I asked casually, as if I gave a shit what the woman thought.
“He’s very good to me. What’s not to love?” she answered. “Besides, once both you and your father are dead, there’s nothing holding him back from becoming one of the wealthiest men in the world.”
“I would watch your back at night, Angelina. One day he will crucify you.” I heard footsteps and braced for what I might see. The game I’d set in motion had to be played for a little while longer or I’d risk losing Savannah.
“Rafael. I thought you were dead,” Savannah said in a broken voice.
I turned to face her, clenching my fist and wanting nothing more than to reach for my weapon. Thank God that she didn’t appear to be hurt.
“Don’t worry, big brother. She’s just fine. I merely figured out where you were staying and pretended to be you, at least with regard to the secret knock. I figured you’d use the one we set up as kids. I also knew you’d go to the very cabin you used to try and get over Javier’s murder.” The grin on Dartanian’s face was disgusting.
“What now, Dartanian?”
“Now, I destroy the rest of your world. Don’t worry, brother. You’ll be alive to see all of it.” His grip remained firm on Savannah’s shoulder, the barrel of a gun pressed against her back.
She watched every move I made, including my facial expressions. I had to take a chance now or risk this getting out of hand. I locked eyes with her, my nostrils flaring as another round of anger settled in. I could tell her mind was processing, trying to figure out what was going to happen. “Well, I think you’re going to have an issue with destroying everything, brother.”
“And why is that?”
“Well, first of all, Father is safe, several of your men gunned down. Now, even if you manage to do some damage to some of the boats, I assure you that you won’t obtain much product and that the majority of your men will be killed in the process of trying.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” he demanded.
It was my turn to smile, shifting so Savannah noticed my gun. “The shipments have nothing to do with the product you were hoping for, merely stunning pieces of art waiting to be delivered to several other countries. Oh, and given Jorge did indeed deliver a warning, I managed to have thousands of soldiers sent to the various ports in question. You have one opportunity to call off your dogs or there will be blood spilled into the glorious turquoise ocean.”
He huffed, his face paling. “You’re bluffing.”
“I never bluff about business or pleasure. That is something you should have learned about me, brother.” I gave her a single last look before whistling.
As the door was broken down, soldiers filling the room, Savannah issued a single elbow to Dartanian’s gut, scrambling out of harm’s way.
Angelina yelped as she was wrestled to the floor.
“We took out the security team protecting the perimeter, boss,” Montego stated as he yanked the weapon from Angelina’s hand.
“Good, now take Savannah out of here!” I commanded before storming in Dartanian’s direction, wrapping my hand around his throat as I removed the weapon from his hand.
He glared at me, snarling under his breath. “Do it, brother. Why don’t you simply break my neck?”
I held the barrel of his own gun against his temple, my mind reeling from the level that he’d fallen to. I could still see him on the day at the beach. He’d seemed so happy, so free. A deep sadness gripped my heart, cutting off my air supply. “You deserve to rot in hell, brother.”
“Wait. Don’t.” Savannah’s voice rang out over the ones that seemed to be shouting in my mind. “Don’t, Rafael. That’s not you. Remember, choices.”
I closed my eyes before gazing into her eyes. I’d never seen such love or concern in my entire life. She was right, I had a choice to make but it was necessary that I do so. “Take her out of here.”
“Rafael,” she whispered as Montego took her arm.
I slowly turned my head, studying Dartanian’s eyes and in that moment, I could see the little boy who used to look up to me, the very one who wanted nothing more than to be just like his big brother.
And that’s exactly what had happened.
Choices...
Chapter Eighteen
Savannah
Choices.
I’d made some of the most difficult ones in my life during the last week. I’d shed more than a few tears