Valentina
Valentina
“No!” I say and shift in my seat, and the pain of my broken ribs that still ache from the beating stings. “I don’t need your help. If I’d wanted help, I would have told my brother.”
“You’re hurt, Valentina. Do you really think you can take care of them alone in this condition?”
“I’ll manage. Besides, I’m not alone. If anything goes wrong, Mack is here.” Not that I had any choice. He didn’t leave my side after the incident.
Gabriel looks through the window where Mack is resting against the wall. “I’m glad you have someone to rely on; however, I’m not leaving.” He turns to me, his eyes warning me not to argue. “End of discussion.”
My stomach dips, and not from the pain, but from his words that awaken butterflies and heat my blood.
After what happened, I dreamed of him taking care of me. I dreamed of sleeping in his arms while he told me everythingwould get better. That he would make it better. Until I woke up to the truth that this is somethingIneed to take care of.
I shift in my seat and narrow my eyes at Gabriel. “If you want to stay, stay. But don’t you dare get in my way.”
Gabriel loosens his jacket in the passenger seat and exhales. “I won’t.” His eyes meet my stare. “So, what’s the plan?”
I glance at the restaurant entrance through the windshield. “They are all going down tonight.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “Care to elaborate?”
“After the guests leave, I’m going in.”
Gabriel’s fingers pause on the dashboard “Okay, and what’s your plan once you’re inside?”
“The kitchen,” I say, my voice low. “There are rumors of a torture chamber behind it. Knowing the owner, those rumors aren’t fiction.”
He studies me for a beat, eyes narrowed. “And that is important how?”
I let a slow grin spread. “I want them to pay in the worst way.”
Gabriel’s jaw tightens. He pushes the door open, the car light spilling into the night. “They’ll pay,” he says, voice flat. “And I’ll watch you get your revenge.”
I watch as the last guests exit the restaurant and look at Gabriel. “It’s time.”
I exit the car and nod at Mack, who joins me as I secure my guns behind my back.
Gabriel grips my hand just a few feet before the entrance. I turn to him, my eyes meeting his concerned ones. “Let me go inside first just to make sure there isn’t anything we need to worry about.”
I bite my lip. “Don’t you dare kill anyone. They’re mine.”
He nods and, catching me off guard, he wraps his hand around the back of my neck, pulling me to him and placing a kiss on my forehead before he turns for the entrance of the restaurant.
I walk close to the restaurant. The warm glow of the entrance spills onto the sidewalk. My eyes scan the shadows, searching for any flicker of movement, the city’s low hum a background to my focused attention. When I’m sure there isn’t anything suspicious, I open the door and enter. With slow and steady steps, I move forward. I take one of the guns from behind my back and keep walking toward the voices that are coming from the kitchen.
“I know who you are.” Gianni’s wobbly voice echoes.
Gabriel chuckles. “I’m glad you do. Because this face will be the last one you’re going to see before you die.” I turn the corner and face the voices, where Gabriel has Gianni in a chokehold with his forearm against the wall. Upon seeing me, he smiles. “But first, I think my future wife wants to have some fun.”
Gianni’s eyes widen, and he tries to free himself from Gabriel’s hold. “That whore deserved everything that happened to her.” He spits. “I just wish I had a chance to be there to ruin that hole of hers. I would have enjoyed tearing her apart.”
My breath quickens, and the rage inside me flows through my veins. I fist my hand around the gun, ready to aim, but the sound of a gut-wrenching roar calms me as I watch Gabriel’s knife digging into Gianni’s torso.
“Not as much as I’ll enjoy watching you being gutted,” he grits out.
“He’s alone. The kitchen crew left just as I entered.” He looks toward Mack. “But so we’re sure, do a tour.”
