Chapter 44
Chapter Forty-Four
I’ve been busy before. There’s always something or someone to deal with in my line of work.
At the moment, though, it’s fucking insane.
Not only am I crossing names off the list I obtained from Evie’s mother, I’m also looking for the rat bastard Enrique and that fucking agent who beat the shit out of Paz and approached Evie.
Paz was able to find the agent’s home address but the asshole hasn’t shown his face there yet.
We’ve got men stationed on his street waiting for him.
He has a wife and a ten-year-old son—pawns I would usually use to my advantage—but I promised Evie I would avoid the killing of innocent people where I could.
And then there is the whole getting married thing. Which, believe me, I fucking want to marry that woman. I just can’t fly out to Milan or Georgia or wherever the hell we’re getting married right now. I need to deal with these threats before we can do that.
The plan is to use Evie to draw out this agent. I know assholes like him. He’s watching her, and as soon as he thinks she’s alone, he’s going to try to approach her again. When he does, I’ll fucking be there. First, I have a meeting that Paz and Alejandro set up. One that can’t be missed.
I just left Evie at Louie’s. She’s talking to Charlotte and Rachel about the wedding.
Really, I just wanted her somewhere with someone I could trust to look out for her.
Not that I haven’t left twenty guys around the Royal.
If she leaves that penthouse, she will be surrounded.
Everyone protecting her like the queen she is.
As soon as I walk into the conference room, the faces of the six men sitting at the round table pale. I smirk. I like having that effect on people. One of the men goes to stand. I hold out a hand and then someone else is pushing him back down in the chair.
“Please, don’t stand on my account,” I say.
“Who are you?” another asks with a bravado he really shouldn’t have.
“Watch your fucking tongue. I’m the one asking questions here. Not you.” I point to him.
“Why would I answer anything you have to say?” he sneers at me.
My fist connects with his jaw. The asshole goes flying backwards in the chair and then he’s on the floor. “Get him up,” I tell my men, and two soldiers drag the guy to his feet.
“What the fuck?” the asshole cries out.
I take my phone out of my pocket and hold it up to him. “You know this girl?” I ask.
The asshole’s eyes widen.
“Thought so.” I nod my head to the table. “You all fucking touched the wrong girl. Now, I’m here to collect the things you touched her with.”
Paz walks up behind us and passes me an axe. Just the tool I need for this job. “You’re last.” I point to the asshole with the sore jaw.
It’s worst being last, because you get to watch everyone else’s punishment, knowing your time is coming and there’s not a single thing you can do about it.
I have two guys holding down each of the others, their arms spread out in front of them. I had a marble table put in this room for this purpose. I don’t need the axe going through fucking wood or glass.
Walking around the table, I assess my targets. “Duck, duck… goose.” I tap the head of the third man and stop behind him. “Guess you get to be first.”
“No! I didn’t do anything!” He shakes his head while lies spill from his lips.
I lift the axe and bring it down on his right wrist, his hand detaching in one clean cut. The asshole screams, his head swirls, and I hurry to bring the axe down on his left arm.
“You don’t get to pass out. You’re going to feel every single fucking bit of pain,” I hiss into his ear. “Now, let’s continue the game, shall we?” I step up behind the next guy. “Duck, duck, duck, goose.”
The fourth fucker jumps or at least attempts to. They’re all trying to get out of their seats at this point. But it’s useless. Their old, scrawny asses are no match for the soldiers I’ve got holding them down. The axe bites into his left hand and then his right.
I continue this with all five of my targets before stopping at the sixth guy. “You know what? I think I’ll start by taking something else you touched her with.”
At my suggestion, my men lay him flat on the table that’s now covered in blood. The others passed out shortly after their arms were removed. Only one remains cognizant of what’s to come for him.
“Blowtorch,” I tell Paz, who just laughs and shakes his head at me.
I fire up the torch and hold it over the asshole’s crotch. It doesn’t take long for the fabric of his pants to incinerate, and then the smell of burning flesh fills the air as his dick and balls melt away. His screams are music to my ears.
Once I’m satisfied his dick is nothing more than mutated flesh, I hand the torch back to Paz. “Time to go, boys.”
At my command, my men all straighten and follow me out. Once we’re in the parking lot, I hit the button on the little controller in my hand and the building is engulfed by flames.
“That was some show,” Paz comments as we slide into the car.
“Good. Let the word spread. I want everyone to know what happens to the fuckers who touch her,” I grunt.
“I’m sure it will be widespread through the cities before the jet hits the ground,” he says.
“Make sure everything is set up there. I’m bringing her home tomorrow morning. I want her to feel safe,” I tell him.
Our compound in Mexico isn’t like the one here. It’s on a much larger scale, with a lot more men. It’s also where our factories are. It’s where most of our business is done. Once the drugs cross the border and I have my cash, I don’t have anything to do with the product.
By the time I make it back to Louie’s penthouse, news of the explosion is on every media outlet. “Have a party?” he asks, meeting me in the foyer.
“Something like that,” I tell him.
“You know, most people invite friends to their parties.”
I tilt my head. “And if I had any, I’d invite them,” I deadpan.
“Ouch.” He rubs his heart. “You know, one of these days, I’m going to actually believe you hate me.”
“Where is she?” I ask, looking around for Evie.
“They went up to the pool,” he says.
“Alone?” I’m already hitting the button for the elevator.
“We both know my wife is never without security,” he says. “There are five of my men up there.”
His reassurance does nothing to relieve my stress. It’s not until I step out onto the rooftop deck and lay eyes on her myself that I relax. I clock five of my men within feet of her and nod at them. They move back slightly but stay close enough, so that if they need to, they can reach her.
“Having fun?” I pick up a towel and lay it over Evie’s body. She’s sprawled out on a sun lounger in a fucking bikini. There are way too many men up here.
She goes to brush the towel aside.
“Don’t you dare take that off,” I warn in a low growl.
“Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it?” Evie raises a defiant brow at me as she plucks the towel off her back and throws it my way. And then, she’s on her feet. Her hands on her hips as she glares at me. “You are not my father, Emmanuel.”
“I’m your husband. That trumps father.” I drape the towel around her shoulders and pull her against me, holding her tight.
“There are men all over this rooftop and they’re all looking at your pretty little ass that’s on full display for them.
You can yell at me all you want. Behind closed doors, Evie.
Not in front of the men who work for me. Never in front of people.”
She stills in my arms and looks up at me. “You’re serious.”
“They can’t get ideas in their heads that I’ve gone soft. It’s how we stay in power.”
“It’s how you stay in power,” she corrects.
“We. You are my queen. You are my equal, Evie,” I tell her.
“Just not in front of anyone, right?”
“Just once, I would love it if you could just say: Yes, E. Whatever you want, E,” I grumble.
“No you wouldn’t.” She shakes her head and laughs.
She’s right. I would hate if she turned into that person. But, fuck, it’s tiring fighting with her about every single topic.
“We have the rest of our lives to figure out shit. Let’s not fight about it now,” I suggest.
“That sounds like a solid plan, because I’m going swimming and you’re coming.”
“I’m not dressed for the pool,” I state the obvious.
“Drop the suit, E. I’ll meet you in there.” Evie winks and then wiggles out of my hold—and the fucking towel. I watch as she jumps right into the water.
Fuck me. Guess I’m going swimming. I remove my jacket and nod to one of my men, handing him my pistol and knife. I remove my shirt next. Evie’s head pops out of the water, and she watches me with a devious smirk on her face.
As soon as I’m down to my black briefs, I jump into the pool. My arms circle her waist and I pull her body up against mine. My lips find hers and I fucking devour her.
“I love you,” I whisper against her lips.
Evie’s legs wrap around my torso, and her arms tighten around my neck. “Good, because I like being loved by you.”