Page 102 of Savage Saint

This place has been in my family for generations. We never sold, and a management team handles the day-to-day operations.

“You own it?”

“My family does. Yes.”

“They called you in. We walked into a setup.” Not a question. Stating the facts.

“They did call, but spoke to the man pinning your arms back.” His face drains of color at my words, lips turning purple. I smack him with the blade, adding another cut to his right cheek. “Now answer me. What happened to the women?”

“Dead. All got sick halfway to Argentina—something to do with the food, and they didn’t get medical attention in time.”

“All twenty?” What the fuck did they feed them?

“Yes,” Enrique mutters something under his breath, and I correct that behavior by adding two more gashes. One on each side of his jaw. “Please. No more.”

“How did all twenty die?”

“One of the women poured bleach into the food. A mercy kill, she told one of the men, before she died.”

Rizos and I share a look.

The desperation you have to feel to do something like that. To kill yourself and the others with you…

There’s a knock at the door then, and I call out Enter. Commandante Villalobos steps inside the room, his uniform crisp as he extends a hand toward me. “Well, he’s a mess.”

I shake it, almost smiling when whatever hope Enrique has completely dies. “He’s also done. Shouldn’t make it past tonight.”

“Understood. I’ll personally deliver him to the capital. Say we found him barely clinging to life on the side of the road heading to a resort next to the dead body.” Villalobos makes a tsk sound, shaking his head. “Not surprised Ferrero ended this way. The man has always been an asshole.”

“Useless one at that. Isn’t that right, Enrique? Tell me. For amusement’s sake. What was Commandante Ferrero’s role in all this?”

Mumbles. He gives me mumbles.

I stab him in his stomach, twisting the blade so it shreds everything in its path. There’s no repairing the damage; he’ll bleed out first.

“Repeat.” The knife’s filthy when it slides out, and I wipe it on his arm. It’s about the only clean area on him. “Use your words.”

“He was going to be the fall guy if you didn’t bend.”

“Got it.” My eyes flick to the dead man. The head of the capital’s police department. “Guess he did his job, then. He fell for your bullshit, did God knows what to innocent women, and died for it. He earned his place in hell.”

“What about the one outside?” Villalobos asks. “Is she coming with me?”

“Yeah. Take her to Emilio Montalvo; she’s his problem, not mine.” With that, I bend down to Enrique’s eye level. “Your biggest mistake was underestimating my brothers and me. I want you to die knowing that I’m going to kill your son first, then Kirill, and any other motherfucker who thinks they can touch what’s mine.”

I walk out of the room with Rizos behind me. The cleaning crew will arrive after the bodies are removed, but for now, I need an outlet for this pent-up anger.

Looking at my watch, it’s a little past nine, which means Genesis is getting ready for work. I don’t want her to see me like this, but tonight, I need her.

Her scent.

Her lips.

Her body in my arms.

25

GENESIS