“Stop! Don’t hurt him!”
“I should kill you for soiling her,” he spits. “She was supposed to be sold as a virgin. Now I will have to accept a lesser price.”
I bring my gaze back to him, licking the blood from my lip. “It’s never going to happen. The only way she’s leaving here is over my dead body.”
The information only seems to amuse him. “That can be arranged.”
The sound of Selena’s cries shreds my insides. “No, please. Don’t. I’ll do anything, just don’t hurt him.”
Carlito looks over at her. “You would give up your life for this pig?”
“Yes, I’ll do anything. Please,” she pleads.
“Not going to happen. Sorry, but he is going to pay.” He turns back to us, addressing his men. “Tie them up then burn the place down. Dino,” he adds, nodding in his direction, “go take care of the old man.”
“Yes, sir.” Dino walks out the door, leaving us one man down. Asher and I share a look, a silent exchange of words.
It’s now or never.
Carlito walks toward Selena as the men reach for us, but they don’t anticipate our attack. My elbow meets his nose, blood sputtering as I rip the gun from his hands, slamming the butt of it into his temple.
He falls to the floor at my feet.
By the time I turn around, Asher is securing his captor on the ground with the binds that were meant for us.
I swing the gun toward Carlito and find him reaching for Selena.
With the room dark, I can’t be sure of my shot. My feet propel forward, rage surging through my veins. My body crashes into his, sending us through the large living room window, glass shattering all around us as we roll on the front porch.
We don’t grapple for long before I have him on his back. Rage darkens my vision and my mind goes completely blank with the exception of one word.
Death.
My fingers curl around his throat with vengeance, an inch away from shattering his windpipe. “Nobody fucks with what’s mine.”
I catch movement out of the corner of my eye and find a sharp piece of glass tight in his grip, coming toward my face. I grab his wrist before he can make contact and turn it toward him, driving it deep into his throat, relishing in the justice that’s been served not only for Selena but her mother.
Selena’s soft cries penetrate the blood rushing in my ears and sends me crashing back into myself. Standing up, I move toward her, gathering her trembling body in my arms. “Shh…it’s okay, baby, you’re safe now. It’s over.”
Her hands fist the sides of my shirt, hanging on for dear life as she buries her head in my chest. “I thought I lost you.”
“Never.”
Asher lifts Teddy to sit on the couch, Carlito’s men slumped against the wall, unconscious. Selena leaves my arms and rushes to Teddy’s side.
“Ash, Pop!” I say, my blood running cold as I remember Dino and know we have to move fast.
“What, boy?”
I spin around to find Pop standing in the open doorway, a spot of blood on his shirt as he holds a rifle, the same rifle that was pressed against my head.
“The son of a bitch tried to shoot me,” he says, chest heaving with exertion.
I breathe out a sigh of relief, a small chuckle leaving me, grateful to hear his rough, boisterous voice.
Pop moves toward both Asher and me, pulling us into a hug. “You boys okay?”
“Yeah, Pop. We’re okay.”
