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“I didn’t like their faces, so I shot them,” I threw back, folding my arms over my chest while keeping a tight grip on my gun. They would strip it from me soon, but I wanted time to assess the situation. There hadn’t been a whole lot of time to preplan an escape. Thank Santa Muerte Nikki worked here too. She would know all the ways out when I gave her an opening. Finding the opening would be the tricky part.

Anger flashed across his face, fists tightening, but he quickly recovered his composure.

“I’m here now, Mario. Let Nikki go. Or do you no longer tell me the truth?”

The implication hung heavy in the air. He hated being questioned. His word was law, and no one was allowed to go against it. Or question it. How had he managed to force my submission for so long? I was like a caged animal; failing to see the hand that fed me was the same hand keeping me tethered. The hand I was about to bite the fuck off.

“Muñeca, you can’t be that stupid. Why would I let her go when I can have both of you? And you do not tell me what to do. I’m in charge.” Spittle flew from his mouth as he raised his voice. The men close to him carefully inched away while trying not to draw his wrath toward them.

“No, I’m not that stupid. I was hoping for your sake you wouldn’t be either,” I stated.

An unhinged look appeared in his eyes. “You’ve given me no other choice than to remind you who you belong to.”

Bile filled my mouth at his words. “Fuck right off, Mario. No one owns me; the fact that you thought you could will be your downfall.”

I could sense men coming up behind me to disarm me. The urge to roll my eyes at their attempt was strong, but I held off, letting them get close. Yells rang out seconds after I turned and shot the guy on my left in the head.

In the chaos, Mario called, “Don’t shoot her; restrain her.”

Nikki shrieked in distress for me. But I was too busy dealing with the man I’d given my back to. He’d pinned my arms to my sides, restraining me while another Armando ran up to retrieve my gun. Dumbass. The moment he got close, I landed a solid kick to the middle of his chest, sending him flying.

“Fuck,” I gritted out as my arms were wrenched behind my back. The telltale sound of zip ties cut through the noise, and hard plastic bit into my wrist. At the last moment, I shifted the positions of my hands. Leaving a little room to work with.

Cigarette stench hit my nose as the asshole behind me leaned in close enough to whisper in my ear.

“We may not be able to touch you for now. But when Mario is tired of you, I plan on fucking you over and over again…”

The coppery taste of blood filled my mouth as I bit my tongue to stay silent. I needed to bide my time and choose the right moment to act out. But knowing that didn’t make having restraint any easier.

“Nothing to say now? Shame, I like to hear a woman scream for help.” He jerked my body to the side, sending me stumbling to my knees in front of Mario. His words played on repeat in my head. These men had all signed their death warrants.

I mourned for the women who thought there would never be justice for what they endured. I wished I could tell them their monsters had just met their slayer. These fuckers had no clue who they were dealing with or the levels I was willing to go to for revenge.

I made a silent vow. By the end of this, my hands would be stained in blood, and I would make a crown from the bones of my enemies to wear while I sat on my throne. Right next to El Diablo himself.

I bared my bloody teeth at Mario, wanting him to see the monster he provoked. “Te voy a matar Mario.”

His jaw ticked, making my smile widen. “Bring her to the interrogation room. It’s time my Muñeca remembered her place.” The tremble in his voice betrayed the emotions he was trying to keep hidden. He was rattled.

As I was yanked from my knees, I called out, “You ready to play, Mario? Because this is my favorite game, and you should have chosen an easier opponent.”

Anger blazed in his eyes, but so did doubt. Mario hated not being in control, and he didn’t expect me to fight back since I never had before. I always stayed inside the lines he drew for me. But now I knew my power.

He hadn’t betrayed me, because he’d never had my trust—only my blind obedience.

What would save him now?

Gunner

“Where the fuck is she?” I roared out.

The pain and anger in my voice were almost tangible. My hands held Lolli under her armpits, pinned up against the wall, feet dangling. Her eye was swollen shut, and the popped blood vessels had colored her skin a deep purple.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, Gunner,” she whimpered as I leaned my face in closer.

“Don’t insult my intelligence, Lolli.”

“Gunner, please. The bruise is from a club brother,” she claimed, fear evident in her voice.