Page 95 of Hell Hath No Fury

Frowning, I respond, “How many times do we have to tell you? You can’t have Antoinette.”

He laughs. “Well, her, too, but in this case, I was referring to the woman you’re currently choking.”

I relax my arm around her neck, allowing her to take a small breath before squeezing a bit harder than I was before.

Dmitri continues to hold his gun on me, appearing rather nonchalant as his gaze wanders around the room. “Let my mother go, Mr. Hughes.”

“Over my dead fucking body.”

Dmitri quirks a brow, his eyes meeting mine as he waves the gun a bit and retorts, “Well, yes, obviously.”

“Go ahead then,” I sneer. “Stop fucking talking about it and just get it over with.”

Antonio groans and takes a few steps toward us as he says, “Let’s just remain calm here for a minute.”

“Shut up,” Dmitri and I shout at the same time, our glaring eyes remaining locked. After a long pause, Dmitri says, “Just let her speak for a moment.”

I eye him suspiciously, knowing full well what happens when you allow an enemy to speak. I glance around the room for my people, making eye contact with Tony and Antoinette who both nod, so, after a beat, I relax my arm enough so she can breathe but not so far that she can easily escape.

Irina takes a few gasping breaths, her hands still gripping my forearm tightly. Then she turns her head so she’s looking at Dmitri. “Well, it’s about fucking time you showed up.”

“Don’t fucking start,” Dmitri responds, obviously annoyed. “I got here as soon as I could.”

Irina laughs bitterly. “Always fucking too late, Dmitri. You’re as bad as your good-for-nothing father.”

“Don’t you think,” Dmitri retorts calmly, “that maybe this isn’t the best time to act like a fucking cow.”

Irina gasps in outrage, suddenly fighting against my hold as she attempts to kick out at him. “You ungrateful piece of shit.”

I tighten my hold on her neck, having to work to keep her reined in, and for a moment, a sliver of sympathy sneaks in because I’m sure this is the type of mothering Dmitri is accustomed to.

Dmitri appears nonplussed by her verbal attack, not even bothering to step back or attempt to reply as she lashes out. “I always knew you were useless. Should’ve killed you before you were even born instead of torturing myself all these years having to put up with such an embarrassment. Should’ve abor—“

Bang.

Warm blood splatters all over my face, and, abruptly, Irina stops talking. She sags against my arm, blood dripping from the hole in her head, and I release her, letting her drop to the concrete like a sack of bricks.

“That’s much better,” Dmitri says nonchalantly, wiping the blood from his own face as if he’s wiping nothing more than rainwater from his lashes. “I thought she would never shut her fucking mouth.”

We all stand there, gaping at the scene that just unfolded, and Dmitri looks at the horde of men still milling around. “Consider this the end of your contract. You’re all free to go.”

Only a handful of the men hesitate, confusion evident on all of their features. Most everyone else turns tail and books it toward the exits, not looking back. The few stragglers also disappear, and then Dmitri turns back to me and says, “Now, where were we?”

I admit I’m rarely shocked by anyone’s actions, and this is definitely one of those rare moments. From the expression on Lilith’s face, it appears I’m not the only one who feels a certain way, and a glance around the room confirms I’m most definitely not alone.

Lilith walks closer, her expression disappointed. “Now how are we supposed to get the rest of the answers we need?”

“All we ever got from trying to get answers from our enemies is more enemies,” I reply dryly, and she nods, unable to argue with my statement because it’s the fucking truth.

Then Dmitri’s gun is back against my head. “Drop your weapon.”

I glance at him, contemplating my next move, when Antoinette says, “Don’t be stupid, Dare.”

Raising my brows, I retort innocently, “Who? Me?”

She rolls her eyes and crosses her arms over her chest. “Yeah, you. Do what the man says.”

I laugh, lowering my weapon but not dropping it as instructed. “So, you’re on his side now?”

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