Page 122 of Devil's Claim

I stood on the outskirts, far enough away to escape the blast while close enough to hear their screams.

And I didn’t give a shit.

As the entire building became engulfed in flames, I took a deep breath, tightening my hold in the AK-47. The hard steel felt good in my hands, the carnage already inflicted just the beginning.

“A grand explosion,” Jago hissed. He stood just in front of me, his chest heaving as rage continued to sweep through him.

“Not enough,” I growled. While I was calmer, the anger inside continued to fester. That wasn’t good for anyone on the receiving end of my rage.

More soldiers would die.

Bodies piling up.

Blood staining the streets of Barcelona for all the world to see.

Soon every organized group attempting to pay homage to Fassi would learn we would retaliate. Jago had made good on his word, learning from interrogating several informants he’d contacted and a lesser-known cartel he now controlled, using them as his henchmen. He’d also laid claim to several prominent politicians and members of law enforcement. That included several building inspectors. If he believed he was going to lay claim to the city, the man was dead wrong.

Navarro advanced, scanning the street as he always did in terse situations. “We need to act fast before Alcarez is warned.”

“Where is the bastard holing up?” Jago asked.

There was something evil about Navarro’s grin. The brutal man was a soldier through and through, his eagerness to slice and dice almost matching my own. “He has a home in the Passeig de Gracia neighborhood.”

One of the most expensive and exclusive areas in Barcelona. “We hit him next to last,” I told them, looking from Navarro to Jago.

Jago smiled. “Agreed. The finale?”

“The three inspectors.”

“A grand finale,” Navarro echoed.

“Where to now, boss?” Benito asked me as he wiped his face. There was glee in his expression, his body shaking from the rush of adrenaline. We’d created a fine display of power.

Jago looked at me and I grinned.

The night was young.

“You ready for more fun?” he asked.

“Fuck, yes. Let’s clean the streets. The infestation of rodents needs to be eliminated.”

I turned my head, realizing there was an audience, several neighbors crawling from their beds to catch the show. The middle of the night rampage had provided a surprise approach. Even if the fuckers responsible had known instinctively we’d retaliate, the attack had been swift and brutal, more so than recent acts of revenge.

The reaction to what had occurred at the jewelry store had been carefully calculated, hours spent collecting information regarding the person responsible. While the direction had come from Fassi, the soldiers hired to perform the heinous act worked for the Alcarez Cartel, most members located just outside Barcelona.

At least a single member of the Alcarez Cartel had broken.

But only after hours of torture.

His broken and bloodied body would be offered to Fassi.

After I was done inflicting additional pain on his followers.

“We move to the next location. Let’s go,” I answered Benito.

Navarro kept his grin as he moved to one of the waiting vehicles, still scanning the area. We’d yet to hear sirens, but they’d occur soon enough. We needed to be efficient and expeditious, even if a warning to the police was a part of this. It would seem they needed to crack down on their public officials.

Christine’s push with the inspectors hadn’t been the catalyst for the horrific event, although her terse words had likely reinforced their decision to strike. Still, the beautiful woman who’d managed to break something deep within me blamed herself.

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