Page 31 of Red Retaliation

I ignore him. Anyone who knows me realizes I’ll pick off anyone and everyone off from either of those two bastard firms. Whoever wanders into my sights first - the higher up the chain, the better. I’ll storm both headquarters and open fire on each and every fucker until I reach Bristoni and Galvatore themselves.

As for the bullet in my shoulder - I don’t give a shit. I’ll deal with that myself later with a pair of pliers. I’ve done it before more than once, so I’ll do it again.

“Now do you see that insisting on keeping that woman under our roof is detrimental?” Liam barks. “It’s only been days and the shit’s kicked off already!”

I glare at my brother. I still want to kill him. It’s galling me that because of this situation I’ve no choice now but to keep him close. Regardless of what he did, I need him now, and he fucking knows it.

“Keep your opinion to yourself,” I growl. “Remember that if I hadn’t been forced to eject you, Steve would not be dead!”

The following loaded silence sticks to my eyes as I concentrate on theroad ahead. I’m driving because I don’t trust myself not to kick off at anyone in this van otherwise. “You’re lucky it’s notyoudead on the tarmac!”

“You have one of my family, and now we take one of yours.”

Steve wasn’t family in the blood sense of the word, but he was tome.

Liam would have taken those bullets if Steve hadn’t thrown himself on top. That hit was meant for Liam. Or more likely,me.

It was for a Bateman, not Steve, yet Steve paid with his life by doing his job and followingmyorders. That alone makes my rage limitless, so it matters little whether it was the Bristonis or the Galvatores who claimed one of my family, for they will both pay.

But then I realize something else - something that is more important than anything.

Aside from my raw urge to annihilate, I will not put any more of my own at risk.

Without warning, I tug the steering wheel into a hard lock; the tires screeching as the van skews. I slam my foot to the floor and accelerate back the way we came.

“What the fuck?” Oscar clings to the door. “What’s going on?”

“Change of plans,” I mutter. “We’re not paying anyone a visit tonight.”

“What? You’ve got to be fucking jok...”

“They’ll be expecting it,” I say, not that I need to explain myself. “We won’t play into their hands.”

And we won’t.

My temper is legendary, and immediate retaliation is presumed. We were about to fall right into the trap, but the Bristonis and Galvatores won’t get what they seek just yet. They’ll get something far worse. Something to crucify both of them, but better still, Arianna too for bringing this shit to my door.

And I’ve just decided exactly what it will be.

CHAPTER

20

Arianna

ISTARE OUT OF THE WINDOW over the Thames. To anyone else, it’s an enthralling sight. It might have been to me once, but now all it signifies is a horrible nightmare.

I watch the bustle of people below, unaware I’m trapped in here awaiting what, I do not know. How I envy their freedom. It’s something I never had, and now I have even less than before.

I turn away from the window and look around the room I initially thought beautiful, now finding it ugly and oppressive. Since being shepherded back here from the office late last night, I’ve seen no one. It wasn’t even Red who brought me back - it was one of his other men. The one they call “Del”.

My eyes narrow in the reflection of the immense window. I have the right to know whether my family is safe, yet I don’t. That Del person wouldn’t tell me a thing - just said it was Red’s business.

So where is Red?

Is that why he’s keeping his distance? Because the bastard has killed my family?

I refuse to tremble. Or cry. But this is unacceptable.