“That fucker has respect,” Kabir fell for her goading. “Every fucking man I approached to help me get Sixty Six back retracted their offer as soon as they found out who they were going up against.”
Admittedly, I was impressed people he sought out turned him down. I grinned, catching Wilkes’ look that easily read, ‘told you so.’
“Why?” Zarina asked what I was curious to know.
Kabir dragged his hands through his hair, eyeing his sister. “Apparently, he’s royalty, but more than that, the Sinclair family have been dipping their hands in the wrong side of the law long before I even made a dent in trafficking. Before the girl ran, and while we never crossed paths, I’d seen him around. All this time, I thought he was a wealthy businessman. Turns out that man has more connections than half the fucking mafia dons I know.”
I snagged Wilkes and Ramone’s open admiration before Zarina let out a shrill laugh. “Of all the men in Europe, Cinder had to fall into the arms of a man you can’t challenge. How sweet fate is.” I wasn’t sure if she was being sarcastic or not.
Wilkes leaned closer. “We have eyes on Mikaela, sir. Through there.” He tipped his chin at the door near Kabir and Zarina, confirming why he’d waited. “Just one guard. I told my men to stand down and let you go in. She’ll probably respond better to you.” His care was commendable. Then he gestured to Kabir. “We’ve got you covered. Have fun.”
Removing the bulletproof vest, I drew out the revolver he’d brought along and, pointing it at the bastard I was ready to kill, I walked toward them.
“I think you have something that belongs to me,” I said, infusing calm into my words.
Kabir spun around, his eyes large, his mouth a shocked gape at the same time Zarina let out a loud laugh. “Holy shit. It looks like the man can walk through bullets too. I thought you had an army out there, brother.”
“Shut the fuck up, Zarina,” Kabir growled, finding his voice, then to me, “I owe you fuck all. You stole her from me.”
“Stole her?” My brow shot up. “No, Kabir. Fate gave her wings, my perch was where she landed.”
He glanced behind me, trying to decipher how many men I’d walked in with before his gaze returned to my gun.
“If you’re expecting reinforcements, Kabir, your band of nitwits are already fish food.” Wilkes came up beside me.
Kabir shifted his glare from me to my head of security, then back to me. “You’re going to pay for this.” He bared his teeth as Jack moved up front attempting to secure him. Resisting, Kabir threw a few punches before my gun went off, catching him in the arm with an intentional flesh wound. He gaped at me, blood turning his white shirt red.
“You can send me the hospital bill too.” I offered.
“Fuck you, Xavier, fuck you,” he yelled.
I looked at Wilkes. “All set?” He nodded, knowing what I was referring to. “You know what to do.”
“You can’t do this,” Zarina grumbled as Ramone came around to bind her, her eyes meeting mine. Her acting was flawless.
Leaving them, I approached the door Wilkes indicated. My gun at ready, I opened it slowly and peeked through the slit it created. An empty passage led to a stairwell. My steps cautious, I neared the staircase and checked if it was empty before descending. At the bottom, another hallway led to a door at the end. With the same caution, I neared it and slowly turned the knob. I opened it to a slit and was about to push it further when I heard voices.
“Aww, come now, baby, I had you once, and you were the fucking sweetest. Kabir won’t mind. After all, he’s taking you away. I hear the men in Africa fuck dirtier.”
Rage chased down the calm I’d held together.
“Leave her the fuck alone,” Luke’s sharp yell had me rethinking my need to kill the other man in the room. “You don’t know Xavier. Kabir doesn’t stand a chance against him.” I knew he was taunting the man.
“In a few minutes, you’ll change your mind, Luke. Especially with what Kabir has planned for your little girl,” the man snorted. “Now, Sixty Six, if you don’t want to give me your pussy then I’m just going to take this mouth of—”
I had enough. “Touch her, and you’ll lose your balls and hands, to say nothing of your head.” My threat had the man spinning around, his hands flying up as his gaze dropped to my gun.
Tahir!
Suman’s husband had flown the coop long before Wilkes’ men arrived at his home after the restaurant shooting. Behind him, Mikaela stood with her back plastered against the wall, her eyes downcast. Shaking, she looked up, disbelief making her hesitate before she pushed past Tahir and careened into my body. As soon as my arms closed around her, she caved into the tears she’d probably denied Kabir once more.
“You’re safe, love,” I soothed. When she finally stopped trembling and leaned back, I wiped her tears. “You’re ready to face your fears?” She nodded. “Good girl.” I looked at Tahir. “Release him.” I gestured to Luke, secured to a chair, his face a mass of blue-black bruises. “Are you okay?” I asked after he stood and massaged circulation into his wrists.
Wordlessly, he spun, his right hook smashing into Tahir’s face. The man staggered backward, hitting the wall, and fell to his knees, blood spilling from his nose. “That’s for Mikaela.” Luke cracked his neck before his left foot crashed into the man’s stomach. “And that’s for my daughter, fucker.” He looked at me, his grin peeking through his bruises. “Now, I’m good.”
Stuffing the gun in my jeans’ waistband, I slid an arm around Mikaela. “Bring him with,” I said to Luke and guided Mikaela upstairs. Wilkes was waiting alone and directed us toward a black four-by-four outside the warehouse door.
Midnight struck by the time we pulled up to the front door of Kabir’s home. Wilkes and Luke escorted Tahir indoors while I waited for Mikaela to climb out. Throughout the drive here, she’d held onto my hand, saying nothing and I gave her that silence. Now, she offered me a small smile before she stared at the entrance.
