Light seared my eyes, and heavy boots thundered down the steps. I blinked hard and found Dante rushing toward my cell. His eyes were wide and wild, glinting with an insane light.
“You would die for her, wouldn’t you?” he demanded, all his usual polish and cool commands giving way to something savage.
I tipped my chin back and sneered at him. So, he’d discovered that Nora had escaped.
“You’ll never touch her again,” I vowed. “Kill me if you want, but that won’t bring her back to you.”
“You stupid fuck!” he railed at me. “What did you do?”
“I made sure she’s safe from you,” I gloated. “Nora is mine.”
He bared his teeth at me. “Whatever you did, you gave her to the Bratva, you worthless bastard.” He shook his head as though throwing off a dark thought. “Your sins don’t matter now. I need you. So, I’ll ask you again: You would die for her, wouldn’t you?”
“The Russians have Nora?” I barely managed to choke out the words past the lump of fear in my throat.
“Answer me!” he thundered.
“Yes,” I snapped back. Of course I’d die for my wife. There was nothing I wouldn’t sacrifice for her.
He nodded sharply. “I’m going to let you out of this cell, and you’re going to rally all of the men who are still loyal to you. I need every man I can get if we’re going to save her.”
“Done,” I bit out.
His eyes narrowed. “Remember that I still have your friends as my prisoners. Don’t try anything stupid.”
“How much more time are you going to waste?” I snarled. “How long have those bastards had her already?”
He cursed and unlocked my cell.
I didn’t try to attack him. Instead, I raced up the stairs, following on his heels.
Once we saved Nora, I could make my move. I could blame the Russians for his demise, and his men would have no reason to punish my friends; no one would know that I’d been the one to end the sadistic fuck.
I could hold a truce with him until I had the opportunity to kill him. I would do anything for the woman I loved.
* * *