Violent Triumphs (White Monarch 3)

There were plenty of things I wanted to say to him for his involvement in Bianca’s death, but none of it was more important than holding his attention. Keeping it off Natalia. Keeping her safe. And finding her.

Gabriel, Max, and Alejo monitored everything from the next room, searching for clues on the screen that might indicate a geographic location. Diego wasn’t stupid enough to make a traceable call, but this connection was all we had.

Diego crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve never met a man more willing to betray family—or turn his back on the world he was raised in. Everyone now knows you as a traitor. You continue to bring shame to our name long after our parents’ death.”

Good. I could think of no greater compliment.

“For Cristiano, blood doesn’t make family,” Costa said, seething beside me. “His loyalty to me has stood the test of time and circumstance. He is mi familia.”

I put my hand on Costa’s elbow to show my gratitude but also to warn him to control his reaction. It was torturous not to look at Natalia every few seconds, but if I did, Diego might, too.

“Costa,” Diego said, shifting his attention away from me, “you would’ve crumbled without me. Your cartel is what it is because of me. You were inconsolable after Bianca’s death, but I propped you up. After that, you only kept up with demand and the new order because of the technology and fresh ideas I introduced.” Diego leveled his unblinking stare on Costa. “I oversaw the development of our advanced tunnel system into the States myself,” he said simply. “I made most of the connections we needed at the border. I know your business better than anyone.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and shook his head. “And without so much as a second thought, after twenty years of loyalty, you kicked me out of the home where I’d spent the majority of my childhood.”

“Loyalty?” Costa boomed. “You killed my wife.” Costa barreled toward the camera, gripping it with both hands. “Your betrayal cost us everything, and me las vas a pagar—I will rip your balls off for it,” he said, spittle covering the lens. “I won’t let you take my daughter, too.”

Diego ran his tongue along his upper teeth. He’d finally gotten the reaction he’d come for.

“You’ve only paid half the price for killing both my parents, don Costa,” Diego responded coolly. “An eye for an eye means you owe me a life still.”

“Then take mine,” Costa said.

“Too easy. I’m willing to negotiate, though. I won’t kill Natalia as long as you do what I say.” He glanced at me. “I should like to have her by my side in this next venture.”

Over my dead and rotting body. My hands throbbed from clenching them, but I couldn’t get myself to release my fists. Couldn’t let my anger drown out my reason. Revenge blinded Diego to the fact that Natalia was not the weak girl she’d once been. I couldn’t let it distract me, too.

She needed my entire focus.

Keep her safe. Get her the fuck out.

I glanced over my shoulder as Maksim entered the room. His haggard face turned sheet-white as he crossed himself and uttered something in Russian. “I saw your corpse,” he said to Diego.

“You saw what I wanted you to see.” Diego cleared his throat. “Get out.”

Max and I met eyes briefly. Did he know anything? Not yet, it seemed. He walked out.

“How’d you learn about the tunnel in my home?” Costa asked when Max had gone, his tone level now. “Nobody knew but Bianca, Natalia, and me.”

Diego glanced briefly at the ground and back up. “With an abundance of patience. I watched. I waited. I learned the security codes, I learned about your underground secrets. I left the door open for the sicario when I knew you’d be out of town.”

“What about the safe?” I asked.

Diego smirked. “The valuables and cash in there totaled well over a million dollars. In exchange for the contents, the hitman provided me a weapon, bank account transfer info, and video footage linking Vicente Valverde to Bianca’s murder.”

“Which you used to run them out of town,” I said. “And Natalia was supposed to be at the parade, but what about me?”

“You found Bianca, and I found you, gun in hand,” he said. “It wasn’t part of the plan, but it worked out well. I would’ve killed you if I could’ve. Either way, I would’ve been the hero. I was as shocked as both of you when I walked into the bedroom. I knew what was supposed to happen but seeing her there was still difficult.”

Natalia stilled. Her lips twitched. She wanted to speak. To rail. To protect me when she was the one in danger.

Stay calm. I had to will it to her without looking at her.