“When are you fucks going to learn, you can’t shop where you can’t afford the merchandise?” Remo’s words were menacingly calm and even I flinched, glad I wasn’t on the receiving end of whatever was to follow.
“Shit, Remo, we didn’t realize she was one of yours.” The fat guy who’d somehow ended up on his knees, clutching his nose and howling behind his cupped hands, without me figuring out how, looked ready to puke. Fear widened his beady eyes to extra-large marbles.
“She isn’t mine.”
“Fuck. Please, man we didn’t mean to touch Lorenzo’s gal.” The thin guy raked a hand through his hair and I almost vomited in my mouth as the oily messiness stuck to his neck.
I didn’t care that they assumed I was Lorenzo’s girl, but I did wonder what run in they’d had with him. They were big men but judging by their twisted features, they were scared shitless. My gaze shifted to Remo and I paled. I didn’t know much about weapons, but I’d seen plenty of movies to figure out that he was adding a silencer to his gun. Done, he gestured with it to the thinner guy for him to drop to his knees as well.
Shaking his head, the guy reluctantly lowered himself to the ground. “Please, Remo, don’t do this.”
He took a step. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t. You broke a rule, boys and you know Lorenzo’s a stickler for rules.”
The two men looked at each other, their expressions chaotic, their eyes danced, scrambling to think up something viable that he’d accept. They probably knew him well if they floundered this desperately. Remo took another step and without thinking, I grabbed his arm.
“Are you really going to kill them here...” I trailed off when his gaze fell to my hand clasped around his arm then lifted to my face. His cocked brow had me letting go and backing away.
The thinner man used my hesitation as an excuse. “C’mon man, you know Lorenzo doesn’t like messy situations that could lead back to him.”
“Yeah,” the other man piped up. “He has that rule about killing in his backyard.”
Remo rubbed the muzzle of his gun along his chin then gestured for them to get up. “You’re right, Lorenzo doesn’t like scum dirtying up his neighborhood with their filthy blood.” Slowly, he unscrewed the silencer then pocketed first that piece, then his gun before he turned questioning eyes on me. Was he really asking me to decide their fate?
The other two men looked at me, their expressions pleading. Even as I recalled their intentions, I couldn’t watch him kill them. “Let them go,” I whispered. Surprisingly, he nodded. Although my gaze stayed locked with his, I could hear their muffled gasps of relief and the shuffle of their feet as they turned to walk away.
It took another second to register the wicked grin that tugged the corners of Remo’s lips then, “Sorry, boys,” when they were looking at him, he shrugged, “but I’m not my brother.” His laugh was sharp, his movements even more so.
I caught a glimpse of black followed by an ear-splitting crack bouncing of my eardrums. A bellow of air rushed through my lungs and spilled from my lips in a stunned gasp. My hands snapping up to cover my ears while gravity sucked me down to my knees. I didn’t care that the concrete bit into my flesh or that I was shaking so damn hard, I was likely to shatter my teeth. Eyes scrunched tight, I tried to block everything around me and concentrated on keeping the nausea at bay. But the silence lasted all of two seconds. Another shot rang out. The cruel sound slamming against my hands, penetrating my skin, and rattling my eardrums once more.
I wasn’t sure how long I stayed on the ground—seconds, minutes, I could care less. All I wanted was to get out of there. Remo’s sudden grip on my arm snapped open my eyes as he yanked me to my feet.
“P-please,” I cringed at the stutter. My lips trembled, fear encroaching on my ability to keep myself upright. His grip tightened on my arm, thick fingers digging into the soft skin. Instinctively, I started pleading through the panic and tears, expecting that gun to go off a third time and some part of my body to burst into heated flames of pain. “Please, Remo, don’t hurt me. I won’t—”
“You shouldn’t have covered for your pathetic shit for a boyfriend, Zena. Now, you’re about to force my brother’s hand and do what he should’ve done in the first place.”
Surprisingly warm fingers gripped my jaw yet their bite into my skin was anything but. He jerked my chin up, forcing my eyes to meet his, my lips wouldn’t stop trembling as I fought for composure. For just a moment, he stared at me, and I wasn’t sure I’d imagine the flicker of something softer then he was propelling me toward the bodies of the men he’d just shot. Only seconds had passed. I could tell by the faint twitching of the thin man’s body and black river of blood still gushing from the gaping wound to his brow. I was glad I hadn't eaten yet, otherwise with all the plummeting between my heart and stomach, I’d probably vomit right now.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone approach and I felt Remo turn next to me. When I lifted my head, there was no one there.
“Let’s go.”
Grabbing my wrist, he dragged me away as I kept looking behind me, expecting someone to come running out with the cops in tow. When we rounded the corner of the building, Remo shoved me up against the wall, his hand sinking into the back of my head, fingers fisting my hair in a grip that made me wince.
“Tell anyone what you saw today and I’ll hand you your eyes on a platter for dinner.” He leaned in until I could count the dark swirls in those blue irises. “If Lorenzo asks, make up an excuse. Do you fucking understand, girl?” I could barely nod against his tightening hold, wondering why he’d ask me to lie to his brother.
I silently kicked myself when I asked, “why would I have to lie to him and why did you have to kill them?”
He inhaled sharply as his free hand shot up. Half expecting him to slap me, he snorted a laugh and dropped his hand. Leaning his head to the side, he studied me, a slight curve to the corner of his lips. “Those two men you wanted to live,tesoro,” he sneered, “and their trafficking friends would’ve torn your fucking pussy wide enough to park a fucking car in there.” His voice dipped low as amusement colored his every word. I gasped. “Still feeling charitable?” He cocked a brow, his grip on my hair tightening. I yelped, scrunching my eyes against the pain. Then he leaned forward. “Lorenzo frowns on a killing spree where he lives. The city is his war zone, and he prefers what you fuckers call a little peace and quiet here. Any more questions?” he growled. His voice dripped with thick sarcasm, his expression one of pure boredom. “Get your fucking ass back in there.” He nodded to the rear door.
Once inside, he gave me no time to try any more clothing and within a few minutes, we walked out to the parking lot. I dumped the bags in the trunk and when I slid in next to Rayden, his eyes widened.
“What happened, Zena? You’ve been crying.” Then his gaze fell to my neck where I knew the asshole’s knife had pressed into. “You have a cut.” He reached out to touch my neck and I flinched on reflex. Remo slid into the passenger seat next to Dario and turned his head to look at us. “What the fuck did you do to her?” Rayden lashed out, grasping my hand in his. Panicking, I squeezed his hand and shook my head.
Remo looked at him then to Dario as he started the car. “Can you believe this little shit?”
“Why don’t we step outside and you can see how little I am, fuckface.”
“Rayden!” I gasped. “What are you doing?”
