Page 30 of Veiled Vengeance (The Devils of New York #3)

GAbrIEL

M y fingers tap on the arm of my chair as I set my chin against my fist on the other arm. A beautiful redhead dances on the stage in front of me, but my attention is transfixed on the woman who has unwittingly enchanted me.

I knew the moment I brought her into my life I was putting her in danger. But Carmen Flores isn’t a fragile snowflake.

She’s a spitfire. She’s fierce.

Even now. She’s nearly naked in a room full of people. She has been kidnapped and hurt, but her pride is intact, and she holds her head high. As she walks around the pole in her heels, she rolls her eyes at the two men sitting by her stage.

That’s my girl.

Carmen’s acting like she has chewed gum on her shoe rather than acting like she’s been kidnapped by human traffickers.

The two men, Anthony Cole and Pierce Murphy, laugh together at Carmen’s annoyance. They’re going to regret taking what’s ours.

My eyes wander to the main stage, where Mateo pretends to be entertained by the dancer there. He puts his index and middle fingers together and touches his lips with them. Slyly switching my attention to the bar, Diego gives me the same sign.

They’re both ready.

Asher and Spencer walk in with one of Anthony and Pierce’s men. The man walks with false machismo . He thinks his big gun makes him tough.

Idiota.

As they walk by, Asher looks at me and nods his head once.

Another step closer to getting Carmen out of here.

I need her back where she belongs. In my home, my bed—fuck giving her space. We gave her space, and this happens.

I watch as Spencer, Asher, and Anthony talk together. They may not be throwing punches, but they’re close to it. The way Spencer clutches her arms and the way Asher’s muscles in his back are taut tell me all I need to know.

As Pierce jumps up onto the stage right next to Carmen, I sit forward in my seat. My hand rests on the gun hidden under my suit jacket.

Pierce produces a key and unlocks the handcuffs. Once she’s free, he pushes her off the stage and onto the floor. Carmen doesn’t have time to brace for the fall, and she lands on her side.

He was already a dead man, but now he’s going to suffer.

Jumping to my feet, I watch them intensely. In my peripheral vision, I notice Diego and Mateo standing as well. Pierce hops down and crouches beside Carmen.

Don’t be stupid, mi vida.

“Do you need a refill, sir?” A waitress with oversized wild hair and fake boobs presses her cleavage against my arm.

“No.” I don’t even glance in her direction.

“Let me know if there’s anything I can help you with.” Her finger drags down my sleeve in an attempt at seduction.

“Not likely.”

She pouts but accepts my answer and walks away.

Whatever Pierce says to Carmen sets her off. Her eyes glow with her wrath, and she spits right in his face. Pierce doesn’t even wipe his face before his hand is ready to fly.

Fuck this. I’m not waiting.

I whip out my piece and sprint across the floor to Carmen. Diego and Mateo move with me, but we don’t reach them before Pierce slaps Carmen across the face. She falls back to the floor, and her hand goes to her cheek.

That’s another month of pain for this cabrón.

Anthony notices us coming and shoves Spencer aside while drawing his gun. Asher grabs Spencer and throws her to the floor while he lays on top to protect her.

As Anthony takes aim and begins to fire, we don’t stop running to them. His first shot goes high, and the second goes too wide.

Screams erupt around us, and people begin to run in every direction to leave Euphoria. Anthony and Pierce’s men all leave their posts and converge on us, firing their guns as well. Diego, Mateo, and I shoot back, taking down a few of them.

Anthony continues shooting as he moves backwards toward a set of hidden stairs. Spencer spots him attempting to flee and elbows Asher in the stomach to get him off her. When she’s free, she takes off after Anthony, swiping a gun from a dead guard.

“Spencer! Don’t you dare!” Asher shouts. He leaps to his feet and chases Spencer, pilfering a gun of his own on his way.

La mara hears the gunshots and comes running from where they’ve been lying in wait. As they enter, their guns are drawn and aimed at the men firing at us. A full-blown shoot-out ensues.

Rio and Zane enter behind la mara . We make eye contact for a split second, and I point to the stairs, letting them know where to find Asher and Spencer. They don’t miss a step as they dart to the staircase.

“Stay back!” Pierce shouts at us as he makes Carmen stand with him and holds his gun to her temple.

For the first time in a long time, my hands sweat, and a sickening wave of terrors builds low in my stomach.

But we don’t stop.

My focus is stuck on the barrel of the gun aimed at the woman who has my heart— all our hearts.

Carmen keeps her mouth shut as the gun is pressed further into her skin. Her breathing is visible as her chest moves up and down dramatically. Her eyes are wide, and tears well in her eyes.

Our guns are all pointed at Pierce, and I’m ready to pull the trigger. He won’t be the first man I’ve killed, and he won’t be the last.

“I said stay back!” Pierce’s hand shakes as he backs away in a different direction than the one Anthony took.

“Not going to happen, pendejo !” Mateo shouts back.

“It’s okay, Teo. D, step back.” Carmen’s voice quivers. “Gabe, look at me. I’ll be fine.”

We don’t listen. We can’t walk away.

“Listen to her, you bastards! Back off!” Pierce’s voice ascends into a murderous falsetto. His crazed eyes dart around the room as he realizes there’s nothing he can do to make us leave. Desperation closes in on him from all sides.

Pierce swings his gun in our direction and fires aimlessly. We can’t shoot back—we would risk hitting Carmen.

Diego yells as a bullet grazes his arm. Mateo and I turn to jump on top of Diego. I make it one step before a burning fire pierces my stomach. My hand automatically covers the spot where the pain seems to be coming from. When I look down at my hand, it’s covered in red.

“No!” Carmen screeches. Her heart is in her scream.

I look at her and find the worry in her eyes. She struggles to get free and fails. So, she reaches behind her and rakes her nails down Pierce’s face.

Pierce cries out, “Fucking whore!” Then he pushes Carmen to the floor and opens the door behind him to a hallway we didn’t know was there. He points his gun down and gets off two rounds. Without glancing back, he runs down the hall, and the door swings shut behind him.

Carmen lies on the floor motionless.