Cyrus uses his gun to whip my head, and I hiss in pain.
"You're right. I'm sorry. You're in charge. Just tell me what I need to do to keep her safe. That's all I care about." Declan’s jaw is tense, and I know it's taking everything he has to follow Cyrus' orders.
"The first thing you're going to do is tell Arman to stop trying to find our location. He's not nearly as good a hacker as he thinks he is. From the moment you logged on to the video chat, we could tell he was trying to track us. Tell him to stop now, or the next time I hit her, I'll make sure to break a bone."
Declan grits his teeth before nodding. One of Cyrus's men gives him a thumbs-up. Good. Without Arman, Declan will never find me. Which means he’ll get to live.
"What I want is simple. I want the legacy of the Persian Empire to continue. I want us to uphold our status as the most lethal mafia in the entire world, alongside our Irish allies. But in order to do that, we need a leadership that isn't afraid to take risks. A leadership that isn't going to abandon everything they built for the hopes of a 'normal' life. I have been cultivating support for my vision of the future. Enough support that will carry us forth for decades. All that has to be done is for you and Zahra to renounce your claims to the mafia and instate me as Don. You do that, and I promise to let you and all your loved ones live. I'll help you create new identities and ensure you stay hidden and protected." Cyrus puffs out his chest like an animal marking his territory.
"The Irish won't take well to a leader who isn't from their home country," Declan grits, though it isn't a full denial of the proposal. No. He can't actually be considered this? Can he?
"Which is why I've already enlisted your father's cousin, Fergal, to serve as the new head of the Irish mafia. His values are aligned with my vision, and he would be a fit ruler." Cyrus drops another bomb on us. Fergal had been overseeing various shipment routes and warehouses for us.
He’s the rat who had infiltrated our ranks.
Declan has also come to the same conclusion. "Fergal. I never would have guessed he had it in him." Declan's eyes lock with mine through the screen, and I give him a small shake of my head, all while I scream inside for him not to give in.
"You will hand her over first, and then we will resign our positions," Declan attempts to bargain.
"You and I both know that will never happen. We'll schedule a meeting that will be broadcast with both of you signing away your power. Once the meeting ends, you two will be free to leave," Cyrus states his terms.
Declan grits his teeth, eyes narrowing as he hisses, "Fine. As you wish. The sooner we get this done, the better."
I lose all sense of reality. "Declan, no! You can't let him take over. I'd rather die than see him ruin our father's legacy. Let me go, let me die, and you live. Live for the both of us—" I scream in pain as I feel an electric current run down my body. Collapsing on the floor, I lift my head to see one of Cyrus' bodyguards standing above me with his taser in hand.
"ZAHRA, NO. YOU FUCKING BASTARD!" Declan screams.
"THAT. IS. ENOUGH," Cyrus commands. "Declan, you either accept my proposal now, or I'll spatter her brains all over the floor and track you down next. I am offering you an out. And I suggest you take it." Cyrus loads the bullet into place, aiming the gun at my stomach.
"I accept, I accept. Just let her live, and I'll do whatever you ask of me." Declan's voice is riddled with exhaustion.
"See, was that so hard?" Cyrus chuckles, turning the safety of his gun back on. "We'll be in touch." Cyrus gestures to his guards to cut the livestream, while I moan for Declan to fight back.
"You can try to get rid of us all you want but we have thousands of loyal soldiers in our corner. They will never turn their back on us," I seethe.
"Oh, I count on that. You see, once I have Declan and your precious inner circles in my possession, I plan on staging your deaths as an act of retaliation from the Italians. From there, it will be easy to convince any loyalists to stand with me and Fergal as we 'avenge' you. I'll have your entire staff eating out of the palm of my hand and defeat the Italians at the same time."
A guttural scream leaves me. How could I have been this naive? How could I not have known what kind of monster was lurking in my ranks?
"Tantrums won't help you, Zahra. Nothing will. This battle started long before you, and now it's time for me to finally get my justice.” Cyrus turns to a guard. “Take her back into the room. The longer she stays here, the greater the odds are that I'll put a bullet in her head just to shut her up."
Cyrus' men laugh as they throw me back into the room, and for once, I welcome the darkness and hope it consumes me so I don't have to face the pain that's to come.
46
DECLAN
"Are you out of your fucking mind?! If you think I'm going to let you and Zahra even consider a deal with that viper, you have no idea how I operate," Demir grits out through his teeth.
It's funny how he thinks he has a say in the matter. Like I didn't just watch my wife get beaten and held at gunpoint. Like I didn't see the resignation in her eyes. She had already come to terms with the fact that she was a dead woman, and that is unacceptable to me. Seeing her starved and physically assaulted was unacceptable. No rhyme or reason could console me now. The only thing I’ll consider justice is watching Zahra torture Cyrus slowly while he begs for his death.
"You cannot stop me from being with my wife, Demir. Not ever, and especially not after I've seen what they've done to her. I recommend telling your soldiers to back off. I can see them ready to pounce on me. I'm sure of your misguided orders to keep me safe. I promise I will put a bullet in every single one of their heads before they even get within two feetof me." My hand is already wrapped around my Glock tucked away behind my back, ready.
Demir growls but waves at his soldiers to back off from me. Smart man. "I understand how devastated you must feel right now, but you heard what Zahra said. She was practically begging you not to consider the offer. If you love your wife as much as you say you do, why not respect her wishes and let her go?" he asks.
I don't even blink before I lunge at Demir, Azula holding me back before I can reach him, "Do not attempt to use my wife's life and the words she said under duress as a means to manipulate me, Demir."
Azula squeezes my shoulder hard. "Declan, I am as enraged as you are, but if Zahra has any chance of surviving, we're going to need you alive. And right now, your odds of staying alive are quite slim." She nods her head to Demir's guards, who all have their guns drawn and aimed at my head.
