My vision was covered with a red layer as I seethed. I destroyed everything around me. Nobody stopped me, because they knew I would destroy them too.
My body trembled with the need to kill. I was caught in the bloodlust.
There would be bloodshed. People were going to die, even those who were innocent. There was only death for those who would be in my path.
“This is war,” I growled, my voice as sharp as razors. My chest was heaving, my breathing ragged as I imagined blood around me.
I wanted to watch Alberto’s blood pour out his body as he breathed his last breath. I needed it.
My blood boiled under my skin, fiery with a searing burn, prompting me to kill. Death. The monster roared, and this time I unleashed it. I embraced the darkness inside of me.
Because this was war.
Alberto started it.
And I was going to end it.
Chapter 30
Nikolay
My car came to a stop in front of Alberto’s beach house. I sat silently for a second, contemplating what to do and what was happening.
Whenever we had a meeting, he would call me to his clubs, but never to his estates. But now, I was sitting right outside one of his houses. He called me, asking me to meet him urgently.
And I came without a second thought.
Not because I wanted to. It was because I had to.
I couldn’t stand his ugly face. Every time I saw him, I had to repress the urge to cut his fucking body into pieces and feed it to the dogs. My hatred toward Alberto held no bounds. I was disgusted by the very air he breathed.
And I wished that every time I saw him, I had the power to kill him and watch the life slowly leave his eyes as I ripped his fucking black heart out.
But I couldn’t do any of that.
I leaned against my seat with a sigh. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm my raging thoughts and the need for bloodlust. I was here, and I had to get my job done.
Although one question burned through my thoughts.
What was he doing in Florida? I didn’t tell him about Boss’s trip.
That was a big fucking coincidence that he would be here at the same time as Boss.
Shaking my head, I cleared my thoughts and stepped out of the car. The door was already opened, so I walked inside without knocking. I didn’t have to. His men would already know I had arrived.
I saw a maid cleaning the kitchen, her back to me. “Where is Alberto?” I asked, my voice grating.
She jumped almost five feet in the air before turning around, her hand over her chest. “Umm…he was in his office the last time I saw him,” she squeaked, her eyes filled with alarm.
“Where is his office?” She pointed silently to the end of the hall. Without a second glance, I followed her direction.
When I reached the end of the hall, I saw a man standing in front the door, guarding it. I nodded toward the door before speaking. “I need to see Alberto. He called me.”
“Who are you?” he asked, his hand reaching for his gun.
“Nikolay.”
Recognition flashed in his eyes. “He’s not here. Boss went out about an hour ago. He had something to take care of.”
“I will wait for him,” I announced, sending him a chilling glare, daring him to refuse me. The man huffed and opened the door for me.
“He should be back soon,” he said, nodding toward the room. I went inside, and he followed me, closing the door behind him. Of course, he would follow me. No way would he have left me alone in Alberto’s office. To him, I was an outsider.
What he didn’t realize was that I was also the insider.
I didn’t sit down. Instead, I paced the office.
Something felt wrong. Alberto would never call me to his house, especially if he wasn’t here. And most importantly, what was he doing here? At the same time as us.
Did he have more spies than we thought?
I rubbed my hand over my head in frustration and tried to suppress the growl that threatened to escape.
I was still pacing when something caught my eyes. It was just a small glimpse, but it was enough for me to stop dead in my tracks.
No fucking way. Fuck no.
I stomped to Alberto’s desk and took the picture frame in my hand. I thought it was my eyes playing tricks on me. Maybe it was. I blinked several times, but the picture was still there. She was still there.
I was looking into her green eyes.
Ayla.
My mouth fell open, but I quickly snapped it shut, my jaw grinding with the force. I stared at the picture, my mind going blank for a second.
“Who is she?” I asked out loud, although I already had my answer.