I take Octavia’s hand, not giving her a chance to protest, and lead her to my car.
Once she’s inside, I get behind the wheel and pull out fast, staying close as we follow them.
Chapter 44
Octavia
I step out of the car, the cold biting at my face. Adriano falls into step beside me, his jaw tight, his arm no longer bleeding, which means he’s slapped on a temporary bandage of some sort, though he’ll definitely need stitches.
Markev stays a pace behind us, silent.
“Tell me everything,” I say again.
Adriano reaches for the warehouse door, but before he can open it, Markev’s elbow sinks into his stomach.
Adriano grunts, rolling his eyes.
“Infantile,” he mutters, as Markev opens the door and I step inside.
“Was that really necessary?” I ask.
“Yes,” Markev replies from behind me. “No one opens my woman’s door but me. What am I here for?”
I roll my eyes.
Inside, the air is damp and cold, though that’s nothing new given how much rain this island gets.
Two men are strapped to chairs at the centre of the room, their wrists bound, ankles chained. Their faces are bruised, their eyes bloodshot, but they lift their heads at the sound of us entering.
One of my men stands guard along the wall. Another waits by the door.
They nod in greeting as I pass.
I stop a few feet from the men restrained in the chairs.
“What brings you here, gentlemen?” I ask.
Silence.
I glance to my right, where a table is laid out with everything I might need. I pick up a blade and turn it slowly between my fingers, watching their eyes track the movement.
“You crossed onto a private island,” I continue. “My men checked. You had no business being here. So I’ll ask again,what brings you here?”
Nothing.
I exhale.
This is already becoming tedious.
The first man’s jaw tightens. The second stares straight through me, stubborn.
I sigh, disappointed.
I step closer and set the blade against the first man’s throat, not cutting yet, just applying pressure.
His breath stutters, sweat beads along his hairline.
“Last chance,” I say quietly.
