Page 55 of Brutal Mercy

And I will take particular enjoyment when I catch Diego Alvarez for ever thinking he could lay a hand on her in anger or otherwise. I’ll make him wish he never set foot in her store.

When the meeting comes to a close, Roman and I shake hands before he leaves. To pull off the wedding by tomorrow morning, we have a lot to arrange. I send Ares to handle the details with Athena, then head up the stairs to my real office for the call I’ve been waiting to make all week.

Reclining in my seat, I dial up Marco Alvarez, the head of the cartel in Denver. And the very man I have every intention of eliminating from this planet, along with his shithead son.

He answers on the third ring. “You fucking Italian prick.”

“Hello to you too, asshole.”

“Where the fuck do you get off taking the woman intended for my son?”

The thought of my Luna being subjected to that bastard makes me see red. These fuckers have no idea who they’re fucking dealing with. I will be their judge, jury, and executioner. “Tell your son to hand over my sister-in-law. We have a rule in this town. We don’t go after women and children in each other’s families. That’s not how we work. And that woman your son nabbed is my sister-in-law. She best be turned over unharmed in the next twenty-four hours. Or I will bury you, your son, and your entire organization.”

“Like hell I will. You only married her to strike at me.”

“On the contrary. I’ve been seeing Luna Abbott for months. We simply kept our time together private. Not even her sister knew about us. I didn’t want to drag her into our world until I was sure about her, that she was a woman I intended to keep and not just fuck. And I promise you that woman is mine in every way possible. She is my wife and will be afforded the respect that title bears. Now, you’ve got twenty-four hours to have your piece of shit son deliver Lyla Abbott to the address I just messaged you. Or I will send your son to you in a body bag and take out the rest of your operation one by one until I get to you. And then you’ll get your chance to understand why they call me the King of Torture, motherfucker.” I hang up with the cartel boss sputtering.

The plan is coming together. One domino at a time. The door to my office opens. And I’m shocked at how disappointed I am that it’s Ares and not Luna.

“How’s Athena?”

“Getting ready for the big day. She’s not thrilled, but she won’t fight you on it. And I’ve warned her that if she tries to welch on it, she’ll get us killed. She might not be happy with either of us, but she doesn’t want us dead.”

“That’s something.”

“I’ve got one even better for you.”

“Oh?”

“My guys nabbed Jose Vasquez.”

I sit up in my chair. “Diego’s second in command?”

“The same. They’re en route with him. He’s sedated.”

Everything is falling in line. And all because my sweet Luna ran to me. “Leave him down there overnight. No food or water or bathroom breaks. Let him piss and shit himself. Then we’ll deal with him after the wedding.”

“You sure that’s wise?”

“I’ve given Marco Alvarez my demand. He has twenty-four hours to make good on it, or we go after him. He won’t hurt Lyla or send her anywhere because he knows the consequences are all-out war. And right about now, Roman Orlov is delivering his demands to Alvarez, who is learning of our alliance. He’ll know he’s fucked, and it’s not worth his son wanting a new toy.”

Ares nods. “Good enough. I’ll keep an eye on the fucker.”

“No. I need you watching Athena. Make sure she doesn’t go off half-cocked and try to disappear. I know the marriage isn’t what she wants, but we all have our part to play.” And as much as I adore our sister, if she gets an idea into her head, it’s difficult getting her to change her course of action. Stubborn wench. It is part of what I admire about her. She sticks to her guns. But in this instance, there’s too big a fallout that will happen should she not be there in the morning to say I do and become Rurik Orlov’s bride.

“Fine. But I still feel bad that we’re using her this way.”

“There’s no other way to accomplish our aims that will work in the time allotted.” And I couldn’t second guess my decision. Otherwise I’ll wind up second-guessing all my decisions, and that will get my people killed.

“I realize that. Nor could you time when Diego would do something that we could use to our advantage.”

“No.” And it was working out better than I could have hoped for on all fronts. But the most surprising has been my new bride. Who I’ve been away from for far too long today. “See that he gets locked in the shed properly. I don’t want anything to mess up the wedding in the morning.”

“I’m on it. I can’t believe by this time tomorrow, I will be the only one of us not hitched.”

“Your turn will come.”

“I know. And it seems to be working out for you.” Is that longing I hear in my brother’s voice?

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