Chapter 26 #2
“Is that what you thought? When you were sticking your hands under my panties and I was screaming for you to leave me alone, you thought I was begging for it?”
“Absolutely. You’re the kind of bitch who likes it rough.” Zane laughed.
I had my hand on the door.
Somehow, my lovely potential bride to be managed to toss her head over her shoulder toward me. Warning me to stay cool. No, that wasn’t quite right. She was threatening me with her killer look.
“You know, when you ran off, I was pissed. Furious with you.”
“Why, because I’m supposed to know my place? The good little wife to be shared by the special Elite members of the Brotherhood?”
She’d managed to surprise him, laughing when his expression turned cold.
“Yes, I know all about your little social club, Zane. I know about so many members and all the sick things you do. I was lucky and escaped while all those poor women weren’t. You know the ones I mean, the women you raped? The women you beat up?”
“You fucking bitch. Are you trying to blackmail me?”
“I’m simply telling you I have proof of rape, corruption, extortion, and other heinous acts.”
Zane laughed. “What proof could you have?”
As planned, she pulled out a few choice photographs provided by Greg, sliding them across the counter. Also as planned, two of the guests tossed their cups into the trash.
“See you tomorrow, Josette,” the female customer said. “Your croissants are the best in the city.”
“You’re too kind, Martha.” Josette’s voice didn’t waver. Her continued strength was admirable.
The lapse in time allowed the ramifications of the images presented to firmly plant in Zane’s mind.
“You did this to women because you believed you were entitled,” she continued.
“I am entitled, Daniella. That’s what you never understood. Your mother finally got it.”
“You mean after you and your father had my dad killed.”
Zane laughed. “He had it coming for daring to go against the Brotherhood. So did you. There was nothing better than taking a taste of that sweet body of yours. When we return, together, I’m going to take days fucking every tight little hole.”
“Like hell you are. You’re going to prison, Zane. For what you did to me and the other women.”
“No, I’m not going to do any such thing. In fact, you’re coming home with me. This go-around, you’re going to become my wife.”
“There’s one problem with that,” she spit out, holding up her left hand. “I’m already engaged. To Sinclair Prince.”
“Oh, yeah? Do you really think your boyfriend is going to be able to stop me?”
I’d anticipated Zane overreacting, but when he grabbed her around the throat, dragging her across the counter, all the promises made were tossed aside.
I kicked open the door, lunging toward him.
Zane’s reaction was quicker than I’d envisioned, the bastard grabbing a knife from the counter, pressing the tip against the side of her neck. He was exasperated, backing toward the side wall, shocked to see the two customers left had weapons pointed at his head.
I rounded the corner of the counter, taking careful steps toward him.
“I suggest you realize you’re outnumbered, Zane,” I told him, struggling with the fury clouding my vision. Losing my cool couldn’t occur.
Zane was fidgety, uncertain what to do. That made him that much more dangerous.
“The great Sinclair Prince. You think you’re something special. You’re not. You’re nothing but a thug. I’m royalty.”
I almost laughed but there wasn’t time. He’d underestimated my wildcat. She wasn’t in the mood to remain the victim or to be taken hostage by a cockroach.
In a display of force I’d challenge later, she stomped on his foot, breaking his hold and immediately knocked the knife from his hand. As it clattered to the floor, she threw me a ‘hands off’ look before issuing two brutal jabs, one to his stomach and the other to his face.
As he staggered backward, she took a step away before issuing a savage kick. The force was just enough to pitch him over two counter stools and onto the floor.
Somehow, he managed to scramble, almost reaching the knife.
Not a chance in hell.
Without thinking, I dragged him from the floor, tossing him against the wall. After a brutal backhand with my weapon, I nailed him with punch after calculated punch, the rage from deep within incapable of stopping.
Then I heard her voice.
“Sin. Don’t. Stop, please. Not like this.”
I had him in the air off his feet, ready to snap his neck. With her soft, imploring voice, I stopped midair, slowly turning my head.
“You know what’s best for him.”
I did so adore her smile, especially when it was laced with a touch of evil.
Laughing, I knew she was right. Killing him would be too easy. He deserved to suffer.
The best way of doing that?
Prison.
I happened to know the right people behind bars who would help him understand abusing women wasn’t acceptable.
“I hate to say it, wildcat. But you’re right.” I dropped him, taking a step away. “She’s right. You’re going to prison, Zane.”
Even with a swollen, bloodied lip, he managed to laugh while struggling to stand. “You have nothing on me and I assure you I have an excellent team of attorneys.”
“Is that right? Including Greg Franklin?”
As soon as I tossed out the name, he was suddenly stricken by silence.
“Yes, let’s just say he turned state’s evidence.
” I nodded toward my men holding weapons.
They responded by opening the entrance door.
Four of New Orleans’ finest walked in. “You see, Greg is an old buddy of mine who happened to come to his senses. He’s the one who provided my lovely bride to be with those juicy photographs. ”
When I glanced toward the officers, they nodded. “You came in loud and clear, Ms. Samuels, on the recording.” It was so good to have police officers who owed me a favor or two.
“You see, Zane. In addition to the evidence Greg collected, there’s Josette’s recording. You and the Brotherhood are going down.”
I didn’t waste any additional time, allowing the boys in blue to do their job while I headed to the beautiful woman still holding her own in front of the man who’d viciously attacked her.
As I cupped her face, she rubbed my arms, taking several deep breaths. “Is there where you’re going to tell me you have something to do and won’t be home until later?”
Home.
She had no idea how much I enjoyed hearing the word. “Something like that.”
“Should I wait up?”
Laughing, I pressed my thumb into her mouth, forcing her to suck. “Absolutely. And you know what will happen if you don’t. You will be punished.”
After sucking for a few seconds, she pushed my hand away. “As I told you before, I’m not sure I’d mind.”
Pop! Pop! Pop!
The three men who’d been assigned to watch the front of the building had been easy pickings. We had other soldiers walking the grounds, handling the other four. Santos appeared nervous, protective of the meeting at Greg’s office.
I couldn’t blame him.
There were dangerous men everywhere.
“There’s a party going on at our warehouse and we weren’t invited,” Alexander said as he matched my stride while we headed into Greg’s office building. He chuckled as he shoved his phone into his pocket.
Our soldiers rushed into the empty lobby, heading for the stairs.
“How many arrived at the party?”
“Twenty. It would seem Santos is nervous.”
I laughed and pressed the button for the elevator. “He should be. And Texas?”
“Just waiting for my call.” He leaned against the elevator wall. “How do you want to play this?”
Alexander was my brother, but that came after being my Don. It was something that I’d known from a young age. He was firstborn and would lead and I was perfectly content with that.
Every family had a hierarchy, often as a result of someone taking the lead because others refused. That wasn’t the case with crime syndicates. We were brought up a certain way, our beliefs entrenched in generations of knowledge and training, in expectations and required loyalty.
Not once had I challenged my place on the food chain.
Not once had I gone against any command given by my father or my older brother. Had I questioned their decisions? All the time. That was my personality, but going against my values or the family wasn’t something I would do.
However, now I realized I had another family that counted on me. While there was nothing formal in place, the protectiveness I felt for Josette and Indiana wasn’t going away. In fact, it was strengthening every day.
I’d promised her I’d never lie to her.
Well, I had.
I’d told her she could return to her normal life. That simply wasn’t going to happen.
But she’d changed me. My ideals. My beliefs. Everything.
Maybe I was going soft in my older age.
“We leave them for the cops to play with.”
Alexander laughed. “The lady has changed you.”
“Isn’t that what happened when you met Catherine?”
“That was different.”
We both stepped off the elevator together. “How so?”
“My incredible charm won her over, whereas you forced Josette into caring about you.”
“Right. Tell yourself another lie, brother.”
We stopped just outside the main door to Greg’s office. He turned toward me, nodding several times. “It’s good to see you happy. After losing Callista, I wasn’t certain that was possible. I’m going to give you a piece of advice.”
“From you? Mister sullen and grouchy?”
He glared at me. “Fine. Maybe I was, but no longer. Just remember what our father used to say about being in love.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. “Clue me in, brother.”
Alexander clapped me on the arm. “Happy wife. Happy life.” He laughed as he opened the door.
Meanwhile, I stood back for a few seconds. Maybe he was right. However, she was the one who’d made me happy. In turn, I planned on spending the rest of my life repaying her.
My way.
Sprinkled with a little discipline.
I chuckled to myself all the way down the hallway until hearing voices coming from behind a closed door.
We both stopped as our soldiers moved down the corridor. Now with weapons in our hands, we quietly opened the door, our men piling in behind us.
Even before a single person noticed our arrival.
Greg was the first, his eyes reflecting fear.
“Gentlemen, sorry for the interruption,” Alexander began. “But we need to talk.”