Page 74 of Hostile King

“No!” I protest. “The wedding was a business deal.”

“Bullshit. Funny how that same woman conveniently went up in smoke. I watched the footage from every surveillance camera in the area. There’s no way it was a different car. You’ve got no clue what he’ll do. He’s unpredictable and off-the-wall crazy.”

“It’s not what you think.”

“Tell me then—tell me why he welcomed gunfire on a busy street where innocent people were going about their business. Why did he set off an explosion that blew a car to smithereens and risked many more lives?”

“The Souzas didn't instigate the shooting—he told me himself. He was calling off the wedding—” I begin to make an excuse, even though I don’t know why he created an illusion of death that started a war.

In the seconds it takes for an insect's wings to flutter, my world grinds to a halt. Chills scurry from my scalp down to my toes. The vegetation scented breeze ceases to exist and all I hear is the rasp of Tomás’ voice rumbling through in the hush.

“Carina.” I spin around to face him, my wrist still clamped byel Fantasma. “Who the fuck are these jokers?”

My lashes hit the tops of my brow bones. He fills the doorway, feet apart, muscles flexed, a track of blood trailing the inside of his forearm and the aim of a stolen rifle pointed at my brother.

The sudden threat ignitesel Fantasma’skiller reflexes, forcing him to effortlessly swing me behind his vibrating body, buffering me from view. But the most terrifying movement is when he pulls a revolver from the waistband of his combat trousers.

It all happened in a flash.

Now I’m shoved onto the periphery of a catastrophe.

21

TOMÁS

“No—Tomás—they’re my family.” She pants, her gaze meeting mine with incomprehensible worry.

My muscles jerk, painfully aware she’s out of reach in the coldness. A full, round moon shines brighter than usual tonight, kissing the treetops around her, highlighting fine cobwebs like they’re threads of finely woven silver. I notice it all.

Everything comes alive when I'm with her. The wooded landscape becomes vividly magical, because she’s graced the view with her provocative aura, capturing my attention as she always does. It’s like we’re in a dream—or a nightmare.

Although stuck behind a camouflaged soldier, who’s taken a risk by touching her in the first place, she stands tall against him with her spine rigid, dainty shoulders drawn back, and her posture superior in its regal stance. It doesn’t matter that she’s wearing an ugly shirt with its shapeless cut suffocating her glorious curves, because I know what lies beneath it.

I’ll take great pleasure ripping it off when these assholes leave us alone. Nor do I care how her glossy hair is tangled from a shower I wasn't a part of, when I’m certain I’ll take my time with her silky flesh before I claim her as my queen.

“Why the hell are they here?” I question, eyeing Shane on the worn boards to my left. “I’m not getting the vibe they’ve flown all this way to welcome me with open arms.”

“She’s coming home with us.” The guy with a stern expression and a slight resemblance to my girl takes a step closer, disregarding the rifle I have aimed at his chest. “Time to say your goodbyes, Souza. You’ll never get within a mile radius of my sister again.”

Perhaps now would be the perfect occasion to show her family that I’m an honorable gentleman worthy of her boldness and inner strength. To gallantly watch the girl with a delicate soul and diamond rich exterior board a helicopter and leave my side for the second time. However, I’ve made that mistake before. I’d never repeat it.

Letting her go isn’t that simple.

I no longer own simple emotions. They’ve advanced into a cyclone of feelings, the sheer complexity incomprehensible.

And I’m not in the mood to negotiate.

“No can do.”

The man wearing a cap chuckles darkly. “It’s interesting how you think you play a part in this decision. You have zero say in the matter. And don’t try to look for her. You’ll just be wasting your time and all that drug money. She’s a ghost now, Souza. This is the last time you’ll see her beautiful face.”

My temper surges to nuclear. This high and mighty fucker thinks he can steal her away from me, that he can ruin my life and blow a hole in my heart. It’s not going to happen.

“Come here, Cari.” I demand, flicking my seething glare to her big watery eyes.

The second they clash with mine my heart oscillates, every beat pounding behind my ribcage with an untamed tempo. We’ve been running from the same ghosts all these years and it’s only since we found each other, that we’ve accepted them. I’d rather not start a war with her family.

That outcome would either lead to my demise or theirs, however Shane is unarmed and useless for the first time and I’m out numbered.

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