Page 117 of Red Retaliation

Fuck! It’s a setup!

Trying my best to act casual, I glance out of the window, fear expanding within me. We’re not heading towards Mayfair either. Sweattrickles between my breasts as I nonchalantly rummage in my bag, using it as a screen to hide my phone. If I can just send a message to Red - send him anything to let him know this is a trick.

Not w Cal

This is –

“That’s not a good idea...” A gravelly voice snarls as my phone is snatched from my hand. These are the first words this odd-looking man has spoken. It sounds like he has a throat full of broken glass.

Head spinning, I look at the man wearing a scowl like a rabid animal. His meaty fist bangs on the black glass divider which slides open, showing the back of the man driving.

Then another face appears from the passenger seat side and I suck in a breath.

“Matteo? I didn’t realize you were back in the country! What’s going on? Is Papà all right? Has he sent you to get to safety from the threat that’s...”

“Give me her phone.” Matteo digs the brick-headed man in the shoulder.

“Matteo?”

“Shut it, you stupid whore,” he barks, the venom in his voice cutting me to the quick.

My initial elation at seeing my brother, rather than Edoardo Bristoni or one of his men, evaporates and instead curls into a paralyzing fear around the base of my spine. The look of pure hatred on Matteo’s face shows that I have nothing to be relieved about.

It is then, like a slow-moving poison creeping through my veins, I realize that my brother isn’t here to take me to safety after all.

It’s precisely the opposite.

All I can hope for is that once Red realizes something has happened and I’m not with who he thinks I’m with, then he’ll use that tracking app he put on my phone.

He will. He’ll track where I am and come and get me. He hasn’t let me down yet.

CHAPTER

85

Red

DEL LOOKS AT HIS watch again, but doesn’t need to because I’m fully aware we’re almost out of time.

“Red, you need to make the call to evacuate,” Oscar says, a note of trepidation in his voice.

He’s right to feel trepidation, but whatever happens, I won’t abandon my building. Like the captain of a ship in the event of a disaster, I’ll go down with it. It’s the only thing I can do. “I’m not leaving.”

“Don’t be crazy, bruv.” Liam tugs at my arm. “Come on. We need to get out of here. Wherever that thing is, it’ll blow any minute.”

I think this is one of the rare occasions I’ve seen Liam look concerned. He rarely shows signs of fear, unless he’s on the receiving end of my rage, but it’s there now - shining bright.

I turn to Oscar, who wears the same expression, and then finally look at my watch, already knowing what I’ll see: one minute to the deadline.

There’s nowhere else to search. We’ve looked everywhere.

I’ve failed.

Just when I got a glimpse of something other in my life aside fromthis- in the form of Arianna, the chance of a life with her is fast moving as far away as a desert oasis. There’s nothing else I can do, buttheycan. “Leave. All of you,” I croak, my throat dry. “Get out now. There’s no point in us all going down.”

“Red, no!” Liam moves forward. “We can’t. We won’t! We’re not leaving you. It’s not...”

“It’s me they want.Me.” I flap my hand. “The rest of you - all of you,go. Go now. Before it’s too late!” My brothers, Keith and Del exchange looks, but no one wants to make the move. “JUST GO!” I scream.