I can’t fucking let Dean’s betrayal write this battle. We have to find him fast!
“What’s the update with the team?” I ask, and he understands.
“They’re still trying to track Bella or her father.”
My teeth grind against each other, and with a savage swipe of my hand, I slam everything on my table to the ground. Papers are strewn on the floor along with the pieces of evidence.
I rub the side of my head, attempting to soothe the headache pounding in my temples, when a loud sound crashes through the air. The earth beneath my feet trembles, the windows and lights swaying as if there’s an earthquake.
Matteo’s head snaps to mine. “Boss…”
I clench my teeth as he goes to the window, but even before he says anything, I already know .
“They’re here.”
I walk over to the windows and hold my breath when I see it. The entrance to the estate is in flames, and some of my men are scattered around the fire… dead. Trucks, convoys and heavy vehicles blaze in the distance.
I fist my palms tightly. They’ve come for my empire…and I won’t sit around and watch it burn.
“We fight.”
That’s all Matteo needs as he takes his Glock from his waistband, heading out. I faintly hear him barking orders at the men, and before long, the men storm out in troops.
Chaos unfolds.
Grabbing my gun, I waste no time in walking out the door. Just as I step out, a man cocks a gun at my head, but I quickly duck, rising to slam him against the wall before snapping his neck. Another one opens fire at a distance relentlessly. Fuck. They’ve breached the mansion so fast.
I burst back into the office, pressing myself against the wall, my fingers tightening around my gun. As expected, the idiot bursts inside, aiming his gun, but I quickly shoot him in his shoulder. His gun clatters to the ground, eyes wide as I send a bullet between his eyes.
Two more men file in. I grit, catching the first one’s wrist and twisting until I hear a crack. The second opens fire as I hide behind the body of the first, using him as a shield from the bullets.
The man goes heavy above me, my muscles straining as I shove him toward the other man. He falls on the threshold, and I don’t let him stand before slamming the door against him. His neck cracks with a satisfying sound.
As I move out of the office and navigate to the ground floor, all I see is red. If the fucking Saudis want war, I’ll give them war.
Crouching behind the balustrade, I spot Matteo fighting for his life. He’s flanked by three men, two of whom are holding guns and the other is holding a curved blade.
I catch sight of one man raising his gun and quickly shoot; the other immediately turns to me and returns the favor. He barely misses my arm before Matteo sends a bullet to his back.
The steps creak as I descend furiously, shooting any bastard that dares to interrupt me.
“Capo.” Matteo grunts, breathing hard, and that’s when I notice blood seeping from his stomach. Shit. He’s been shot. I slide my gaze to his shoulder, where he’d been shot before. He better survive, I need him by my side.
“It’s just a graze,” he rumbles as if reading thoughts.
I nod. “We have to find the general.” I could either try to speak sense into him or kill him.
“Haven’t seen him since the attack started. But I’m positive he isn’t in the mansion yet.”
He must be outside then. Instantly, I head out, and Matteo follows closely behind. My men are still fighting, holding their own fiercely.
Matteo bellows and curses as we carve a path through the enemy, bodies crumpling as gunshot sounds crackle through the air.
“I’m going to find the general,” I bark at Matteo, who nods and diverts to the opposite side of the estate. I take the left side,hiding behind cars and dodging bullets until I see a group of men clustered at the edge of the garden.
Only the general would have such men protecting him. Slowly, I approach the garden, feet as light as they can be. There’s a conversation going on in Arabic after which some of the men disperse, leaving the general with a few men.
I could easily kill the general from here. All it takes is one clean shot and he’d crumple to the ground, but instead, I aim at the guard closest to him…to send a message.
