Chapter 10
N ick twisted his wrists, the rope digging into his skin. He blinked his eyes open. The searing bright light sent his pounding headache into a full-on battle of the drums.
“You fucked with the wrong man.” A dark raspy voice pierced through the ringing in Nick’s ears.
Nick struggled to concentrate as a sticky liquid dripped over his eyes.
“I could say the same thing to you.” Nick’s vision slowly snapped into focus. He’d been tied to a chair, his arms behind his back, his ankles bound to the legs. To his right a large oak desk faced a window that overlooked a small patio that he recognized as an extension of the pool area.
So he was on the first floor, east of the pool, and a far distance to the gate where he’d entered the property .
He glanced to his left, and his heart dropped to his gut.
Leandra sat on the sofa, her hands and ankles bound and duct tape over her mouth.
“Motherfucker.” He snapped his head up to his captor. “You hurt her, and I’ll fucking kill you.” He cocked his head. “On second thought, I’m going to kill you anyway.”
The man laughed. “I don’t think so.” He waved his gun in Nick’s face, then pointed it at Leandra. “You stole my girls, so I’m thinking I should steal yours.”
Nick growled, twisting his wrists as hard as he could.
The rope ripped at his skin, but he didn’t care.
“You have no idea who you’re dealing with.
” He had to believe his brothers had gotten the girls to safety and were minutes away from crashing through a window.
Or maybe a door. He looked up. Could be the roof.
But his brothers were out there, and they would help save his sorry ass.
Their father always told them that brothers shared a bond, one that could never be broken.
He taught them to watch each other’s back.
His father had been the smartest man Nick had ever known, and he and his brothers did their best to think just like him.
Two days before he’d been killed in the line of duty, he’d gathered his sons and took them on a fishing trip, where they caught absolutely nothing but were reminded of the brotherhood they shared.
One for all and all for one.
Just one of the many Sarich family mottos .
“What? I’m supposed to be scared of some hired mercenary? No one is coming for you. Whoever you work for will write you off because what you just did is just as illegal as my operation.”
“Like I said, you have no idea who you’re dealing with.” Nick slowed his breathing, controlling his pulse, letting all his training kick in. He had to keep his emotions, his feelings, for Leandra out of his head, or they might not live to see his brothers’ plan.
Whatever that might be.
“Hollywood, right? That’s what you go by?”
Hollywood nodded as he sat down next to Leandra, his slimy fingers on her leg.
Nick twisted his wrists harder, the extra force allowing him to snag the end of the rope with the tips of his fingers. Leandra’s eyes shifted from Hollywood, then back to Nick.
“I bet this one has a pussy that tastes like the finest wine money can buy.” Hollywood ran his hand between her legs.
Leandra shifted her eyes again, but this time Nick realized she wasn’t looking at Hollywood, but at the window.
He stole a glance and cracked a smile when he saw the drone in the distance.
His brothers were close.
“You’re right about that,” Nick said, still tugging and twisting the rope. “But you’re never going to find out.”
“I beg to differ.” Hollywood palmed Leandra.
Nick had had about enough of another man touching what was his. “Let me tell you how this is going to go down because in a few minutes, I won’t be sitting in this chair, and my hands are going to be around your neck.”
“Really? And how is that going to happen, exactly?” Hollywood grinned, leaning way too close to Leandra’s breasts.
“Come over here and I’ll tell you.”
“Why would I do that when I can fondle this lovely slut all I want?” Hollywood grabbed her boob and squeezed.
Leandra narrowed her eyes, raising her bound arms, nailing him just under the chin with a loud smack.
His head jerked back as Leandra scooted down the sofa.
“Bitch.” Hollywood stood, looking down at her. “You’re going to be sorry you did that,” he said with a raised hand.
“In less than two minutes, a team of highly trained professionals are going to come crashing through that door.” Nick nodded toward the entrance near the window. He needed to get Hollywood closer.
Hollywood took five long strides across the room, pressing his gun to Nick’s temple, leaning in inches from his face. “In the last twenty minutes, I’ve doubled my security and gotten rid of anyone who doesn’t belong here.”
Nick smiled. “No, you haven’t.” He smashed his forehead into Hollywood’s nose .
Hollywood screamed, dropping the weapon and grabbing his bloody face.
Nick leaned forward, then flung himself backward, destroying the chair as he crashed against the floor.
The sound of shattering glass filtered through Nick’s brain as he continued to work the rope around his wrists.
Seconds later, Dylan stood over him, cutting through the ropes that bound him. He twisted his head to see Ramey helping Leandra out of her constraints and Logan standing over Hollywood, a gun to his face.
Their father would be proud.
Their mother? Oy. He rubbed his ear, remembering how much it hurt when she’d tugged at it each time they did something she didn’t approve of.
Which was often.
He took the hand Dylan offered and hoisted himself to a standing position before charging the piece of shit lying on the floor.
Shoving his brother to the side, he hoisted Hollywood up by the collar. Nick cocked his fist and swung. Blood spurted from Hollywood’s cheek as Nick’s knuckles connected to bone.
“That’s for what you did to those girls, you sick piece of shit.” Nick wrapped his fingers around Hollywood’s neck. “This is for touching my girl.”
“Nick,” Logan yelled. “It’s over.”
Nick stared into Hollywood’s wide eyes as the man struggled to breathe, his hands grasping Nick’s forearm .
“Nick,” Leandra said, her warm hand gliding across his skin. “Let him go.”
He let out a long breath as he eased his grip, then released Hollywood. “I hope you rot in hell.” Nick straightened his back.
Sirens rang out as the clank of combat boots echoed from down the hallway.
Nick stiffened, causing a wave of dizziness, and he stumbled, grabbing ahold of Leandra. “You okay?” he asked.
“I’m fine, but I’m not so sure about you.” She pressed her hand on his back. “Besides reopening this wound, you’ve got a nasty gash to your head and one on your arm.”
He looked down, noticing one of his brothers tying a tourniquet on his left biceps just below the shoulder. “Well, fuck.”
“Let’s get you patched up again,” Dylan said, looping Nick’s good arm around his shoulders.
“Hang on,” Leandra said as she marched over to where Hollywood leaned up against the wall, holding his bloody nose.
“She’s not going to do it, is she?” Dylan asked.
“I think she is.” Nick smiled.
“Do what?” Ramey asked.
“I’d cover your ears if I were you, little brother.” Nick knew it was so terribly wrong to let her, but damn, the man did violate her.
She bent over, reaching between Hollywood’s legs.
He let out a high-pitched squeal .
“That’s for grabbing me.”
Hollywood screamed like a dying pig.
“And that’s for making my man bleed.”
She stood, turning on her heels, brushing her hands together as if she were washing away dirt. “We can go now.”
“Remind me never to piss off your girlfriend,” Ramey muttered.
Nick’s heart swelled with a combination of pride and terror.
They still had unfinished business, and no way in hell was he letting her just walk out of his life.
Ever.