Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 79097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79097 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 395(@200wpm)___ 316(@250wpm)___ 264(@300wpm)
We leave the lifeless body of our enemy behind, stepping over the blood-soaked floor.
“We’re there,” Mikhail says. “Stand by.” Isabella closes her eyes. We’re close. So fucking close. She leans her head on my shoulder, and I slide my arm around her slender back.
“They’ve got Carlos in sight. Ollie and Nikko are there, and Viktor’s not far behind. He has a blonde woman with him…”
Isabella’s eyes fly open. “Renata! Oh my God! Be careful with her!”
Mikhail curses. The telltale sounds of a gunfight breaks out, muted by the phone, but Isabella’s eyes are filled with terror. She covers her mouth with her hands and whispers a prayer in Spanish. My heart beats along with hers.
I want to give her peace. Quiet. Safety.
The keys to her kingdom.
“I’ve got him!” someone shouts in the background.
“That’s Carlos,” Isabella whispers. She closes her eyes, and a tear rolls down her cheek. “But what about Renata? My God, how could he bring her?”
He brought her because she was the last bargaining chip, I’d guess. I clench my jaw.
“And the woman?” I ask Mikhail. My heart beats faster alongside Isabella’s.
No answer.
“Renata?” Isabella says, her voice choked. “Do you have her?” She cries freely now. Isabella puts on such a brave face, but when she loves, she loves deeply. She’s been through so much, my brave, beautiful woman.
She holds her breath, and I hold mine along with hers. I grip her to my chest. Her breathing is ragged, but her heart beats as hard as ever.
Finally, a voice comes on the line.
“I’ve got her.”
It’s Ollie.
“You have Renata? Put her on the phone!” Isabella demands.
There’s a series of rustles and low voices before a weak female voice comes on the line. “Isabella?”
“Renata! Are you alright?”
“Sí, estoy bien, no te preocupes por mí. ¿Se fue? El tipo grande mató a Carlos. Gracias a Dios. Diles, Isabella.”
Isabella’s eyes shine with relief and determination.
“Goddamn it, woman. What is she saying?” I demand, my voice impatient.
Isabella lets out a ragged breath. “She said she’s fine. She asked if Javier was gone. She said ‘the big guy’ killed Carlos, thank God. That would be Viktor.” She swallows hard. “And then she said to tell them…”
“Tell us what?”
Isabella shakes her head, her eyes pained but victorious. “Tell the Los Sangre Dorado their leaders are dead. Tell them they owe their allegiance to me and you now.”
In the dim light of the warehouse, she flips on her camera and flashes a triumphant grin.
“I am Isabella Morales Romanova,” she declares. “And this is my husband, Lev Romanov. Javier Morales is dead. Today marks the end of an era. Tomorrow, a new one begins. I want all those loyal to the Los Sangre Dorada cartel to report to me immediately. We will convene this evening.”
The message sent, she lowers the camera, her expression fierce and resolute.
“Lev. Take me home.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Isabella
As she lowers the camera, I see the tension in her shoulders ease. We’re not out of the woods yet after Javier’s death, but she’s accomplished what she set out to do. Determination is etched in the lines of her face, and I know she’s ready to face whatever comes next.
She can do this.
We can do this.
The silence in the room is almost deafening, the air thick with the weight of our actions. I glance at her, wary yet relieved.
“No remorse for your brother?” I ask, studying her face.
“None,” she replies without hesitation. “Lingering doubt? Remorse for my brother?” She scoffs, tossing her head. “It’s like you don’t know me at all. This was an end to an era that needed ending. My brother was a terrible human who deserved none of the power or accolades he garnered.” Her eyes are cold, resolute. “I hated what I had to do, but he would only hurt more people.” She shakes her head. “It had to be done.”
“I understand,” I say softly. “I’m sorry it came to that, but I’m proud of you. Do you think he had any loyal followers left?”
“Time will tell, but I suspect not,” she says. “He was the type of leader others wanted dead.”
She looks exhausted, and I can see the weight of everything starting to bear down on her. “Now, Lev,” she says with a heavy sigh. “Take me home. Please.”
I hold her gaze, feeling a surge of protectiveness. “Which home, beautiful?” I ask, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Her eyes flutter closed at the kiss. “The one here in America first. We’ll have to will travel to Columbia next.”
I nod, wrapping an arm around her protectively. “The clean-up crew is coming. Any special requests for the body?”
She casts one last lingering glance at her brother’s lifeless form. “Make sure he is buried. My mother would want that.”
We head towards the exit, stepping over the remnants of the battle. In the end, he was just flesh and bone, no longer holding any power over her—or anyone.