Page 89 of Dirty Behavior

My muscles went into overdrive, convulsing under the skin and trying to break out. They were ready to finish this, they were ready for blood. And it was time I gave them what they wanted the most; Remo.

Jumping to my feet, I tore off down the hall. Room by room I searched for that fucking scumbag, I was going to leave no stone unturned. And I wasn't leaving until he was dead.

I heard soft music coming from another room. Throwing myself through the door, I found two guys counting money at a small round table. I didn't even give them the chance to look up, my gun went off, one round in each.

Their bodies slumped over, spilling the mound of cash onto the floor. Had I been there for different reasons, I probably would have grabbed the money. It would have been a nice little bonus to a job like this.

But today I didn't give two shits.

This wasn't a normal job, this wasn't an order I was carrying out. All of this was to get back the woman I loved.

A small closet at the end of the next hall I entered held Del. His body was all scrunched up, folded in on itself. But he was already gone, there was no life left in him. I wasn't surprised, that guy had a short shelf life regardless of what he did. I actually expected Remo to get rid of him sooner, he had been lucky to last this long.

Fuck!

Where is she?

Where's Sesto?

I was ready to tear down each and every door by the hinges. Trolling the halls, I found several empty rooms that held merchandise and an arsenal of weapons. But my muse was still gone, her screams still fresh in my skull and holding me hostage.

My chest was stretched out, taking in so much of the tainted stench in Remo's building, I couldn't breathe. The thought of Ivy being hurt made my body ache, my heart pound, and all the nerves in my brain convulse.

I didn't want my head to go there, I just couldn't stop it. I heard her cry, I heard the fear in her voice. Over and over those screams played in my brain, making me fucking crazed. It fueled my muscles, it scarred my memory.

This wouldn't happen again, her pain and fear was going to die here today.

Rounding another corner, a soft glow of light caught my eye. The door was closed like all the others, but I could hear noises coming from inside.

If I hadn't been so enraged, had this been a normal order I'd taken from my father, I would have taken my time. My feet would've been lighter, my breathing less pronounced and smooth. I wouldn't have been nervous or angry or upset.

I had no control left.

Everything was heightened. I was standing on the edge of insanity, about to lose my fucking mind if I didn't find Ivy soon.

Standing outside the door, I heard a voice I knew. I tried to hold back and listen, just stay quiet and pace myself so I didn't screw up and get her killed.

My heart tore at the thought of losing her and our baby. I couldn't deal with that.

Then I heard Remo. His voice was rabid, foaming with each word. “It's your fault.” A single shot rang out, buzzing through my ears and turning me frantic.

Kicking open the door, I had my gun up high, aimed straight at his face. His eyes lit up in excitement, burning in fire red and hot orange. “Look who came to join us.”

I didn't want to take my eyes off him, but I couldn't stop myself from looking for Ivy. There was a body at Remo's feet, folded back on his legs, eyes open and cold. It was the voice I had recognized, a man who I'd done business with several times before; Gio.

A single hole penetrated his forehead, a thin trail of blood had started to trickle out and pool around him.

“Dante!” Ivy screamed, jumping off the back wall and trying to run at me.

“Don't you dare!” Remo yelled at her, his face twisting up, nostrils flared. Lifting his gun up, he held it level with mine.

She stopped in her tracks, eyes glossy and fixed on Remo's hand. She was calling for help, screaming from just her expression for me to end it right then.

But if I fired, so would he. That was too risky. I couldn't risk him hitting his mark, and taking me away from her. . .

From my baby.

“Did you really think that you could just come in here and take her from me?” Remo's head rolled to his shoulder, one lid twitching as he stared down the barrel of my gun. “You don't scare me, Dante, you never have.”

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