Page 46

W e had driven for about twenty-five minutes, not very far, when the van stopped.

Coral was weeping, her side pressed against me. I tried to comfort her the best I could with our hands bound and the pieces of tape they’d slapped across our faces.

The sound of the door wrenching open caused a tendril of fear to fill me. Only the one man was big, but in my experience, it was the smaller ones you had to watch out for.

Napoleonic complexes, the lot of them.

All desperate to prove their power by hurting those smaller, weaker than them.

“Get up you fat cunts,” the old man snapped, stepping back as if he didn’t want to touch us.

Too bad really.

See, I wasn’t weaker than this prick. And I was going to prove it.

I just needed to wait for the right moment.

“Connor really gonna come for her?” the big guy asked.

“Oh, he’s gonna come after this one alright. My stupid nephew thinks with his dick. Same as his father. He’ll come the second I text him and he’ll sign over the company and give me control of everything like I always should have had!”

Spittle hung from his lips, and he sneered and pointed his gun at us.

“Now walk!”

I stared at him in defiance, moving in front of my sister and hating this douchebag for what he was trying to do.

“I think she’s trying to say something, Boss.”

Big Guy ripped the tape off my face, and I yelped, unable to stop the sound from leaving my lips.

“You’re wrong. I don’t mean anything to Connor. He won’t come. Your plan is not going to work—ow!”

He smacked me again, and I winced as my lip split open. Snow was falling faster, and my anger was building.

“You think you’re better than me, don’t you? Well, the Callahan family is every bit as good as yours. Your people stole from folks like us, and it’s our turn now.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. Just let my sister go, at least.” “No can do, princess. She’s staying, And you can think of it this way. An Aziz and a Callahan were never gonna make it anyway. You’re like the modern day Montagues and Capulets. It could only end in fucking tragedy!” he said, laughing in my face.

“What’s that, Boss?”

“The Montagues and the Capulets. Fucking Romeo and Juliet, for fuck’s sake. Read a book!” he snapped.

The sound of an engine coming at us fast drew all our heads to the side, and I pushed my body back against Coral’s, forcing her back into the van.

Old Man and Big Guy turned their guns on the car, firing at the tinted windows.

My heart stopped when I saw a familiar outline inside.

“Connor!” I screamed as he opened the door.

He had two guns in his big, tattooed hands and I noticed blood oozing from one shoulder.

Big Guy ran at him, firing his weapon. But he wasn’t as good with a gun as Connor. And six rounds later, he fell to the ground before his body could connect with my man.

Thank fuck.

But while I was giving thanks, the other guy had snuck up next to me, using me to shield himself from Connor’s wrath.

He pulled me away from my sister, and I struggled but his hand in my hair hurt.

“Connor! Get Coral out of here!” I yelled, but he was already shaking his head.

“I don’t leave without you,” he said, and the fucker holding me tightened his hold.