claim to be a man of business. One experienced in our way of life. And yet you knowingly laid hands on a brother’s bride. The fact that he’s even entertaining this trade rather than ripping your head from your body shows tremendous control.”
Rossi turned his malicious black stare on Roman. “It would be entertaining to see you try.”
Greed.
Indifference.
Evil.
It was all there. A gluttony of power that had all but wiped out good sense.
But Roman would replace it with new emotions. Terror. Misery. Bone-chilling desperation. All he had to do was keep his cool for a bit longer. “If you want to lay hands on this device, you will bring me Bonnie, her father and her brother.”
Rossi shook his head and chuckled. “Such theatrics.” He shifted his gaze to Sergei, then Kir and added, “Perhaps it is a Russian thing. We Americans are more...refined in our dealings.”
Sergei didn’t flinch.
Nor did Kir.
All three of them merely stared the pompous ass down with calm, almost bored smirks.
Sighing, Rossi motioned to the men carrying guns. “Bring them in. Let’s get this over with.”
It took a solid three minutes, the silence as each second ticked by building the tension until the air fairly crackled. Too much energy. Too many guns and twitchy fingers. The trick would be to keep Bonnie out of the middle of the room. Somewhere close to the crates where he could shield her if needed.
A door slammed shut from somewhere unseen and the shuffling pattern of unsteady footsteps filtered from the darkness.
Bonnie.
Her face was the first he saw, her eyes wide with both fear and hope as she helped her father into the room. Kevin manned his father’s other side. Though, how he managed to help anyone walk—let alone see where he was going with such a battered face—was a mystery.
“There,” Rossi said. “As you can see, your bride, as you call her, is well and unharmed.”
Unharmed, yes, and in far better condition than Kevin or her father, but her skin was pale and he’d bet she hadn’t eaten since yesterday.
Roman met her stare and willed her to understand. Begged her the only way he could to remain still and quiet.
Sergei twisted just enough to address Roman over one shoulder, his voice just loud enough to carry through the wide space. “Let him review the machine.”
One beat.
Then two.
Slow but short heel strikes sounded against the concrete and a firm feminine voice sounded. “I believe I’d like to review the machine as well.”
Gretta Sosa walked casually into view, a petite and strikingly attractive woman with wavy dark hair to her shoulders. Her attire seemed more befitting a high-class lawyer—a fitted tan tweed skirt to her knees with a smart matching jacket and classic sand-colored heels. Behind her were four new men dressed in fine, yet understated suits. The gun-toting guards who’d followed Rossi into the meeting fell in behind them.
Rossi’s head snapped back at the sight of his boss and he staggered back a step before he caught himself and firmed his stance. “Ms. Sosa.”
Dipping her head to Sergei first, Gretta turned her attention on Rossi, stopping just out of reaching distance. “Odd that I’m finding you in Louisiana, Erick. I don’t recall you sharing any business dealings in this state.”
Swallowing hard, Rossi bobbed his head and swiped at the opportunity her opening had created. “I didn’t mention it because it’s a new association. An introduction.”
“Is that so?” Gretta said. She glanced at Sergei, then surveyed Bonnie and her family before facing him once more. “Funny because Mr. Petrovyh and I just had an interesting conversation this morning. One that included very compelling evidence against you, Erick. Compelling enough that I’ve made a very long journey to investigate in person. Here. Tonight.”
Rossi shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, ma’am. There has to be a misunderstanding.”
“Really?” She turned to Roman holding the computer and Kevin who seemed to barely be keeping himself and his father upright. “From what I’ve heard and seen tonight, you appear to have gone to great lengths to regain data lost to this young man. Data you asked him to change in an effort to steal from me.”
“No. You have it all wrong.” Rossi pointed to Kevin. “He was the one stealing from us.”
Bonnie’s voice cut through the warehouse. “Like hell he was.”
Roman glared her direction and willed her to keep her place.
For a split second, she met his gaze, but went back to glaring daggers at Rossi. If she hadn’t been so preoccupied with