“Don’t worry about me, sweetheart. My body’s ready to go, sure…but I don’t give a fuck. I’m not dying until I get you out of here and back in my brother’s arms.”
He squeezes my hand.
“Stop fucking talking,” someone snaps.
“Suck my fucking dick,” Knuckles fires back without missing a beat. Then louder, toward the men crammed in with us, “Where the hell are you taking us?”
A slow, amused chuckle drifts from the front of the van.
Cortéz.
“I was hoping you’d ask,” he says, voice smooth like oiled poison. A moment later, he leans back between the seats, eyes glinting like a snake making conversation with its prey. His gaze travels lazily over Knuckles… then lands on me.
And stays.
“Well now,” he purrs. “Aren’tyoua pretty little thing?”
My stomach lurches. Knuckles goes rigid in front of me.
Cortéz tilts his head, studying me like he’s selecting a dessert. “Big eyes, soft mouth… very, very cute. You’ve got good taste, Shadow.” His smile turns sharp. “Lucky man.”
Knuckles’ jaw flexes hard enough to crack teeth, but he doesn’t correct him. Doesn’t deny it. Just slides subtly more in front of me, breath shuddering with rage.
“Relax,hermano,” Cortéz laughs. “I’m merely appreciating beauty. No harm in that.”
His gaze flicks back to me, slower this time. Lingering. “If I’d known you Shadows kept such adorable toys hidden away, I would’ve raided your compound ages ago.”
Knuckles surges forward, and three men grab him, forcing him back.
“Touch him, and I’ll rip your fucking spine out through your mouth!” Knuckles roars.
Cortéz’s grin widens, delighted. “Ay, ay… passion. I like it.” Then he settles back into his seat like he’s watching a movie. “Don’t worry. I take very good care of things that belong to me. Well…sometimes.”
Knuckles growls like something feral.
I swallow hard, heart pounding in my ears.
Cortéz only laughs again. Soft, chilling, and way too entertained.
“Relax, both of you,” he says. “You’ll find out where we’re going soon enough.”
Chapter Seventeen
Skip
I storm into Abby’s shop so fast that the bell above the door nearly rips off.
The first thing I see?
Riley, Sunny, and Abby collapsed in Spike’s arms, shaking, crying, broken.
The second thing I see is three of the four men who should’ve been watching my fucking man.
Not gone. Not missing. Taken.
And every breath in my body turns to fire.
“Why the hell didn’t you help them?” I snarl, stepping forward so fast Russell flinches. My hand is already on my gun. Safety off. One blink away from blowing his skull out the back window.
