Page 72 of August

The senator moaned as two guards bent to help him to his feet. “You’re a dead man,” Roy said, seething. Blood leaked from a corner of his mouth, and his cheek flamed red where August had struck him.

Rami had dragged August away from the senator moments before, stopping him from delivering any more blows to the old fuck.

“Listen, we don’t want any trouble. It’s a misunderstanding.” Toth’s conciliatory tone didn’t do much to settle the testosterone-charged atmosphere.

“The fuck it is,” August bit out.

Toth spun on him, glaring daggers. “You’re not helping.” He turned back to the senator and his guards. “Our associate believes you have something to do with the fact that the cartel shot one of our men in the head and took the woman he was protecting.”

Roy’s face turned solemn. “I told no one of our meeting.”

“Well, someone found out,” August snapped. “They had to know our defenses would be low.”

Again, the senator held out his hands. “I told you. I’ve got nothing to do with it. Why would I risk you leaking anything to the press? I agreed to this meeting and you can have Todd.”

August’s chest expanded on each inhale. The asshole was lying through his perfect fucking veneers. He might not be able to kill him now, but the sonofabitch would pay for endangering Gigi.

“Where is he?” Rami asked. He too sounded on the verge of snapping.

Roy pressed a white handkerchief to his lip and mopped up the trickle of blood. Gesturing to one of the guards, he waved toward the house. The man with the ponytail disappeared inside. Tension bounced from man to man, radiating like a giant ball around them.

No one spoke. No one moved.

The door opened and Todd walked out ahead of the guard. He wore jeans, a white dress shirt, and the same wire-rimmed glasses August had seen on him the last time they met.

Seeing Todd in the flesh made new rage surface. Rage that made August’s senses fizz and his vision blur.

Todd glanced sheepishly from August to Toth to Rami to Ghost, from whom he shot his gaze away quickly, as if afraid. Todd had every reason to be fearful of the dude, but August was the only one who’d relish breaking every bone in Todd’s body.

August opened and closed his fist at his side. His hand holding the gun itched to rise and pull the trigger.

Not here.

Soon, he’d make Todd sorry he’d ever met Gigi. But not right now. Not when August’s next move could cost someone their life or worse—delay him from getting back to Seattle and finding Gigi.

“I held up my end of the bargain. Give him to Alvarez if that’s what you want. Just forget I was ever involved.”

Rami moved forward and snagged Todd’s bicep, hauling him away from the safety of Roy’s house.

“Are we done here?” Roy demanded.

August gave a nod. “Yeah, we’re done.”

“Fine. And if you know what’s good for you, don’t you dare tell Alvarez I had him here.” The senator’s threat beat the air.

“Understood.” He understood all right, but he didn’t give a damn. He’d tell Alvarez whatever necessary to get Gigi home. Toth motioned for everyone to move toward the dock.

“Roy, don’t do this,” Todd wailed. “They’ll kill me.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Rami punched Todd in the kidney and Todd yelped, his knees folding. Rami jerked him back up and propelled him down the cobblestone path. “This will be a helluva lot harder if you don’t keep your mouth shut.”

August glanced over his shoulder to see Roy heading inside. The guards stood with crossed arms watching them leave. Once they got to the boat, August tucked his weapon in his waistband.

Rami shoved Todd in, and Toth, Ghost, and August jumped in after. The rope was quickly untied and the motor powered up. In seconds, they were speeding away from the dock.

August sat staring at the shitty excuse for a man who was Gigi’s ex. He could look at the guy a hundred times and never understand what Gigi had seen months ago.

There’d been a time when she’d chosen this rat over him, and he’d never figure out why. Regardless, it didn’t matter because Gigi was very much his woman now. If he could, he’d wipe every damn memory Todd had of her. Erase every memory of touching her, of kissing her, of...

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