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“I was a good soldier, but your father didn’t give a shit. He fired me. Did you know that? He took everything from me and planned on tossing me aside. All that money. All the assistance I provided, the money I made for him. He did it.”

“So… you… sold… your… soul.” The lights appeared dim, the words I’d managed to issue taking most of the air in my lungs. “They… wanted you… dead.”

Antonio laughed. “I did what was necessary to survive. That’s what you don’t understand. There is no loyalty. None. But a princess like you wouldn’t have any idea. Would you?” He tightened the cord, determined to kill me.

With the last of my strength, I scratched his face, managing to thrust my thumb into his eye.

He hissed, almost losing his hold. That allowed me a split second to shift and kick. The loud crash as everything was tossed from the small dresser echoed in my ears.

“Bullshit. I will soon be a king. Die, you fucking bitch.” Antonio wrapped the cord again, jerking me off the floor.

At that point, nothing was in focus any longer.

But I heard noise.

Growls and shouts.

Angry words spoken in Spanish.

But nothing made any sense.

Suddenly, air was returned to my lungs and I gasped, clawing at whoever was dragging me away.

Breathe. Breathe.

I clawed at whoever was holding me, trying to focus. The scent. All male. The aftershave. Yes, I recognized it. Jago. Oh, God.

“Fuck, baby. We need to stop meeting like this.”

Jago.

He’d saved me.

Again.

I was half dragged away and all I could do was claw at my throat. “He… wanted…”

“Stop. Just breathe. In and out. Breathe.”

“Fuck the man. Let me put a bullet in his brain,” Navarro growled.

I heard Navarro’s voice, the anger that spilled from every syllable.

“Not yet,” Jago told him.

A loud pounding. Was someone hitting the wall?

Closing my eyes, I tried to focus on his voice as the ringing in my ears lessened, the stars in my eyes subsiding. When I opened them again, my focus was close to returning.

“That’s it. I need to do something. You’re going to be right here with Navarro.”

“What are you… doing?” I looked up into his eyes, still clinging to him, but anger was increasing. “I’m fine.”

“I’m going to do what I should have done before,” Jago snarled.

“Leave him. Let the Turks take care of him.” I surprised myself in making the suggestion.

He cocked his head, taking several deep breaths.