The Wife Breaker (Dark Vows Duet 1)

Liberato and I instruct the other men what to do, and minutes later, Cannon reappears with a man in his forties. He spits at us and curses in Spanish. His hair is dark and peppered with gray. He looks like a family man. I wonder whether he’s a father. I hope he isn’t.

Because if he is, tonight, his children will lose their dad.

“What’s your name?” I ask while Liberato’s lips thin into an even tighter line.

“Diego,” the man says, his eyes filled with hatred as they meet mine. “I will not tell you who I work for.”

“Really?” I smirk. “We’ll see about that.”

I motion at the guards, who tie him up on a wooden chair. Our men gather the survivors in the docks while Liberato lights a fire in a metal garbage bin.

The men’s eyes are full of fear. But that’s what I want. I want them to fear me. Without making my subordinates afraid of me, I’ll never be a successful cartel leader.

I shake my head, realizing my uncle’s words from when I was a boy are ringing in my head. Fuck. Xavier is getting to me, even though he’s not even here.

“Are you ready to talk now?” I ask the man as he struggles in his seat.

The guards have tied down his arms, but not his feet, and he tries to kick at me as I get closer.

“Never,” Diego hisses, spitting again.

I smirk in response, signaling for one of my men to pour a bucket over his head. Diego roars as the gasoline soaks him.

“A little preview of what’s coming if you don’t obey,” I tell him. “Ready to talk yet?”

“Keep asking, you’ll get the same answer every time, pendejo,” the man roars. “I’ll never talk.”

“Oh, come on, I just want to know who you work for.”

I light a match and watch his crestfallen face as I hold it closer to his body.

“It’s the Dragon cartel, right?”

He remains mute, glaring at me, almost daring me to drop the match.

I blow it out and smile at him before burying a long knife into his stomach.

Diego gurgles and sputters, his eyes losing focus.

“Who is the leader of the Dragon cartel?” I ask, taking a step back and admiring my work from afar.

The captives we’ve taken are deathly silent, save for a few who are praying. My gaze slips past Liberato, and I can tell he doesn’t approve of what’s happening. But I don’t give a shit. We may be partners in crime, but I’ll always make the last decision for our business, the Serpent cartel.

“Don’t want to talk?” I ask Diego, grinning when he shakes his head. “I don’t mind. Actually, I’m kind of fucking enjoying this.”

I smash my fist into his face. He sputters again, coughing up teeth. I take a step back, dabbing myself with a handkerchief when his blood sprays me.

“Ready to talk?” I ask kindly. “Who is the leader of the Dragon cartel?”

The man cries then, sobbing quietly as he mutters a set of names to himself.

Inez. Adelina. Inez. Adelina. Over and over again.

“Whose names are those?” I demand, but he ignores me.

I walk closer and lift his broken jaw, disgust filling me at the clicking sound it makes loose in my hands.

“Whose names are those, Diego?”

“My daughters,” he whispers brokenly.

“Your daughters,” I smile softly. “Maybe we could pay them a little visit, too.”

Something tightens in my stomach. I think it’s my disbelief at what I’ve just said. I’ve let myself down by becoming just like the person I despise most in the world - my uncle.

Xavier Gunn is ruthless, stopping at nothing to get what he wants. And by torturing this man, I’ve become just like him. The mention of his daughters’ names should make me feel like what I’m doing is wrong, but I’m numb, cold and indifferent.

“Don’t you touch them,” the older man cries. “Don’t go near them.”

I make a mental note to remember their names and light another match.

“This could be over right now,” I tell the man. “You could give me the name, and I’ll kill you with a shot to the forehead. Or you can continue to be stubborn, and we’ll watch you burn before doing the same thing to your daughters.”

The man closes his eyes, sweat flowing down his forehead. He finally nods, a barely perceptible shake of his head that makes the rest of his men mutter to one another.

“Silence!” I roar before leaning in so Diego can whisper in my ear.

My lips tighten as I listen to him and my jaw tics as he goes on.

I pick myself up once he’s done, nodding at the guard.

A single shot rings out in the docks, one straight to Diego’s forehead.

The men groan, some cry, some beg or scream. But I’m already walking away from him.

Liberato follows me, grabbing my shoulder to stop me, but I snarl and push him off.