“Yep. Those Italian fucks didn’t offer much help, so I figured I’d look closer to home. Cormac and his guys are ready to help us take back what’s ours.”
I hum in appreciation. “We have the Kozlov Bratva with us too.”
“Then Brendan and his fuck-face traitors don’t stand a chance. Are we going tonight?”
“Yeah. Here’s the plan…” I fill him in, trusting Wolfe to work out the finer details with Cormac and his brothers.
While I’m on the phone with Wolfe, Dimitri gets word to his brotherhood. Roman just smuggled in a nice assortment of weapons he’s willing to let us use—automatic guns mostly, some semi-automatics, and grenades. We’re leaving the big stuff to Blake.
Ravenna curls her hand around my bicep, drawing my full attention. “Come back to me in one piece,amore mio.”
“I’ve already died once in the last twenty-four hours, I’d say chances are slim for that to happen again.”
Her brow creases. “I don’t think that’s how death works.”
“Death will be plenty busy tonight without looking my way. I’ll come back to you. I promise.”
“You better.” She rises onto her toes, her lips finding mine. I deepen our kiss, my tongue slides against hers, and I softly moan. I’ll never tire of her taste. Or her amber scent.
Reluctantly, I draw back. “Stay here and keep everyone safe. We’ll be back by dawn.”
“I love you.”
“I love you with all my heart and soul,broc meala.”
Never in all my life did I think I’d be in this position; breaking into my own compound. The bright side is I know the security system, it’s defenses, and the camera positions. I knew exactly how I’d get by all of those if I were breaking in on my own. With the Monahans, Russians, Wolfe and my own men at my back, we’re going to set off alarms. No way around it. The key is to get inside as quickly as possible.
Working together, a couple of us take out the security guards, while others scale the wall like spider monkeys. We’re inside in ten seconds flat.
Part of me is relieved at how easy that was, and the other half is annoyed. Once this is over, the entire grounds will get a new, much more secure system. One that’s professionally installed, not whatever this shit Brendan saddled me with. I’m also adding wire or spikes to the top of the wall.
As soon as we’re inside, area lights begin to turn on, illuminating the main house and parts of the grounds. Any moment now, the enemy will come pouring out to meet us. Fucking traitors.
Blake, the crazy fucker, brought an RPG. He carries the rocket launcher over his shoulder and advances into the compound. Taking aim at the main apartment complex, he fires.
One wall partially collapses, taking out a corner of the building. The damage isn’t extensive, but it’s enough to have everyone who was hiding in there, getting the fuck out.
That’s when all hell breaks loose.
Blake reloads, hitting the apartments again. A few others take inspiration from him and hurl grenades into the building windows. Glass shatters. Gunfire rents the night air.
As men run from the explosions, firing randomly at us, we manage to pick them off. But I have yet to see the face I’m searching for. Brendan better fucking be here.
Everyone’s seen a photo of him and knows what he looks like. They’ve also been ordered to leave him for me.
Like an army of ants, we swarm the place until we’re in and around every single building. At some point the tide turns and instead of fighting against us, the enemy drops their weapons and surrenders. Others flee.
Since I have no use for traitors or cowards, we gun them all down.
Wolfe and I cover each other as we search the attic of the main house. We’ve swept through every floor, all the way to the top. I’m beginning to worry that Brendan spent the night elsewhere. If that’s true, then we won’t finish this tonight. We’ll have to start again. This isn’t done until he’s dead.
Broken, discarded furniture and stacks of dusty boxes have turned the wide open space into a maze. It’s the perfect hiding place for a rat.
We weave our way through, guns at the ready, senses straining to catch the slightest movement or sound. We’ve reached the back wall, when we’re forced to turn back. Dead end.
There’s no one here. Disappointment washes over me like a cold shower.
That’s when I see it, the subtle shift of a shadow behind an old couch near the windows. Catching Wolfe’s eye, I nod toward the furniture. He gives one sharp nod.
