Page 124 of Devil's Claim

“Have you told her what you were willing to do for her?” he asked.

The stench of blood, the sickeningly sweet copper odor filtered into my nostrils. I breathed it in, closing my eyes briefly. “Not yet. Recommendations?”

Navarro joined us, his face splattered with blood. “Tell her you lit up the city for her.”

We walked down the sidewalk as the first whooshing sound of a roaring fire sounded behind us. Maybe that’s exactly what I’d tell her.

There was little discussion as we rolled through the city, the third location where Alcarez’s son had recently taken up residence.

The guards were easy to pick off one by one, the pristine lawn soon littered with bodies. Yet after bursting inside, the first thing I’d heard was a woman’s scream and the sound of a child crying.

Bristling, I stopped just inside the foyer as the men piled in. “Let the woman and child live.”

I stormed up the stairs, moving silently down the hallway. Movement from one of the rooms caught my attention. Inside a woman held a little boy in her arms, cowering in the corner as she prayed in Spanish. For some reason, I flicked on the light, taking a deep breath once I had. The room was shaded in blue, the twin bed almost a duplicate of the one I’d selected for Maverick.

The realization wasn’t something I should even be thinking about, yet the few seconds I studied the cozy room was enough that Benito was yelling the man of the house had escaped.

What a fucking coward.

Alcarez had left his wife and son to fend for themselves. It was an unforgiveable sin punishable by death.

I bolted down the stairs, flying out the front door. The fucker was running, not bothering to even look back or care that his entire family could fall victim to several monsters. By all rights, I should cut off every limb before relieving him of his misery, but the need to return home was tugging at my mind and my heart.

As I lifted the weapon, I wished him well on his journey straight to hell.

Then I fired a single shot, taking a deep breath as the bastard slowly dropped to his knees.

Seconds later, I felt a presence beside me. I lowered my arm, drinking in the soft fragrance of night-blooming jasmine.

I turned away from the scene, taking a deep breath. “Let’s finish this. I have a family to return to.”

Jago nodded, placing his hand on my shoulder. “We both do. Now, if can convince Navarro to do the same.”

I shifted my gaze, staring into Navarro’s eyes. While the two of us would never be close, at that moment we shared a sense of pride as well as determination. In the Torres Empire we’d found family, able to provide for our futures. Yet wealth and power had lost its luster.

The look he gave me was one of jealousy as well as issuing a warning of his own.

That I shouldn’t fuck up what I shared with Christine. While any relationship had its share of difficulties, finding the right person capable of tolerating our sins was priceless.

And once in a lifetime.

I nodded in reverence and walked away.

For once, the silent man was right.

A gentle breeze softened the night air while the crisp air cooled the raging anger to a mild simmer. I stood outside the house I’d never really paid attention to, marveling at the flowers growing in the planter boxes I hadn’t even realized I owned. My housekeeper had obviously taken care of them, but for how long?

Two of the three inspectors had been killed, only Nico Romano left alive to spread the news to Fassi. Along with Gio Farrelli’s statement and assistance, the Moroccan was likely questioning his method of operation. He’d either come out swinging or would lie in wait to see our next move. By now, he knew without a doubt we were in the precious jewelry business.

We were setting ourselves up for a dangerous conclusion to the game, but we would force him into the open once and for all.

After popping a breath mint into my mouth, I almost laughed. I likely smelled to high heaven, but my breath would be fresh.

I tilted my head, noticing the light was on upstairs. A smile crossed my face. She’d insisted on returning to the house after spending one night at Jago’s. She’d told me she’d leave a light on for me for when I returned.

The words hadn’t really meant anything to me when I’d left.

Now? They meant the world.