Page 103 of The Pawn
“I’m going to make you pay,” I tell him. “For my mother. For myself.”
“Are you?” He is unconcerned.
Enzo reappears up the stairs.
“What did you say about cheaters?” I ask Malek.
He follows my gaze to watch Enzo’s approach. “Him? Don’t worry about him. Once a traitor, always a traitor. But he’s useful. For now.” He closes the blade and tosses it to Enzo who puts it back in its holder. When he sees what Malek did to my face, he doesn’t even blink.
“The stragglers are almost to the property,” he says.
Malek checks his watch. “Christ. Are they taking a fucking horse and buggy?”
“They’ll be here. We have assurances.”
“I want them in place before I send the location.” Malek mutters something to himself then steps backward turning his back to me. “Light her up. Make sure she’s the first thing he sees.”
He walks away and a moment later, floodlights go on. I realize what that subtle sound of a car engine is. A generator.
I turn my head, blinded by the bright light, knowingexactly how Malek will lure Cassian into his trap. Knowing when Cassian sees me, and he will see me, I will be the first thing he sees in fact. Knowing as soon as he does, he will come for me.
He’ll walk right to his death.
36
CASSIAN
Fog hangs thick and heavy in these woods, over this lake.
I understand why Malek chose this place for our showdown. Our battle to the death. It’s property that’s been disputed for generations of Morettis and Trevinos. In some ways, it’s helped keep the peace. A strip of land dividing territories that neither family could claim and hold. A piece of earth long used by both to disappear the dead.
For all those generations, it’s been a point of contention. Tonight, I will bring an end to any peace. Tonight, I will claim this land and the rest of the territory Malek thinks he will rule, and I will bury him deep in its earth.
I open my phone and look at the photo again. Allegra with her wrists and ankles bound. Allegra stripped naked, a bruise already forming on her cheekbone, blood on her lip.
Fury burns me from the inside out.
I assume it was Malek who sent it, who has stripped her, hurt her. I assume it’s Malek and not Enzo because if it is Enzo, I won’t be able to keep my word to Angelo. Was I ever going to keep my word to Angelo?
It doesn’t matter. Not now. Now, I need to get to Allegra.
Jet and I are in one SUV, two soldiers in the back, more SUVs follow. We’re taking the way through the forest. More soldiers are taking a direct road. They’re the ones he’ll be expecting
The land itself is on Moretti side. The lake is on ours. The bastard has the advantage.
I have to assume Malek knows about the two ways leading into the property, the road and this forest path. This is no road. It’s slow going over rough terrain, our SUVs crushing out a path.
One thing I am sure of is that Enzo is unaware his phone is being tracked. Neither he nor Malek are aware that I know where they are. That I’m coming for them. That photo shows me nothing of her surroundings. Just Allegra. Just hurt, naked Allegra hanging by her wrists as bait to lure me.
Bastard.
I’m going to make his death a slow one.
“You okay?” Jet asks, glancing over at me from the driver’s side.
I didn’t tell him about the photo. I nod once, the SUV bumping over fallen trees in this dense, dark wood.
“It’s not much farther. We’ll need to turn off headlights soon,” I say.
