“Bree and I became well acquainted at the club before Alzerro had the chance to interrupt things,” Devon expressed in a delighted manner. His eyes were shining so bright, I knew the idea of getting his hands bloody was all he was thinking about. Aside from that though, she wasn’t with him, and that was a fucking problem.

“You had a chance to take her, and you didn’t?” I shouted, pounding my fist on the table. The bitch was right within our grasps and yet he had allowed her to slip away. He better have a good fucking reason.

“I have a plan, Mack. Let me worry about working it all out, and you worry about how you’re going to kill Alzerro.” The way he talked to me had me wanting to put a bullet through his head. I had to stop the impulse to pick up my gun and pull the trigger. The satisfaction of making Alzerro bleed would be well worth it though.

“Never talk back to me again, do you understand? I’m your boss now,” I growled, looking him straight in the eyes so he knew I was serious. I might need him breathing, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t be injured.

“Yes, we’re clear,” he said, smoothly taking the seat across from me. My mind drifted back to Alzerro, my hate for him stirring the fire in my chest. I hated him with a passion nothing could rival. He had everything I didn’t; he took from me without a word, a simple thank you never passing his lips. Most would call it jealousy, but I was far from jealous. I didn’t want just what he had, I wanted so much more. I wanted the empire, the money, the authority, and once he was dead, it would all be mine.

“Did you decide when you’re bringing her?” I asked Devon again, wondering when he would tell me about this plan he was devising up.

He smiled smugly. “I had to do a little storytelling to Alzerro. He’s a bit shaken up with everything taking place. He killed John, Bree’s uncle…”

So, who cared? What was the point of being a ruthless killer if you had a heart? That alone is why I would make a better King to the empire than he.

“I see he’s gone more than soft then. Bargaining for his life now, is he?” The thought alone had me wanting to scream to the heavens. The man expected us to praise him while he did things like this. No fucking way.

“Not so much bargaining for his but for his lover’s life… I think he loves her more than he had let on. Taking her will close the deal indefinitely.” Devon sounded full of himself, and I just hoped he was right.

“We can’t just assume things, Devon. We have been sitting and waiting for a decision to be made. Your job was simple. Go in, make a deal, and bring her to me kicking and screaming… If you fail to follow through, I will kill you.” My voice was cold, and I meant every single word I had said.

Again, he smiled, and all I wanted to do was to wipe the fucking floor with his face. Who did he think he was?

“Something funny, Devon? If I didn’t need you, you would already be dead… Think about that for a second.” I stared at him waiting for it to sink in, but as the smile stuck to his cheeks, my blood started to boil. This is how Alzerro had lost control. He wasn’t stern enough. He wasn’t hard enough.

Devon was stupid if he wasn’t afraid.

“Boss, you must know something about me. I will take your orders well, but since this is my plan, I will run the show with it—”

Before he could speak another word, I cut in, “Devon, the last person who gave me an order was Alzerro, and you know where he is going. I had dealt with his ass for years, watching him take everything from me. He ripped my life apart and killed the one person I loved.” I had spoken the words without even realizing it.

“What happened to her?” Devon asked, curiosity showing in his features.

My mind wandered back to a time when I was careless, loving, and even free.

“Mack. Mack.” Delilah screeched my name as I pushed her on the swing. I had never loved someone as much as I loved her. She was only two years younger than I was. The Princess to another Mafia. I didn’t care though… Our love had blinded me, and in the end, she had to pay the costs.

“Did he kill her?”

“He didn’t… I did.” Anger radiated in my words as I felt the urge to lash out.

“He made you do it, didn’t he?” Devon asked, a little too eagerly, and that set me off. Right then I was a raging bull.

Narrowing my eyes, I gripped the table. Lashing out would mean I was letting him get to me and that what he had said bothered me.

“Enough about me. Let’s get something straight. You will listen to me, Devon. In fact, fuck your plan. You have twenty-four hours to retrieve the girl, or you’re dead. A bullet will be put in your head, and I will hunt and kill every single one of them.”

A somber look crossed his face, and I knew I had him under my thumb. “Don’t attempt to run either—I will know, and nothing thrills me more than the hunt for blood. Twenty-four hours. That’s it.” I stood from the table to get my phone. I had some calls to make. This little shack wouldn’t do nearly as much justice for the carnage I was going to cause. No. I needed something out in the middle of nowhere with a drain in the floor.