The warm sun streams through the window and I roll onto my side to escape it. I reach out for Tor, but feel only cold sheets. I open my eyes and stare at the empty space as I groggily sit up and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. I stumble into the bathroom, leaning one hand against the wall to steady myself as I force my morning wood down to take a piss.

"Fucking bullshit!" I hear Gabriel shouting in the hallway. "Fucking bullshit."

I finish pissing and rush out of the room, through the house, and to the living room. From here I can see Gabriel and Marney standing over two men. Their bodies lie sprawled out on the floor by the door and there's a pool of dried blood on the carpet. "Where is Tor?" I say with a deep growl, my blood pressure rising with each breath. Gabriel glances up at me and I see it on his face. "Did she..." I swipe my hand down my jaw before I point at the dead men. "Did she fucking do this?"

Why the hell would she have done this? Why would she...Inhaling, I clench my fists and make my way through the kitchen to the den. "Tor!" I shout. "Fucking Tor?"

I throw the French doors to the patio open, the sudden commotion causing the birds to take flight in a flutter. "Tor!" I scream, but I’m met only with a deafening silence. "Shit." I slam my fist against the stucco wall, pain splintering through my knuckles. She's fucking gone. That's what that shit was about last night. “Damn it," I breathe as I turn and storm back into the house. "Gabe!" I call as I head down the hallway. "I know she's gone to that fucking cartel to try and get Cayla."

Gabriel steps out into the hall, groans, and throws his head back. Marney comes creeping down the hallway. "Should've known she'd pull a stunt like this,” he says. “She's determined to get that baby back."

"She's gonna get them both fucking killed," I shout just as Boris appears in the doorway with two men on each side of him. He has a sly smirk on his face. It was him. "You mother—" I rush him, shoving my palms against his chest and him against the wall before I slam my fist into the side of his face. His lip splits. Blood dribbles from the fresh wound and rolls over his pale chin. I yank my gun from the waist of my jeans and cock it as I aim at Boris' round head.

Boris' men draw guns on me. My finger itches over the trigger. "Tell me why,” I demand.

He stares coldly at me. I hear the click of another gun cocking. Now Gabriel has one pointed at him, too. "You killed my fucking men." Gabriel's gaze swings from Boris to me as he points a finger. "I told you I didn't want to work with the Russian and this is why. Backstabbing pale fucks." Gabriel steps forward, shoving the gun against Boris’ temple.

"It would not be wise to shoot me." Boris sighs. "It's all part of the plan."

"Part of the..." I throw my hands up and grip my head, the cold metal of the gun I’m clutching searing through my flesh. "What fucking plan, Boris?" I glance at his men who still have guns raised.

"Ronan's plan," Boris says. I stare at him, Gabriel swears under his breath, kicking the wall as he drops his gun. Boris' men still don't lower theirs. "He knew you wouldn't agree with it."

"Oh, really?" I snort. "How fucking genius of him to realize I wouldn’t willingly let my woman walk into the cartel." I spin around to face Gabriel. "Take me to Jesús."

"Fuck no, you've lost your mind, ese."

I aim the gun again, this time at Gabriel. "Take me to fucking Jesús." My teeth grind together as anger beats away at me shredding any bit of rational reasoning I have left. I'd just as soon put a bullet in every fucker's head that's in this room right now.

"Jude..." Marney's voice comes from behind me. I jump when I feel his cold, meaty hand land on my arm, slowly lowering the gun. "That's not gonna do you any good."

Boris clears his throat and turns away just as another one of the Russians walks into the room with an open laptop. Boris grabs it with a nod of gratitude and props it on his arm. There, on the screen, is fucking Ronan.

"Ah, American…and the Mexican,” Ronan says. “Everyone is here." He grins, placing a cigar between his lips.

"Fuck you!" I shout, spit flying from my mouth. It's all I can say to the fucking pussy sitting all the way in Russia.

"I am sorry. " He sighs. "But I did what none of you could do. I made a plan. Victoria understands that sacrifices must be made."

"You gonna tell us this fucking plan?" I ask. All I can hear is the blood pulsing through my ears as a savage heat consumes me.

"It is simple, Victoria will lead Jesús to you at an agreed location. We set a trap and we kill them all." He shrugs. "All you have to do is wait for her call."

My nostrils flare. "Why the fuck would you send her? Out of everyone fucking here you send my woman, you sick fuck. I swear to god if I ever see you again I will slit your motherfucking throat."

"American’s are so angry." He smirks. "I sent her because she has the most convincing reason of all: a mother's love."

Swallowing, I glare at the screen.

"You fucking idiot," Gabriel mumbles. "The cartel doesn't give two flying shits about a mother's love."

Ronan laughs. "Ah, my friend. Maybe not, but they will buy the fact that Victoria is willing to hang her dearly beloved out to dry in exchange for her sweet daughter." He smiles like the sick bastard he is. "You know they'll kill all of you unless you kill them. This is the only way." His eyes flicker with a type of madness I've never seen before. "Ambush," he laughs.

"He's fucking loco, ese," Gabriel whispers. There's a pause. I have no doubt that Tor would go along with this plan, and I have no doubt she will be convincing. I've seen her do it before, but..."What if they see through it?" I ask.

"They would see through it if it were a lie..." That word hangs in the air. "But your woman doesn't think it's a lie. She truly will do anything for that daughter of yours, American. Even sell out her one, true love." He lifts a brow and blows a stream of smoke through his lips.

I fight the choking sensation working its way up my throat. I fight the hurt threatening to consume me. I want to kill them all—Ronan, Boris, Jesús...my grip on my gun tightens. My finger plays with the trigger. Part of me is crushed that Tor would sell me out, but the bigger part of me is fucking proud. The only things that matters to me are her and Cayla. I know she did it to save Cayla, I just wish she would have told me. My heart violently pounds against my chest, sweat creeps over my brow, and I exhale a long held breath.

"Do not be upset my friend,” Ronan says. “She is a good woman that one."

Growling, I jerk the laptop from Boris' hands and chuck it against the wall. The screen cracks and splits, pieces of plastic fly everywhere. Boris huffs and shakes his head before he turns and makes his way down the hall.

"This is fucking bullshit," I shout, glancing at Marney and Gabriel.

Gabriel steps beside me, clapping his hand over my shoulder. "He has this web woven so tightly, any way you turn you're fucked."