Page 66 of Bratva Jewels Box Set

“Please excuse me for a moment,” Mateo says, getting up off the sofa and heading down the corridor toward our bedroom.

I follow him as he seems too quiet for the normal Mateo. “Babe, wait. Are you okay?” I call out to him.

He ignores me and walks into our bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

Guessing he’s not okay. I open the door and slam it behind me.

Mateo is sitting on the bed slumped over, his fingers pulling at his hair.

“My love, what is the matter?” I ask, stopping in front of him.

“I can’t stop thinking about what Enrique said about what those men did to her. They kidnapped and sold her as a party favor to their friends. Our Zoe.”

“I promise we will hunt these bastards down and eliminate every single one of them.”

“You heard what Enrique said. They have friends in high places. Even if they do capture them, they will call in a favor and be out on the streets again stealing innocent women for their sick games. I don’t want them to go to jail, Tomas. I want them fucking dead,” he curses angrily.

Falling to my knees in front of him, I grab his fists and hold them in my hands. “I promise you. We will deal with them the way we need to, and they may not always be legal,” I say, staring into his eyes.

Mateo gives me a curt nod in understanding. “Last night … last night when she said she was leaving us. My heart broke open, Tomas. It was as if I couldn’t breathe, the thought that we would never see her beautiful face again, hear her gorgeous laugh or touch her soft skin.”

I can see the anguish on Mateo’s face.

“Zoe’s not going anywhere, okay. She proved that this morning when she made us breakfast.”

“The thought of someone coming and taking her from us makes my heart want to crack in two.”

“No one is taking Zoe ever again. I promise you, my love, she is safe with us. You and I will protect her from the devil.”

“I can’t lose her. I can’t lose you,” he says, looking up at me.

“You won’t.”

It’s late by the time Enrique finishes going over everything Zoe remembers. Mateo and I decided it was best to let her talk to Enrique by herself. Each time we came in, I could tell she was skirting around the issues, and this is so much bigger than me wanting to be near her. If I’m honest, I don’t think I could handle hearing all the things that had happened to her while kidnapped. Just knowing what she has come from and the small snippets she’s told us is enough for me to light this motherfucking world on fire for her. I can only imagine the depths of their depravity, and I don’t need my worst thoughts to be confirmed.

“Thanks for today, Zoe. You’ve given us so much invaluable intel you have no idea. I’ll be in touch. Tomas knows how to contact me if you remember anything else,” Enrique explains to her.

“I’ve organized for an extra security firm to look after us. We will be protected 24/7 until this man is disposed of,” I tell my cousin.

“I’m going to choose to ignore your choice of words, cousin,” Enrique warns me.

“Best you do that,” I tell him as I walk my cousin to the front door.

“Is she going to be okay?” I ask him when we are far enough away.

He gives me a grin. “That woman is amazing—she is strong, intelligent, and funny. I can see why something is happening between the three of you.”

My cousin’s words surprise me. I didn’t think we were overly affectionate with Zoe all night. How did he know?

Enrique chuckles at me. “You do know it’s my job to pick up on the unspoken signs between people. I can see it in your eyes,the way the two of you look at her. It’s something a little more than fun.”

“You’ve met her, it’s hard to not fall for her.”

Enrique slaps me on the shoulder. “I’m happy for you both. It’s unconventional, but if the three of you are happy that’s all that matters. She is going to need you both to heal from this.”

“Is it that bad?”

“I’m not going to sugarcoat it, yes. It’s good in some ways that her mind still hasn’t given her all her memories. I’ve seen what these men do to these women. They show no mercy. Please be careful. If Nikolai finds out she is alive, then none of you are safe. As you know they are dangerous people, Tomas. He knows many more powerful than your father. I’ve been after this bastard for five years, and I’ve never been this close before.”