I cursed as a thousand possibilities ran through my head. Had the men killed Nick and Alexis? Or had Nick somehow managed to escape and turn the tables? Had they trekked out in the woods to find help only to be ambushed by a blizzard?
“Bring him to me,” I said, pointing to one of John’s tied, unconscious men.
Damien tugged the chair with the unconscious man tied to it, coming to a stop when he was in view of John. I slowly approached and lifted the gun to the man’s temple.
“I want an address,” I said through clenched teeth.
John’s lips curved in a cruel smile as an evil laugh escaped his throat. “Shoot him. I don’t care. I’ll never cooperate with you.”
As much as I wanted to shoot all of the bastards aligned with John, I also valued human life and tried my best not to squander it. “You have no honor,” I said softly.
“Like you?” John spat, tugging at his binds. “Your men broke my fucking nose!”
I strode toward him and pistol-whipped him again. Blood trickled from his mouth as he groaned in pain.
“You would sacrifice your own soldier?” I screamed. “Shame on you and your family! Your men deserve better. I’ll be taking your twobodyguardswith me and turning them. By the end of the day, the word will spread along the Eastern seaboard how little loyalty you possess. Your days are numbered, John. This turf war is beneath me, and I’m putting an end to it.”
His eyes filled with the first hint of fear I’d ever seen from him. “Are you going to kill me?”
“No.” I waved Joaquin forward and he pressed the screen on his phone, replaying the taped conversation with John’s blatant disregard for his soldier’s life. “After hearing that, your own men will kill you. Let them have your blood on their hands. I’ll have that recording distributed to every cell phone of every man in the syndicate by this evening. You’re done, John. I wish I could say you’ve been a worthy opponent, but you’re just a piece of shit on the bottom of my shoe.”
Facing Damien, I spoke quietly. “You and Rocco take the bodyguards to the safehouse we discussed earlier. Let them heal and make it known that I spared their lives.”
“Yes, sir.” Daimen glanced at John. “What should we do with him?”
My eyes narrowed with hate as I gazed at the man who’d caused me so much trouble over the past few months. “Leave him here to rot. Once his men hear that recording, they’ll come to finish him off. Spread the word that any man willing to pledge loyalty to me won’t be harmed, but John is finished. Rossi’s empire is mine. Any dissenters will be killed.”
“Understood,” Damien said with a nod.
I patted his face, thankful for his loyalty, and turned to Joaquin and Chris. “I want you and Enzo to head to Upstate New York,” I said to Joaquin. “Once the blizzard dies down, ask around and figure out where the fuck that cabin is. The cottage up there should be stocked with basics and have electricity if the blizzard hasn’t knocked it out. You two can stay there while you work. Be careful and smart, okay, son?”
“Okay, boss,” Joaquin said.
“Chris, you’ll stay with me until we get Nick home.”
“My honor, sir,” Chris said with a nod.
We stood there for a moment, silently acknowledging Nick might never come home. Unable to accept that outcome, I gestured toward the warehouse door.
“Come on,” I said, pivoting as Joaquin and Chris followed me. “I need to update my wife, and we need to get that recording to every one of John’s men so they can see him for the disloyal coward he is.”
Once I was back in the SUV, I called Bianca.
“Michael?” Her voice was fraught with worry, and I ached to soothe her. “Did you find them?”
“I’ll be home in ten minutes, stella, and I’ll update you on everything.”
A slow breath echoed through the phone. “That fucking bastard. I’m going to murder him for even thinking about touching her.”
My lips curved at her strength. She’d been through so much over the past few months, and had emerged stronger than I’d ever seen her. “You’ll have to get in line behind his men. I think they’ll murder him before you get the chance.”
“Good riddance.”
“I’ll be home soon, mia. I don’t want you to worry.”
She breathed a laugh. “Impossible. But I feel better knowing you’re on it. I know you’re going to save them.”
Armed with her love and unfailing confidence, I inhaled a deep breath.
