Chapter 018
1079 Words
MARCO'S POV
Something was wrong.
I felt it the moment I walked into The Golden Spoon. The café was empty – not unusual for the mid-afternoon lull, but the silence felt heavy. Wrong.
"Clear the perimeter," I ordered my men. "Check every corner, every shadow."
Edward moved to the security office while others spread out, weapons ready. I studied the main room, noting details most would miss. Coffee cups left half-full. A jacket draped over a chair. Signs of a hasty exit.
My phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:
'Back room. Come alone or the girl dies first.'
Ice spread through my veins. The girl. Not Harriet – she was safe at my estate, locked in my study under armed guard. They had to mean someone else.
Unless...
I checked the security feed on my phone. The study camera showed an empty room, the laptop open on my desk. Stupid, stupid mistake.
"Sir?" Edward appeared at my shoulder. "We found this."
He held out a familiar silk blouse – the one Harriet had borrowed this morning. It was stained with something dark.
The ice in my veins turned to fire.
"How many?" I asked, my voice deadly calm.
"At least six inside. More watching the exits." Edward hesitated. "Sir, if they have Miss Blackwood..."
"Get everyone out. Clear the block. No one moves until I give the order."
"But—"
"Now."
He knew better than to argue. As my men retreated, I removed my jacket, checking my weapons. Two guns, three knives, brass knuckles in my pocket. Not that I'd need them. For what I was about to do, my hands would be enough.
The back room door was closed. I could kick it in, start shooting. But if they had Harriet...
I opened it normally instead.
Lady One stood by the coffee machines, looking exactly as she had the day I threw her out. Same perfect makeup, same cold smile. Four armed men flanked her.
And there was Harriet, tied to a chair, a bruise darkening her cheek. Our eyes met, and I saw fury there. Not fear – fury.
That's my girl.
"Don Marco," Lady One purred. "So nice of you to join us."
"Let her go," I said quietly. "Now. And I might let you live."
She laughed. "Always so dramatic. But you're not in charge anymore." She pressed a gun to Harriet's temple. "Martinez sends his regards."
"Martinez is a coward who sends women to do his work."
"No." Lady One's smile turned cruel. "He sends me to finish what he started fifteen years ago. With your first love. Remember?"
The memory of Sylvia's blood on my wedding suit flashed through my mind. The sound of Martinez's laughter as his men held me back.
"You really want to do this?" I kept my voice calm, but Lady One must have seen something in my eyes because she stepped back. "You know what happened to the men who killed Sylvia. What I did to them."
"That was before. When you were stronger." She gestured to her men. "Now you're weak. Soft. All because of this little virgin who—"
Harriet slammed her head back, catching Lady One in the face. Blood spurted from her nose as she stumbled. The gun went off, bullet hitting the wall.
I moved.
The first man died before he could raise his weapon – neck snapped with a precise twist. The second got a shot off, but I was already moving, using his body as a shield as I took out the third.
The fourth was smarter. He grabbed Harriet's chair, pressing his gun to her head. "Stop or she dies!"
I stopped. Not because of his threat – Harriet had already worked one hand free, and I saw her reach for something in her pocket.
"Good," the man said. "Now—"
Harriet swung her arm up, throwing something. Coffee grounds hit his face, blinding him. I crossed the room in two steps, driving my knife into his throat.
Lady One was running. I caught her at the door, slamming her into the wall.
"Wait!" She held up her hands. "Martinez – he's hitting the casinos now! All of them! I can tell you—"
I broke her neck.
The silence that followed was absolute. Blood dripped from my hands, pooled on the floor. The smell of coffee mixed with copper.
"Harriet." My voice sounded strange to my own ears.
"I'm okay." She was working on the ropes around her ankles. "Though I think I'm fired from my barista job."
The laugh that burst from me was harsh. I crossed to her, checking her injuries. The bruise on her cheek, rope burns on her wrists. Signs I'd failed to protect her.
"How did they get you?"
"They didn't." She met my eyes defiantly. "I came here on my own. Used your laptop to check the cameras, saw Lady One's men clearing out the café. I thought... I thought I could help."
"Help?" The word came out as a growl. "You could have been killed."
"But I wasn't. I knew you'd come."
"That's not—" I stopped, forcing down the rage and fear. "We'll discuss your punishment later. Right now—"
My phone buzzed. Edward: 'Casinos secure. Martinez's men tried to breach but we were ready. Minimal casualties.'
"The casinos?" Harriet asked.
"Safe." I helped her stand, steadying her when she swayed. "Lady One told them we knew they were coming. They weren't prepared for full security."
"So we won?"
"For now." I touched her bruised cheek gently. "But Martinez won't stop. Not until..."
"Until what?"
"Until one of us is dead." I met her eyes. "Still want to be part of my world?"
She looked around at the bodies, the blood. Then back at me. "I'm already part of it. Remember? I'm yours."
Something fierce and possessive roared in my chest. I kissed her, not caring about the blood on my hands, the danger still lurking outside.
She was mine. And God help anyone who tried to take her from me.
Edward found us like that minutes later. He took one look at the scene and said, "Clean-up team is en route. And sir? Martinez was spotted crossing the border an hour ago."
I pulled back from Harriet, but kept her close. "He's coming himself?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good." I smiled, and Edward actually stepped back. "Time to end this. Once and for all."
- Writer
