Wolf: A Dark Primal Mafia Romance, page 19
For the first time in my life, I have something to lose and it’s terrifying, but I can’t dwell on that. All I can do is remain strong and focused on getting Kali back from that motherfucker.
37
KALI
Just when I started to feel safe and comfortable, these men have taken me. As they drive, I hear them talking up front about Matias. My heart races, a mix of fear and an unwelcome longing.
“Those bastards think they can just waltz in and take over our territory,” one of the men growls. “Well, we'll show them. This bitch will be the perfect bait for the psychotic one.”
I shudder at his words, knowing Matias will be furious when he finds out I've been taken. Part of me worries for his safety, but I quickly push that thought aside.
The van hits a bump, jolting me into the side wall and making me wince. I bite my lip, trying to hold back the tears that threaten to fall. I can't cry right now. I have to be strong. Wherever these guys are take me, I'll find a way to escape and return to Matias.
As the van rumbles on, I silently pray that he will come for me. Because the alternative is hard to think about. I might have escaped captivity and slavery only to be thrust back into it by these men.
Suddenly, the van comes to an abrupt stop. I wait, my heart racing as I hear the doors up front slam and then the van's back doors fly open.
I try to scramble away from them, but they roughly drag me out and into a dimly lit warehouse. The place is cold and damp, the air thick with the scent of motor oil and sweat.
As I'm shoved forward, I hear the men call out to someone. “Hey Suarez, we got the bitch.”
A tall, imposing figure steps out of the shadows, his eyes narrowed as he appraises me. He circles me slowly, his gaze burning into me. I try to stand tall, refusing to show fear, but my legs tremble.
“So, you're the one who's got Matias all riled up,” Suarez says, his voice low and menacing. “You don't look like much.”
I clench my jaw, refusing to respond.
Suarez leans in. “But I can see why he wants you. There's a fire in your eyes.” He drags a finger down my cheek, making me cringe. “Don't worry, sweetheart. We're going to have a lot of fun together.”
I glare at him. “Matias will come for me,” I say, trying to sound confident.
Suarez throws his head back and laughs, echoing through the cavernous space. “That's exactly what I'm counting on.” He leans in close again, his lips nearly brushing my ear. “And when he does, we'll be ready.”
I'm disgusted by Suarez's lecherous gaze and sickening touch, but I can't ignore the fear that grips me. Matias is the only one who can save me, but the thought of him walking straight into a trap scares me more than what these men might do to me.
“Matias will rip you apart when he finds me,” I spit, mustering courage from somewhere. “You've got no idea who you're up against.”
Suarez chuckles. “Oh, I think we do. That's why we've got a little surprise waiting for him.” He nods to one of his goons, who disappears into the shadows.
My heart hammers as I wonder what kind of trap they've set for him. Is it possible he could be walking into a massacre? The thought of him being hurt, or worse, makes me sick to the stomach.
“What are you going to do to him?" I ask.
Suarez grins, his teeth gleaming in the dim light. “You'll see. In the meantime, make yourself comfortable.” He turns to leave but pauses and looks back at me. “Try not to worry too much about your precious Matias. After all, you'll have your hands full with me.”
A shudder travels the length of my spine as he walks away, leaving me alone. I wrap my arms around myself to stave off the chill. The unsettling reality is that Suarez is just like Matias. He’s going to treat me the same way Matias did at the start, and yet the moment I set eyes on Matias, I knew there was something between us. No matter how much I tried to ignore or deny it, I’ve known for a while now that he’s my soul mate. A monster and a predator who toyed with me and my friends, but also the other half of my whole.
The thought of him being hurt or killed fills me with more fear than I’ve felt over the entire course of our relationship.
Pacing the small space, my mind races. How can I find a way to warn him? I'm trapped in this godforsaken place. My phone was taken. Weak and unable to fend for myself. The more I think about it, the more helpless I feel.
Matias will come for me, I’m sure of it. And he’s not stupid. He won’t be easily outwitted, but I know him well enough to understand his single-minded determination regarding me. He won't rest until he's tracked me down and reclaimed what he sees as his, and Suarez and his men are counting on that.
Tears sting my eyes as this is so much worse than captivity in Mexico. My friends aren’t here. Matias isn’t here. Forcing the tears away, I can't let these men see me cry. I have to be strong. If Matias does come, I’ll be ready to help him however I can.
The sound of footsteps approaching makes me tense, and I turn to see one of Suarez's goons entering the room. He holds a tray of food, which he sets in front of me.
“Eat up, sweetheart,” he says with a leering grin. “You're going to need your strength.”
I glare at him, refusing to touch the food. I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me do as they’re told.
He shrugs. “Suit yourself.” And then he turns to leave but pauses at the doorway. “You know, Suarez is looking forward to getting his hands on you. He's got some special plans for you and your boyfriend.”
A chill runs down my spine at his words, and I have to fight the urge to vomit. The thought of Suarez and his men hurting Matias, or worse, is almost more than I can bear.
Once he disappears, I sink to the floor, my head in my hands. I need to find a way to give Matias a fighting chance against their trap. But right now, I’m coming up blank.
I can only pray that Matias is smarter than they think, that he'll see through their plan and find a way to turn the tables on them. If not, then all of us may be doomed.
38
MATIAS
Ipace back and forth, my mind racing as Thiago briefs the men on the situation with Kali’s abduction. Rage courses through my veins at the thought of that traitorous snake Suarez laying a finger on her.
“We need to find her, and fast,” I growl, slamming my fist onto the table. “If he’s harmed even a hair on her head, I’ll tear him apart with my bare hands.”
The men shift uneasily. Thiago gives me a warning look, silently urging me to control my emotions.
“Jose,” he says, turning to one of our most trusted lieutenants stateside. “You know Suarez better than anyone. Where would he take a hostage like Kali?”
Jose strokes his chin. “Knowing Suarez, he’d want to keep her somewhere isolated, away from prying eyes. Somewhere he could... handle her without interruption.”
A chill runs down my spine at his implication, and I feel my hands curling into fists. The mere thought of that piece of shit touching Kali is enough to make my vision go red.
“Think, man,” Thiago presses. “Any locations come to mind? Safe houses, abandoned buildings, anything?”
Jose’s eyes light up. “There’s an old warehouse on the outskirts of town. Suarez used to use it for interrogations back in the day. It has solid concrete walls and no windows, perfect for keeping things quiet.”
Of course, that slimy bastard would take her somewhere like that.
“That’s it,” I growl, already reaching for my gun. “Gear up, men. We’ll pay Suarez a little visit and get my girl back.”
The men spring into action, loading up on weapons and ammunition. Thiago catches my arm, his expression grave.
“We’ll get her back,” he says. “But you need to keep your head straight, little brother, you hear me? Don’t let your anger cloud your judgment.”
I meet his gaze, my jaw clenched. “I’m in control and do whatever it takes to bring Kali home safe. Suarez won’t know what hit him.”
With that, I strap on a bulletproof vest, the weight of it comforting. This is what I was born for—the thrill of the hunt, the rush of battle. As I load my machine gun, checking the ammunition with a practiced hand, my thoughts drift to Kali.
That motherfucker, Suarez, has made the biggest mistake of his miserable life by taking her. He’s awoken a rage in me that won’t be sated until I’ve painted the walls with his blood.
A low growl escapes my throat at the thought of his filthy hands on her. She’s mine—my little rabbit, my reason for living. Anyone who tries to take her from me will suffer a fate worse than death.
“Matias.” Thiago’s gruff voice cuts through my dark reverie. “It’s time to move out.”
I nod, grabbing my gun and following him to the waiting van. The others are already piling in, a grim determination etched onto their faces.
The van rumbles to life, and we peel out onto the empty streets, the warehouse our destination. My fingers tap out a restless rhythm on the butt of my rifle as I go over every possible scenario in my mind. Suarez is a dead man walking—that much is certain. But how many of his lackeys will I need to cut through to get to him? How much of their blood will I need to spill before I can sink my teeth into that traitorous bastard’s throat?
The van hits a pothole, jarring me from my thoughts. Thiago shoots me a sidelong glance, sensing the tension radiating off me in waves.
“Easy, little brother,” he mutters under his breath. “Don’t lose yourself before we get there.”
I grunt in response, forcing my grip to loosen on the gun. He’s right—I need to keep my wits about me if I’m going to get Kali back in one piece. Suarez won’t know what hit him, but I can’t let my rage blind me, not when her life is at stake.
Squaring my shoulders, I take a slow, steady breath. Kali’s face swims before my eyes—her smile, her laugh, how she looks at me when we’re fucking. She’s my world, my everything.
Gripping my gun tighter, I let a feral grin spread across my face as the warehouse looms into view.
Showtime.
We all jump out of the van, and the men follow my lead. I kick down the warehouse door, machine gun blazing. Suarez’s men scatter like cockroaches, taking cover behind crates and machinery. Too little, too late.
“Come out, you cowards!” I roar, squeezing the trigger in a hail of bullets. “Where is she?”
One of them tries to make a break for the exit, but Thiago cuts him down with a well-placed shot to the leg. The man crumples, screaming in agony.
“Search everywhere,” Thiago barks at the men. “Leave no corner unchecked!”
I advance deeper into the warehouse, stepping over bodies and shell casings. My heart races in my ears, fueled by a blind, primal rage.
Where’s my little rabbit?
The gunfire dies down, leaving only the echoes of pained groans in its wake. One by one, my men confirm the same thing—Kali isn’t here. There’s only Suarez’s hired muscle.
A red haze clouds my vision as the realization hits me. He’s taken her somewhere else. I grip my gun so tightly my knuckles turn white, fighting the urge to put a bullet in every last one of these miserable bastards’ skulls.
“Boss,” Jose calls out, dragging one of Suarez’s men before me. “Maybe this one can tell us something. He seems to be in charge.”
The man crouches at my feet, his face a mask of terror. I yank him up by his collar, getting right in his face.
“Where is she?” I snarl, spittle flying. “Where is Suarez keeping the girl?”
He shakes his head frantically, his eyes wide with fear. “I don’t know, I swear! Suarez didn’t tell us anything!”
Growling, I slam him back against the concrete floor. He gasps for air as I plant my boot on his throat, slowly applying pressure.
“You’re going to tell me where they took her,” I hiss, my voice laced with venom. “Right now, before I remove pieces of you with my knife.”
The man chokes, clawing at my boot. I lean in closer, baring my teeth like a rabid animal.
“Maybe I’ll start with those fingers of yours,” I murmur, reaching for my knife. “Or would you prefer I go straight for the family jewels? Because I can promise you, I’ll be cutting them off if you don’t speak.”
Tears stream down the man’s face as I press the blade against his fingertip. Jose and the others watch in silence, knowing better than to intervene when the wolf is this close to tasting blood.
“P-please...” the man gasps. “I don’t know anything. I swear on my mother’s grave!”
I pause briefly, searching his face for any hint of deception. Then, with a flick of my wrist, I slice off the tip of his finger.
The scream that tears from his throat is like music to my ears. I grab a fistful of his hair, pulling his head back to expose his throat.
“That was just an appetizer, you piece of filth,” I snarl. “Start talking, or the next one comes off at the knuckle.”
The man babbles incoherently, his words lost in a torrent of anguished cries. A cruel smile twists my lips as I hold the blade up to the light, examining the crimson droplets that stain the metal.
“Have it your way, then.”
I grip the trembling man’s hair tighter, his anguished cries like sweet music to my ears. The fear in his eyes only fuels the raging fire inside me. This pathetic fool knows where Suarez is keeping my Kali, and I’ll bleed him dry until he talks.
“Last chance,” I growl, the blade of my knife hovering over his next finger. “Where is she?”
He shakes his head frantically, blubbering through his tears. “I don’t know, I swear! Suarez didn’t tell us anything about no girl!”
A feral snarl rips from my throat as I raise the blade, ready to take the next piece of this sniveling coward. Before I can strike, Thiago’s hand clamps down on my shoulder.
“Enough,” he commands, his voice low but firm. “He’s telling the truth. Wasting time on this trash won’t get us closer to finding Kali.”
I meet his steely gaze, my chest heaving with unbridled rage. Part of me knows he’s right, but the wolf inside me craves more blood and suffering from those who’ve dared to lay a hand on what’s mine.
With a frustrated growl, I release the whimpering man and shove him aside, wiping his blood off my jeans. He crumples to the floor, cradling his hand as he weeps pathetically.
“Then we find another way,” I snarl, raking my hands through my hair. “I’ll burn this whole city to the ground if that’s what it takes to smoke Suarez out.”
Thiago’s jaw tightens, but he gives a solemn nod. “We’ll get her back, Matias. Have faith.”
Faith is for weak men. I haven’t had faith in a long time. All I can rely on is myself.
Shoving past him, I stalk out of the warehouse, my men parting like the Red Sea before me. The cold night air does little to calm the storm raging within. My beautiful Kali, my reason for living, is alone, afraid, maybe even hurt. The thought makes my blood boil hotter than the fires of hell itself.
I pull out my phone, quickly dialing a number as I pace back and forth like a caged animal. It rings twice before a gruff voice answers.
“Yeah, boss?”
“Miguel, I need you to put some feelers out on the street,” I growl, getting straight to business. “That motherfucker, Suarez, has Kali, and I want every rat in this city sniffing him out. You hear me?”
“You got it, boss. Any leads so far?”
I grit my teeth, my free hand clenching into a white-knuckled fist. “That warehouse was a dead end. Suarez isn’t as sloppy as I’d hoped.”
There’s silence for a moment. Even through the phone, I can sense Miguel’s trepidation.
“We’ll find her,” he says at last, his voice subdued. “Let me make some calls.”
“You do that,” I snap, ending the call with a vicious stab of my finger.
Stalking to the van, I lean against the cool metal and tilt my head back, staring at the inky black sky. Kali, my beautiful, fierce little rabbit. Wherever you are, I’ll find you. The devil himself couldn’t keep me from you.
39
KALI
Suarez looms over me, filling the room with an air of menace. He wants to know about Matias—his weaknesses and vulnerabilities. But even as Matias began to show me a softer side, our interactions were predominantly physical. I know little about his past or his inner workings.
“Talk,” he demands. “What are his weaknesses? What does he fear?”
I shuffle nervously, the chains binding me to the chair. “I... I don’t know. He never really talked about himself.”
His beady eyes narrow. “You expect me to believe that? You’re his woman.”
I flinch at the word. “Yes, but—”
“But nothing. Tell me something useful, or this’ll be painful for you.” His hand brushes over an assortment of sharp tools laid out on the table, making my heart race.
I swallow hard, trying to ignore the fear that’s building inside me. “I don’t know anything! We barely talked. He just liked to use me for his pleasure.”
A twisted smile spreads across Suarez’s face. “Then perhaps I’ll enjoy using you too.”
He grabs one of the tools, and my eyes widen in horror.
“No, please—I don’t know anything!”
“Then you’d better start praying for a miracle. Because I’ll tear you apart piece by piece if you don’t give me what I want.”
The cold metal chair digs into my back as I squirm, trying in vain to loosen the tight chains binding my wrists. “I’m telling you the truth,” I plead. “Matias and I... we don’t have that kind of relationship. He never confided in me.”
He seizes a handful of my hair. “I can see it in your eyes. You care for him, perhaps even love him.”
The idea stuns me. Love Matias?
Is that what I feel for him? I hadn’t given it much thought, but there’s no denying our connection. Yes, our relationship was built on fear and domination, but slowly, he’s shown me a different side of him. A side I could love.
