Page 100 of Ruthless Commander

I gave her a nod. “On one condition: I go in first. You are backup.”

“I’m backup.”

“I mean it, Xael. So help me God…”

“I know. I promise.” She nodded, and I saw the truth in her eyes. “I promise, Mateo.”

I believed her.

“Good. Okay, we refuel, then take a drive past.” I turned around and popped the trunk release of the Audi before going back and reaching inside for my bag. “I only have two weapons.” I started. “So we’re going to need to be careful.”

“No need.” She tossed her empty cup into the garbage and moved close, reaching over to grab her own pack. “I brought my own.”

I looked her way as she unzipped the bag and opened it to reveal a lightweight protection vest. She pulled her sweater over her head and slipped the vest on, securing the sides with Velcro.

“The fuck…” I whispered, staring.

“You think I wasn’t prepared for this day?” She laughed, and pulled her sweater on once more. Then she reached back in, grabbed not one but two Sigs from inside, and reached around to slip them inside the waistband of her jeans.

She astounded me.

To the point of speechlessness.

I wanted to pull her close, to feel her warmth and her love…for just a moment. But I didn’t. I couldn’t move, couldn’t give into that softness. Not here…and not now.

Instead, I watched Xael close the trunk of the car and turn to me. “Are we going?”

I gave a nod and climbed in behind the wheel once more. The truth was…I was scared, scared of what we’d find, scared of how we’d survive. I was more scared now than I’d ever been in my entire life. It was all because of her.

Because she gave me something to be fearful about.

The thought of losing her.

I started the car and pulled out, following the GPS directions as I headed toward the town. I didn’t know why he was here. There were no cities near the town, no reason for him to be here at all. I glanced at the marker as still closed shops appeared to line the streets.

We were headed for the outskirts of the town, what looked like an industrial area. Cars were parked outside a local cafe. I glanced inside as we passed, then turned my focus to the quiet street as we drove through the town and out the other side.

By the time we turned into the street we needed, I was prepared for the worst. This place wasn’t one someone like Edon lived in, it was a place you were taken to be tortured…and die.

It was the only thing that made sense.

My brother had been captured and brought here to be broken by whoever wanted the kind of information someone who was a hitman for the Salvatores had.

Which was a lot.

“That’s it, right?”

I glanced at Xael, then the GPS, as a storage yard came into view. Towering fences enclosed metal shipping containers. I slowed the car and crept past, searching the yard for any sign of life…

But there was none.

No cars.

No men.

No Edon.

I drove past and braked, turning at the end of the street. Xael turned to look behind us. “There’s a street running behind it. Maybe we can park there and double back on foot?”