“Boss’s woman,” the man simply replied.
My fingers tightened around the picture frame. “What’s her name?”
“Ayla Abandonato. The bitch ran away months ago. But Boss just found her. That’s where he went. She was hiding with the fucking Russians all this time. Can you believe it?” he said in disgust.
My stomach dropped, and I froze, my muscles locking tight at his words. This couldn’t be happening.
She was an Abandonato. And Alberto’s woman. Was she the traitor?
My chest tightened at that thought. No. I didn’t believe it. There was no way she would betray us.
I stared at the picture. Ayla looked so different here. Her eyes weren’t glowing, like they did now. They were bleak, almost lifeless. She didn’t have a smile. Her face and posture were stiff.
This Ayla looked like the one I had met the first time. When she was dirty, injured, and so fucking scared. The one who was broken.
Alberto was the one who broke her. He was Ayla’s tormentor.
The man’s voice sounded like he was under water as he continued to speak.
“Probably fucked every man there too. That’s what she’s good for. Though I’m not going to complain. Her pussy is one the best. She fit my cock like a glove.”
My mind raged, and I saw red. Placing the picture down, I reached for my gun. He didn’t have a chance to react or reach for his gun. I saw his eyes flare in surprise as I pointed my gun at him. And then I pulled the trigger.
One shot. One bullet, right in the middle of his throat. That was all I needed to kill him.
He sank to the ground soundlessly, his blood surrounded his seizing body. There was blood all over the office and the wall behind him, where some of his flesh had been splattered.
No one fucking talked about Boss’s woman like that. I would never show mercy on men like him.
Without sparing him another glance, I walked out of the office and got into my car. My vision was blinded with Ayla’s picture. The broken look on her face.
And then his words rang through my ears.
The bitch ran away months ago. But Boss just found her. That’s where he went. She was hiding with the fucking Russians all this time.
“Fuck!” I bellowed, punching my steering wheel. I had to warn Alessio. I tore out of the driveway and called his cellphone at the same time.
But he didn’t pick up. Which never happened. He always picked up.
My shoulders ached with tension, and my throat felt suddenly dry. I kept my eyes on the road and drove mindlessly while trying to call the others.
But nobody answered their phones.
I swore loudly, throwing my phone on the seat beside me. The road was packed. I would never get there in time. Alberto left an hour ago. He should have arrived by now. Or maybe he was waiting to attack?
That would have been the perfect time. There were not enough men to protect Ayla or Boss.
Fuck no.
I couldn’t let that happen. Boss couldn’t lose Ayla.
Not now. Not ever.
He wouldn’t survive it. Because I knew, if Ayla lost herself, Boss would lose himself too—he would break.
And I couldn’t let that happen.
I punched the steering wheel again, and pain shot through my fingers. Quickly making a U-turn, I changed the route. For the next thirty minutes, I broke every traffic rule.
When I reached the beach house, I stepped out quickly. The driveway was eerily quiet. But death hung in the air. It was almost chilling.
I ran up the stairs and went into the house but froze in my steps at the sight in front of me.
The house was a mess. Completely destroyed.
Phoenix and Artur were sitting on the couch, their heads in their hands, their posture defeated. Viktor was leaning against the wall, his eyes closed, his face twisted in pain.
Both of Boss’s hands were braced against the wall. His face was turned away from me, but I could see his tensed shoulders. His whole body was rigid.
And I noticed something else, too.
Ayla was nowhere to be found.
The realization almost brought me to my knees.
I was too late.
Chapter 31
Ayla
My eyes blinked open as I slowly gained consciousness. My head throbbed, and my muscles ached. My whole body was hurting.
When my vision finally cleared, I let out a gasp. My body froze, and suddenly nausea assailed me. I had to swallow back the bile that was working its way from my stomach and into my throat.
I couldn’t move my arms or legs. I felt trapped. I was trapped.
Alberto had me. I was completely at his mercy.
My chest tightened, and I choked on my sob. How did this happen? Everything was perfect, but I had been thrown back into the darkness again.
Tears fell silently down my cheeks as I thought about Alessio. I loved him so much that my heart ached at the thought of never seeing him again. He was my everything, and now I was alone again, without my savior.