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“Kill my daughter and I’ll kill your bitch.”

“Seems we’re at a standoff.” I nod at Rocco. “And you? What’s your part in this with Sergio? I’m more powerful than Sergio. It’s why he wants me to marry his daughter. Get his hands on my holdings.”

Sergio starts spluttering but Rocco’s face turns mean. “You’re part of the deal. Or your power is. Marry her, I get half. That’s the promise. And I’ll be the most powerful man around.”

“We will,” says Sergio.

It’s at that point the door starts beeping and the gun on Rocco shifts slightly as my man glances at the door. And in the front of the building, behind us, comes a commotion. Shouts but no shots.

But it’s enough for Rocco to reach beneath his jacket and pull a weapon. I only have time to start to swing my weaponfrom Sergio as Rocco’s aims at me. But a bullet slams into his head.

He’s dead before he hits the floor.

I don’t glance back; I know who made the shot.

“She’s fine,” Ilya says with a grunt of pain.

I swing my gun to Sergio as he goes for something in his shoe. A knife, a gun, I don’t give a fuck. I aim and pull the trigger and he drops.

Not dead, just seriously wounded. Blood pours from just below his left shoulder as he falls to the floor.

“Ivan, if he moves again, shoot.” Now I lift my gaze, glancing at the safe room door. “And Ilya, I thought I made it clear you were to stay away.”

Ilya’s cane hits the floor as he comes into view, gun in one hand as he gives me a smirk. “You clearly needed my help.”

“I had it under control. She’s okay?” I ask.

“They got away. You should turn your phone on.”

“It’s dead.”

He tsks. “Always bring a charger.”

“I’ll pack it with sandwiches for the next shootout.”

“See that you do.” It doesn’t go unnoticed that Ilya leans heavily on Sergio’s desk.

I turn my full attention back to the fuck. “Sergio said he had someone holding a gun on Erin. Are you sure?”

“Spoke to her myself. They’re at Vasily’s. Alina got them there. Unfortunately, the guards we had are dead. But Sasha and Erin and your sister are safe. They’re safe.”

Safe. Inside, I’m shaking as the word sinks in. And all the fear I held back, the fear I pretended I didn’t have, floods me and my vision wavers.

I go up to Sergio, kicking him down, then stepping on his wound, grinding my foot down on it. He screams in agony. I keep my foot there, pinning him. “You dared try to scare a small child and a pregnant woman? Take my family? Lie tome? You knew your guards didn’t have them and you fucking lied. For what? You thought I’d cave and marry Stefina? What kind of sick fuck are you?”

I lift my foot and start to kick him, the panic and relief turning into anger. I fucking hate this cunt.

A door clicks. It’s like a light in my head.

What the fuck am I doing? I don’t even want this blight to suffer. I just want him to no longer exist.

So I lift my gun and shoot him in the head.

He doesn’t move again.

“No! Daddy!”

Stefina flies past me and drops to her father, hysterical. I motion to someone to pull her back.