Page 97 of Ruthless King
A sharp sting bites into my cheek, and I let out a curse. That asshole slapped me. “Don’t touch me!” I snarl.
“Oh, I’m going to do so much worse than just touch you, you little whore.”
“Fuck you!” I howl then spit in his face.
Bo’s eyes widen, the tiny slits rounding to full, white orbs.
The sound of a scuffle fills me with a swirl of hope. I spin around, and a familiar dark suit charges down the steps.
“Albie!” I cry.
Bo grips my face, jerking it toward him. He squeezes my cheeks, and I let out another squeal. He gets so close I’m terrified he’s going to kiss me. Instead, his forehead rams mine and pain lances through my skull. I see lights for an instant, and then everything fades to black.
CHAPTER43
PAIN IS BETTER THAN FEAR
Luca
“Just go, Dante.” I stand at the elevator, leaning against the wall for support. I’d been acoglionehiding in bed for a week. Now, I could barely stand up straight.
My brother is parked in front of the elevator, his jaw set in a hard line. It reminds me of when we were kids. He was older and bigger, and he’d use it against me. Then I shot up past him, and the tables were turned. Now, we were back at square one.
“I’m not leaving until you tell me you’ll at least try to forgive me.”
“I can’t!” I growl.
“We’ve been brothers for twenty-seven years, damn it, Luca.” He drags his hand through his dark hair and when he looks up at me all I see is Papà. Whenever I run into Dad’s old associates, they say I’m his spitting image, until Dante walks into the room. “I fucked up. I’ll do anything to make it up to you. To Stella too. Please.”
I’m about to shove him through the open elevator when my phone pings. I drag it out of my pocket and scan the message. Ice floods my veins.
Albie: Bo and his guys took Stella. I tried to stop them, but there were too many of them. Sorry, capo.
My finger jabs at the call button on the screen as I curse the incompetentcornutofrom here to kingdom come. He answers on the first ring, voice trembling.
“Where did they take her?” I bark.
“I don’t know,capo. Bo and his crew knocked me out. They snatched her at the West 14thStreet subway. I’m assuming they were taking the A line back to China Town, but I don’t know. I’m so sorry, boss.”
“Fuck,” I growl.
“What’s wrong?” Dante eyes me.
I consider my promise to Stella. I’d sworn to cut Dante out of my life, but right now I need him. He still had connections and maybe one of those could help me find her. She’s all that matters. I’d rather have her alive and hating me than the alternative.
“Damned Bo and the Red Dragons snatched Stella.” The moment the words are out suffocating fear blossoms in my chest. OhDio, if anything happens to her. I reach for the wall to steady myself. I take in a grounding breath, and I allow the icy calm to rush over me. Rage crowds out the panic, and I shove Dante out of the way. “If you’re coming with me now’s your chance. If you expect me to ever forgive you, this would be the moment to come through for me.”
He nods quickly and reaches for his phone. He’s shot out a dozen messages before we reach the ground floor. I have no idea where they’ve taken Stella, but I’m starting with the Red Dragon; I’ll shoot up the entire fucking place until Jianjun tells me where to find her. I send a frenzied message to Tony and the guys to scour China Town.
“Relax, Luca, we’ll find her.” My brother’s hand lands on my shoulder, and it isn’t until I see his hand vibrating that I realize my whole body is shaking with fury.
When the elevator doors open, I go straight for my motorcycle. No way faster through city traffic.
“You sure that’s a good idea?” Dante eyes me and jerks his chin at my stomach. In the craze, I’d completely forgotten about my wound. The pain will only fire up the rage.
“I’ll be fine,” I grit out. “Meet me at the Red Dragon.”
He nods and stalks toward his Beamer, and I round the Ducati. I swing my leg over the seat and biting pain races up my torso.Merda. Gritting my teeth, I slide my helmet over my head and fasten it. Pain is good. Pain is better than fear.
