SEVENTEEN
The moment I open the back kitchen door, her scent invades my nostrils, and my cock stirs to life.
Cinnamon and sugar.
All things sweet and pure.
She’s here.
There’s not a doubt in my mind. Her presence wraps around me like a warm blanket, soothing my soul, and enforcing my will to do what needs to be done.
Vivid memories of fucking her on the kitchen counter, against the hallway wall, and making love to her in my bed flood my mind. Fuck Tarek for tainting my home, my memories, by bringing her here.
My hand tightens around the grip of the 1911, and I move into the kitchen slowly, my eyes never leaving the doorway to the living room. When I reach the jamb, I take a deep breath and then peer around the corner.
No sounds.
No movement.
The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
Something’s wrong.
Step by agonizingly slow step, I make my way down the hallway, passing the open bathroom door.
No steam on the mirror.
The door to the guest bedroom hangs open.
Rumpled sheets cover the bed, but no other signs of life permeate the air.
Where the fuck are they?
There’s no way she isn’t here. Jade and I only spent one night here together. The night before we left to start our new lives. There wasn’t time for her scent and presence to invade the space the way they do now.
A half dozen steps bring me to the narrow stairs up to the master bedroom. It’s the perfect place for an ambush. If Tarek is up there, there’s a good chance I’ll be under a hail of bullets the moment I set foot on the first step. But I don’t have a choice.
My heart pulls me up the stairs as much as my need for revenge does.
When I reach the top, I know the house is empty.
No sounds or signs of life.
No barrage of bullets.
No Jade.
Where the FUCK are they?
Rage boils in my gut as I approach the bed.
A single sheet of white paper lies in the center.
Konstandin –
Too late, brother. Knowing me as you do, I anticipated you coming here as soon as I learned of what you did to Armend and Saban. Don’t worry, I’m taking excellent care of Rea.
While I’m impressed with your ability to make it this far, your days are numbered. There will be a reckoning, brother. Soon.
Tarek
The mattress sinks under my weight. My hand shakes, and I set my gun down next to me.
I’m too late.
They were here…
So fucking close.
My bellowed roar vibrates in my chest and bounces around the room. Something takes hold of me, wrapping around my chest and squeezing tightly. My vision blurs and before I even know I'm doing it, the mirror above the dresser is shattered into a thousand pieces, the mattress is flipped over against the wall, and angry tears are running down my face.
“No!” He can't win. I won't let him. I can't let that happen to her.
Fear is an unknown feeling for me. Even in the darkest and hardest days of my life, I never experienced the gut clenching sensation that’s overtaking my body now, because it is isn't fear for me or for my life. It's for her, and I've never truly loved anyone before.
Only the ringing of my phone breaks me from the downward spiral of fear.
Lorenc's number flashes across the screen, and I notice the time.
Shit.
“Hello?”
“Everyone's in a mad scramble. Police are swarming over the warehouses and bakery. I sure as shit hope you have her and took care of Tarek already.”
I scrub my hand over my face and survey the destruction in the room. “They aren't here.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. I must have just missed them. And now I don’t have a fucking clue where he may have taken her.”
On top of destroying part of Tarek’s vast network, the panic and disarray the bombs caused was supposed to be a distraction to keep both the police and the remaining members of Tarek’s crew busy while I took care of him and got away.
I never thought for a second he wouldn’t be here.
“Hold on.”
The wait feels like hours.
“I may be able to help you with that.”
Hope lightens the weight on my shoulders momentarily.
“What do you know?”
“Enrik just sent me a text. He’s meeting your brother at the Heritage Field airport in thirty minutes.”
The motherfucker thinks he’s getting away with my woman? Over my dead body.
Which begs the question…if he knew I would come here, why didn’t he have an ambush waiting for me? Why not leave some of his men here to take me out the moment they set eyes on me?
Unease returns as I make my way down the stairs.
“Meet me at the airport in ten.”
I’m not going into this alone. Not with so much at stake.