I take my gun from the holster and place the barrel against his head. The tension in the room ratchets as every single man has the urge to pull their trigger, and yet no one wants to be the one to fire the first shot. It’s that tentative fine line between life and death. The odds are really in no one’s favor here. Except mine.
“You only make it worse for yourself, Rafael.”
I ram the gun beneath his chin and force his head back. “Look around you, Dominges. I don’t give a fuck what your brother does, and neither should you, considering your brains will soon be all over that wall if you don’t give me what I want.”
He narrows his eyes. “And what is it you want?”
I don’t have the patience for this. I aim at his thigh and pull the trigger. A single shot goes off somewhere behind me, and I grab Dominges, hauling him up against me as a body shield. His men won’t shoot him. Several more shots follow, and when I look up, it’s to see all his men on the floor and one of mine.
“I know you fucking have her!” I wrap a hand around his throat, fighting the urge to snap his neck.
A hacking laugh slips from his lips. “So you lost a helpless whore?”
I turn him to face me, cold fury bleeding through my veins. “You take my woman, and I take yours.”
“That’s your plan? Threaten my wife?”
I grin, shoving him away until he staggers against the desk. “Who said anything about your wife?” Samuel leaves the room and a few seconds later I hear the elevator at the end of the hall ping, followed by several sets of footsteps. Carlos comes in, his expression steely, and yet I can see the pain in his features. He drags a woman behind him, her wrists bound and a bag over her head. Forcing her to her knees in front of Dominges, Carlos removes the bag. She chokes on a sob, pleading incoherently. Mascara streaks down her face, and her dark hair is a tangled mess. She’s pretty, young, foolish… One look at Dominges’ face and I know I’ve hit the nail on the head. His expression replicates everything I’m feeling. He quickly wipes the anguish from his features, his face morphing into a stony mask. Stepping around her sobbing form, I grab his jaw and force him to look at her. “Women. Are they not the eternal weakness of men such as us?” His breaths rasp through his chest, becoming more erratic. “Those who are supposed to be so impenetrable.” His teeth grind together, the muscles in his cheek twitching under the strain. “Look at her, Dominges. Watch her cry and plead and beg you to save her.” The anger is creeping up on me, rising with every breath that this fucker continues to take. I step back and place a hand on her head, pulling a whimper from her. I don’t hurt women usually, and on any other day, I’d see this girl as nothing more than an innocent bystander in a much bigger game. She probably isn’t with Dominges through choice. Women like her don’t say no to men like him, the rich and powerful.
I bring my face close to hers and wrap a hand around her jaw. “Watch as I snap her neck in front of you.” I straighten and place my other hand on her hair, forcing her head at an angle. She screams, pleading and crying in the face of imminent death.
His mask wavers, eyes flicking from her, to me, and back again. He’s in love with her. I’d call him weak, but I know the feeling well.
“Stop!” His jaw ticks, annoyance flickering behind his eyes.
I smile slowly because, in our game of chicken, I just won. “Talk or I will kill her.”
“I don’t have your Russian.” On a sigh I force the girls head at an even sharper angle. “I don’t! She’s –” He cuts off, and I narrow my eyes. “The Russians.”
“What the fuck would you know about the Russians?”
“Nicholai Ivanov.”
He sold her out. I release the woman and grab my gun, pointing it at his head. My finger trembles over the trigger, rage consuming me.
“Rafe.” Carlos’ hand lands on my arm. “I know you want to kill him, but let it go.” Carlos turns his back on Dominges and whispers in my ear. “He doesn’t have her, so this will only start a war. You can’t fight a war here and find Anna if she’s in Russia.” He pulls back, his eyes meeting mine. I can see the pain in them, the anguish. “I want him dead as much as you do but leave him for Una.”
On a deep breath, I grit my teeth and lower the gun. “I should kill you, but I’m not going to. Do not see this as a weakness, merely political maneuvering. However, if I do not get Anna back, I will kill her.” I point at the woman. “Bring her,” I order the men. Carlos practically drags me from the room, and Samuel falls into step beside us as we walk into the elevator.