I squeezed her hand lightly. “You don’t have to do this, love. We can go home—”
“No.” She shook her head. “I want answers, and then I want to see that man die,” the intensity in her voice was laudable, the look of determination on her face priceless.
Another few minutes later, we stood in one of the empty rooms in the house with Kabir, Zarina, Andrew and Tahir secured to chairs.
Earlier, Wilkes arranged to bring Andrew to the house while we handled Kabir. Andrew looked gaunt and depraved, having been locked in one of the dungeons for almost a month. He’d refused to talk, and I promised to release him if he did. Quite clearly, he valued his friendship with Kabir more than his own life, unless the man had something on Andrew that I didn’t, which made no sense since both were about to meet their makers.
“A few smacks, Xavier.” Kabir mocked, sporting a bust lip and what looked like a developing blue eye. It seemed like Ramone had a little bit of fun while waiting. “I expected more from you—king of your castle and all that.” Kabir snorted. “So much money, so much power, and this is all you come up with? In my castle, my men break bones. You’re a weakling who uses his boys to do his dirty jobs.”
I didn’t fall for his goading. Obviously under the impression we would torture and kill them, he was wrong. I had big plans for them. Instead, I turned to my bodyguard. “I know you’re my head of security, Wilkes. Our family’s safety is your forte.” I eyed the man with unconcealed respect for constantly bending the rules a little. “Do you consider killing a pedophile crossing the line?”
His gaze unflinching, he took a step closer. “Sir, with the money you pay me, you can put the line wherever you want to.”
“And what if I decide to terminate your contract right now? Would you still do it?”
Again, his expression stoic professionalism, he replied. “Yes, sir.”
“Why?”
“You’re a man I’ve always respected. If you cross the line, it’s because your reasoning is logical, concrete—”
“What the bloody hell is this?” Kabir snarled. “Show and fucking tell?”
I looked at him. “Money is an illusion of power, Kabir, especially to spineless arseholes who believe they need it to control people. I just proved a point.” I tipped my chin at Wilkes. “He’ll do anything I ask out of respect.” Then I gestured to Luke. “He did your bidding out of fear. Would you care to re-analyze who has more power?” I taunted.
He glowered at me. “You think I’m afraid of these arseholes.” He tipped his chin at Wilkes. “When she fucking maimed me for life.” His laugh resonated through the walls. “Do whatever the fuck you want. It says nothing. She’ll always be mine. My love is carved into her fucking soul.” I caught Mikaela’s shudder. This man had a hold over her I needed to break.
“Keep trying to convince yourself of that, Kabir. I don’t have to,” I said dryly, a tinge of amusement in my voice, just to irk the bastard. Itching to get my fingers around his neck, based purely on the anger simmering in my veins, I wanted him pissed. I wanted his fucking blood, not just for shattering Mikaela’s soul but for all the other women and children that suffered at his hands.
He grunted his displeasure. “You don’t love her like I do. You don’t feel what I feel for her. You never will. What can you do for her that I never did?” he spat.
“I’ll die for her,” I responded without thought, hearing Mikaela’s gasp behind me.
Kabir heard it, too and gritted his teeth. “Don’t believe him, kitten. No one will ever love you like I do.”
“You’re right.” Slowly rolling my shirt sleeves up to my elbows, I eyed the man’s surprise. “No one will ever love her like you did, Kabir.” His smirk was short-lived when I said, “because only sick men love how you do. Locking a girl up, depriving her of a normal life, mutilating her beautiful body, and entrenching fear into her, is not love. It’s a disease. One I intend to get rid of.” I looked at my bodyguard. “Release him.”
“Sir?” Wilkes looked confused at the same time Mikaela grasped my arm.
“What are you doing?” Red-rimmed eyes searched my face.
I turned fully to face her. “Do you trust me?”
“Always,” she replied without hesitation.
“Then let me do this.” I stroked her cheek softly. “For you.”
“How fucking romantic,” Kabir mocked.
I nodded to Wilkes. Reluctantly, he walked around Kabir and released his handcuffs. If it weren’t for the answers Mikaela wanted, I’d end his life right now. Belittling him in front of Mikaela, though, would show her just how weak the arrogant fuck was and perhaps dent his hold on her.
The man stood, massaging his wrists. “Take a good look at him, kitten, while he’s still breathing.”
Mikaela panicked. Her eyes flew to me. I winked, an action she rarely saw but knew it was always for her comfort.
Kabir moved closer until we faced each other. A split second later, he barreled into me like a rugby flanker, his body crashing mine into the fireplace at my rear and knocking the breath from my lungs. My head hit the brick work, exploding stars behind my lids.
It did little to deter me.
