‘Stronzo!’ the older man said, spitting onto the cafe floor. ‘This asshole has turned you against me, and he will pay. Watch your backs!’

His last words were an enraged shout.

‘Get the fokk outta here,’ I drawled, brandishing my weapon and hinting at their exit.

Franco hesitated, glowering at me in a long stare.

‘Appears the gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn’t roaring through,’ I rasped.

Finally, the message hit home.

With a snarl, the affronted cult leader and his offspring turned and lit out of the cafe, sending hot glares our way.

‘Fuckin’ good riddance,’ I growled as they slid into their trucks and dusted off. ‘Seems the kind of man who sets low personal standards and consistently fails to achieve them.’

I sliced my eyes to Cleo. ‘You fine, cara?’

She tracked to my side and wrapped an arm around me. ‘That was about to be the gunfight at the OK Corral. Why are you not acting more worried?’ she scolded.

‘You haven’t seen me shoot, woman. They had nothing on me.’

‘Are you saying you’re fast?’

‘As lightning. When you see my guns go off, you might come in your pants.’

She laughed soft and husky, which was my end goal.

Around us, the staff sidled back in, with Mrs Nichols striding to me.

She took my hands, tears in her eyes. ‘Appreciate you clearing those shitheads away.’

‘How’s your husband?’

‘It’s a flesh wound. I’ve got the town nurse to come into the back. Thank you so much,’ she whispered, her voice trailing off.

I jerked my chin to her. ‘You’re welcome.’

I turned to Cleo. ‘I have to do something, bella.’

While my woman helped the cafe staff clean up, I strode back to our booth and sat, turning on my phone for the first time in days.

The network bars and Wi-Fi signal flickered as messages and missed calls, most from Mauri and Lorenzo, pinged in.

I chose not to call my brother.

Instead, I sent a text reassuring the mofo that I was okay and that I’d made an oath to help a friend and to be on standby.

I also flicked over photos Cleo and I had taken of the Conti farm to Mauri and Lorenzo.

In minutes, I received a response from Lorenzo saying he’dsend them to Sovereign and Saint Tahana, who’d ensure the AFP would look into it.

Fuck yeah.

Chapter 24

CLEO

The truck hugged the curves of the mountain road, tires crunching over gravel and dried leaves. Shafts of golden sunlight slanted through the pine branches, striping the rugged slopes in saffron and shadow.

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