Page 96 of Dangerous Redemption (Paths to Love 4)

That I wouldn’t have a chance to finish avenging Mama’s death bothered me more than I cared to admit. I’d spent years believing it was done, though it brought no satisfaction. The chance to end it all felt as if it had been stolen.

“I want to see him.”

Rosca lifted his eyes to the ceiling. “If you must.” He snapped his fingers then frowned when no one came. “Your thirst for blood is exquisite.”

He seemed almost gleeful at the thought I’d single-handedly taken out his best men. I wouldn’t correct him that I’d had help.

“I misjudged you,” he continued. “You are”—he tapped his lips with his index finger as if searching for the right word—“unique. I certainly didn’t see you eliminating your father. I didn’t think you had it in you, and I’m rarely surprised.”

I stood stoically. If he didn’t want me dead, what was he up to?

“I face a problem. I don’t know your intentions. Offing your old man is ballsy. Even I didn’t do that.” He paused, and I didn’t want to know where his sick mind had gone. “Are you a threat? Or can we continue as we’ve been?”

“Where is Eduardo?”

He paced a circle around me. “Eduardo. Eduardo. Eduardo. What is your obsession with each other?” The cap on his irritation appeared to be fragile. “He was quite eager to inform me of your whereabouts, bragged about the tracking device he’d planted in your phone. And you were careless.” So that was how he’d found me the day Gabriel and I had our outing. Even though by that point I had a different phone, Rosca had undoubtedly been watching the apartment building. I’d made it easy for him by coming and going as if I were invisible. “I’ve taken care of your problem. The bounty on your head will be lifted as soon as news spreads. Looks like you owe me.”

There it was. The heart of his desires. He wanted me to be in his debt. I’d been a prisoner all my life. My cage was open, and I wouldn’t return.

“You’ve given me no proof.”

“Fine.” He motioned to a dark corner of the warehouse. “Go have a look.”

“Bring him to me.”

He stared at me as if I’d just asked him to wipe my ass. When I didn’t budge, he stalked off with a sigh.

I scanned the space for any indication of another’s presence and found none. While I trusted Donato’s men had taken care of any potential threats, there was always the unforeseen.

Rosca struggled to drag Eduardo by the foot across the concrete floor. When he was close enough for me to have a look, he dropped him. “Satisfied? Problem eliminated.”

Eduardo’s lifeless body lay in an awkward position. A twinge of remorse irked me. While we’d never been what I’d consider friends, we had worked closely together. The illusion of the man I knew, I’d grown to care for was hard to forget. Whether any piece of that person truly existed, I wasn’t sure, but it was difficult not to hold on to what he’d shown me.

“What a waste of space,” Rosca said with disgust. “Although he did fool you, so there is that.”

“We can’t go on as before.” I ignored the jab. We’d done this song and dance for long enough.

“I was afraid you’d say that. I have no doubt you’ll attempt to assassinate me—”

A sharp crack ricocheted through the vast space. I pulled the gun from my waistband as a stunned look froze on Rosca’s face. He dropped to the concrete, a river of blood flowing from his body.

“Waste of space, my ass.” Eduardo sounded as if he’d been beaten senseless. “Now who’s the fool?”

It took me a moment to come to my senses. Seconds ago, he’d appeared dead, but he was very much alive . . . and had a gun trained on me.

His finger twitched on the trigger. “You killed my whole family, including my half-brother.”

“Your father raped, tortured, and murdered my mother,” I roared.

“I wish you could be here when I kill your sister, your pretty little girlfriend, and that boy. What’s his name again? Gabriel? Yes. Gabriel.”

My blood went cold. He knew about everyone I cared for.

Eduardo sat up as the metal door burst open. I flicked my gaze toward it, only willing to take my eyes off him for a second. Vadim.

I eased the other gun from my back. I’d need one for each of them.

“You stole the empire that should’ve been mine. I’m taking it back.” Eduardo aimed for my chest.

---