pass the threshold, he says, “If you run, I’ll shoot you, and I really don’t want to have to do that.”
A second ago, I was tempted to run, to try and escape, but the threat in his words revealed the truth. If he had to, he really would shoot me. I choose not to run. Hopefully, it’s not the biggest mistake of my life.
26
It takes me a few days to heal up, which drives me batshit crazy. My bullet wounds aren’t completely healed, but they’re as good as it’s going to get for now. I should be out there, searching the globe for Dove, burning cities to the ground and slaughtering people, not sitting in a bed, staring at my hands, willing answers to appear out of thin air. However, I can’t do a damn thing without weapons and the information that Matteo promised me.
He says he’s got eyes and ears everywhere, and if Christian makes one move, he’ll know about it. So far, he hasn’t done squat shit because Matteo hasn’t come to deliver any new information to me. I shove out of the cot and come to stand, my boots scuff against the marble floors. I hate this place. I hate that I’m stuck being someone else’s little bitch, but more than anything, I’m afraid. Afraid of what’s happening to Dove.
The thought of one of Christian’s men putting their hands on her. It makes me murderous. Clenching my fist, I dig my nails in my palm. Rage simmers just below the surface. If I get the chance, I’ll kill him, draw out his death, make him wish, plead, and beg for death.
“Knock, knock…” Matteo’s voice reaches my ears, and I force myself to unclench my fist, sliding the mask of emotionlessness across my face before turning around to face the door. I’ve already exposed my biggest weakness, and the last thing I need is to expose my emotions further. I refuse to let him or anyone else know how close I am to losing my shit.
“I hope you have some information for me?”
Matteo doesn’t look amused by the way I talk to him, but the way I see it, if he wanted to kill me, he would’ve done so already.
“I do, but I think it’s important you realize just who it is that’s calling the shots here.” I withhold an eye roll. I’m not used to working with anyone, let alone someone that mirrors Christian to a T. I don’t take orders. I’ve worked as a one-man team my entire life. Now, I’m being forced to take orders from some prick in a suit. All I want to do is find Dove, do this asshole’s dirty work, and fucking leave this place behind.
“Tell me what I need to know…please,” I grit out. Matteo smirks at me as if he enjoys seeing me grit pleasantries through my teeth. Little does he know; he’d be dead too if I didn’t need him as badly as I do. I’m not about ass-kissing or becoming his best friend. I just want Dove, and I’ll do whatever the fuck I have to do to get her back.
“That sounds much better… glad you cleaned up your attitude because I would’ve hated not sharing news about your little Dove.”
Her name rolling off his tongue makes me want to slit his throat, but I withhold as a bubble of hope fills my belly.
“Where is she?” I demand and take a step toward him.
“An insider let me know that there was an ambush at one of Christian’s secret compounds. We believe that’s where they were holding Dove. I doubt she’s still there as Xander Rossi’s men were just seen leaving the place.”
Xander Rossi. Fuck. More bad news. Slicing my fingers through my hair in both frustration and rage, I try and think, instead of reacting. Using my fists isn’t going to help her right now. I need to think. But all I can think about is my sweet fucking Dove, how she was tossed from one cage to the next, landing now with the worse villain of all.
“What do we do?” I ask a moment later.
“We?” Matteo blinks, “We aren’t doing shit. You are going to go there and check the place out, see what the hell happened, and if there is anything that was left behind. Maybe they did leave her there, who knows? I’ll expect you to return though, and if you don’t, well, let’s just say there will be more than a bounty on