Page 98 of Ruthless King
In seconds, I zip through city traffic, my head in a tailspin. If that asshole hurts a single hair on Stella’s head, I’ll gut him. I’ll rip Bo Zhang apart and spread his entrails across China Town for all to see. Is he fuckingpazzo, taking what’s mine?
OhDio, Stella.
A spool of dread unwinds in my gut.You let her go. She’s been unprotected for an entire week.This is your fault. That dark voice winds around my lungs, squeezing the air out. A horn blares, and I weave to the right, barely avoiding getting plowed into by a turning taxi cab.Fuck. I’m no good to her dead. Focusing on the road, I gun the engine and roar down the FDR.
When I reach the Red Dragon, I leap off the bike and hiss out a slew of curses as my stitches rip. I take a second to assess the damage, taking a peek beneath my shirt. Only a little blood dribbles from the wound. Minor setback. I race up the steps and find the same hostess from last week. At least it’s before the lunch rush today, and the dining room is quiet. “Where’s Bo?” I snarl.
“He’s not here.”
I reach into the waistband of my pants and pull out my handgun. “Where is he?” I hiss. “Think quickly. I don’t want to hurt you, but I’m kind of desperate here.”
Jianjun appears from the back, and I barrel past the hostess and train the gun on him instead. His eyes narrow as he regards me, but he holds his own.
“Where is your piece of shit son?” I bark.
His lips curve into a frown. “I do not know.”
“Well, if you want him to survive the day, you better find him now.” I barely register the jingle of the front door opening.
“Luca,che cazzo fai?” My brother howls.
I move closer to Jianjun and press the gun to his temple. “I warned you and your son if any harm came to Stella it would constitute an act of war. Is that what you want, old man?”
“No,” he grits out.
“Then tell me where he is. I know where all your cocaine is stashed across Meatpacking. One word from me and it all goes up in smoke.”
“I told you I have no idea where he is.” He barks something to the girl at the front in Mandarin. “But I will be happy to help you find him.”
“Would you really?” I press the barrel tighter to his skull. “Because I don’t believe a fucking word out of your mouth.”
More Red Dragons spill from the back of the restaurant.
“Luca, easy.” Dante is behind me now, but I don’t dare give Jianjun my back. He might be old, but he’s as cunning as they come.
“I regret the poor decisions my son has made regarding your girlfriend, but I swear I had no idea of his intentions. You know I value our working relationship.”
“Fuck our relationship. Fuck everything, Jianjun. I will raze the entire Meatpacking district if you do not return her to me unharmed.”
“That will not be necessary.” Tiny beads of perspiration line the old man’s brow, barely perceptible. It only fuels my rage. I want this man on his knees pissing his pants from fear. “I will do everything I can to help find your girl,” he adds.
“Yes, that’s right,my girl. Mine.” Crimson seeps into my vision, and I can feel my control slipping. “Fuck!” I roar. “Where is he?”
The hostess scrambles toward us, muttering in Mandarin.
“I’m sorry, but he is not with my men,” says Jianjun, the picture of calm and collected. That used to be me. Now sweat drips off my brow, and my heart is like a sledgehammer against my ribcage.
I reach into my pocket with my free hand and slip my fingers through my custom brass knuckles. If Jianjun won’t tell me the truth, I’ll beat it out of him.
A few of Jianjun’s men raise their weapons.
Dante’s hand closes around my wrist. “No, Luca. Not like this.”
“Vaffanculo,” I rasp out. “You don’t understand. I can’t lose her.” Nausea claws its way up my throat, and I barely keep the contents of my stomach down.
Black blankets my vision, and I’m back in that alleyway with Vinny in my arms.
The pungent, metallic scent of blood fills my nostrils. Hot tears spill down my cheeks, and my shoulders tremble with a sob. “Vinny, hold on. The ambulance is coming.” I broke rule number one, never call the cops. But with one look at my best friend bleeding out, I knew I couldn’t do it. Fuck the rules. “Hold on,amico, please. Do it for Stella; she needs you.”
