“Now then,” Ajay called out, his voice dripping unconcealed satisfaction, the muzzle of his gun pressed to Rayden’s temple. “Shall we start the countdown again or should I just pull the trigger?”
“Touch him and you will fucking die!” Lorenzo roared, his palms slamming the only untouched glass hard enough to shatter it.
“Then bring out your brother,” Ajay yelled back.
This time I didn’t allow my brother to stop me. I barged out the door, only pausing because the clicks of several triggers engaging caught my ear. Hands up I stared at the motherfucker. “I’m here, let him go.”
Lorenzo appeared at my side a second later followed by Dario. “What the fuck?” He glared at me.
“Hmm.” Ajay scratched his chin with his gun, his eyes darting between me and my brother. “One has to die, Lorenzo, who will it be. Rayden or Remo?”
“You fucker!” Lorenzo gritted, his face twisted in indecision, his fists clenched at his sides.
Rayden lifted saddened eyes to my brother, slowly shaking his head. “Choose Remo, Renz,” his voice bleeding with thick emotion, he surprised me.
But I’d fucking die before I robbed my brother of the only happiness he’d ever encountered in his fucked-up life. “Oh, fuck no, baby boy.” I winked. “You don’t get to save me.”
And for the first time since we met, Rayden’s smile betrayed his customary annoyance I’d come to expect from him. “Fuck you,” he retaliated, his words lacking their usual vehemence.
“Aww, how touching, I should fucking record this, it will make for a nice dramatic climax,” Ajay spat.
One of his men approached him and whispered something in his ear. Irritation quickly overshadowed his smug demeanor. He glared at Lorenzo for a long moment then nodded to his man.
I grinned. “Whose pulling your strings, asshole?”
His scowl spoke volumes. “Always think you know everything, you conceited fuck.”
“I think, I know,” I taunted, shrugging.
“Then let’s see how well you predicted this outcome.” He snorted a laugh.
I didn’t let him see my surprise, my enjoyment short-lived when I eyed the returning man, dragging a woman behind him. Although her head was covered by a black hood, I’d recognize her body anywhere, yet it was the red scratches on her arms and legs that caught my attention. My stomach clenched. Not just for her, for what she carried. What I couldn’t protect.
Every cell in my body flooded with rage. “Ishika!” I took a step forward and the men jerked their guns at me, their postures promising death.
“Remo?” Ishika called out, her head turning from side to side, searching for me.
“I’m here, baby,” the words were out before I could stop myself, earning a dark chuckle from Ajay. He knew he had me by the balls.
My eyes raked over her, the hood, the scratches, the way she held herself.Protect her.Protect themboth. The thought was a drumbeat in my skull.
I launched myself at the men in front of me, taking down at least three fuckers with my fists. Behind me, I heard Lorenzo and Dario do the same.
A lone gunshot hit the air. “Stop or I’ll kill her right the fuck now!” Ajay’s warning followed a second later.
My fists froze mid-strike, my eyes jerking to Ajay as he ripped off her hood, tossed it away then slid an arm around her waist, pulling her tight to his side.
Her glazed eyes found mine quickly, wide, wild. I noticed their defiance, the tremor to her lips, the tears she refused to let fall. Fear skated her expression, but she wouldn’t give Ajay that satisfaction.
He waved the gun between Ishika and Rayden. “Choose, Rossi. Her life, or his. Tick tock.”
Fire raged in my veins. “You think I’ll play this–”
“Oh, you’ll play,” Ajay cut in. “Because if you don’t, I’ll kill them both, and you’ll live with that. What would a fucker like you do when God hands you the trigger?”
Ishika shook her head. “Don’t listen to him–”
“Shut the fuck up.” Ajay snapped, striking her across the face, hard.
