Page 90 of August

Roy cried out and leapt to his feet behind desk. “What the—” His gaze zeroed in on August and Rami and he paled. “What do you want?” His voice trembled.

August stalked into the room, closing the distance between the senator and him. Fury vibrated his muscles, but he restrained the urge to make the bruise on Roy’s face infinitely bigger. “We need to talk.”

Roy held out his hands. “I told you everything I know!”

“Well, you’re going to have to find out more. Alvarez was supposed to trade Todd for Gigi and instead, he killed Todd and never returned my girlfriend. So, as you can imagine, we’ve got a problem.”

“Whatever is going on between you and Alvarez is your business.” Spittle sprayed from Roy’s mouth and his jowls shook with agitation.

August planted his knuckles on Roy’s desk and leaned forward. The stench of Radcliffe’s body odor, tainted with fear, filled August’s nostrils. “My girlfriend is missing. Might even be dead. Unless you want me to carry out an eye for an eye, you’d better find out where Alvarez is keeping Gigi.”

Disgust bubbled inside August as he made the threat. He wouldn’t knowingly hurt an innocent person. But he was running out of time and options and Radcliffe had no reason to call August’s bluff.

“I can’t—Y-you don’t know who you’re dealing with, here.”

“No, Senator,” August said, his tone cool but not the least bit calm. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.”

Radcliffe’s expression hardened.

“Bring in the senator’s wife,” August commanded Rami.

Before Rami could take a step toward the door, Radcliffe rounded the desk. “Okay! Okay, Jesus. You want to piss off Alvarez even more, be my guest. He has a house in town. I can’t be sure your girlfriend’s there, but I don’t know where else he’d hold her. I swear to god.” He lifted his palm as if his word actually fucking meant something.

“What’s the address?”

***

Gigi’s muscles were weakening as she kicked, trying to free herself. Her efforts were futile.

“You’re fucking mine,” Alec said with a sneer. His hands went to the snap on her jeans.

Gigi shrieked as she jammed her fingers into his throat. Alec choked, gripping his neck. When he looked at her again, murder was written in his beady eyes. He pulled back his fist and Gigi flinched, but a snarling growl split the air. Alec screamed.

Micha latched her teeth and yanked on Alec’s arm. Blood splattered. She kicked free as Micha shook and tore on Gigi’s attacker.

“Fuck!” Alec bellowed, hitting the dog in the face. Micha didn’t even flinch.

Gigi sprang from the mattress and bolted from the room. Grasping her ripped shirt, she reached the hall and slammed into Marko. He caught her shoulders, and his eyes locked on hers with suspicion. “What’d you do?” he hissed.

“He attacked me,” she blurted. “Micha bit him.” She was doing a lot more than biting him. Alec’s cries rang out from the room.

Marko made no move to stop the dog. But his facial expression revealed his internal war.

Gigi froze, her insides tumbling like a blanket in the dryer. She didn’t dare move. Any reaction could sway Marko’s decision.

A bloodcurdling scream erupted from the bedroom. Marko’s fingertips assaulted her shoulders and she winced.

He snapped his gaze toward the bedroom. “Micha, come!” he yelled. “Micha!” His face contorted with rage.

Alec’s scream stopped. Micha’s claws clicked on the floor. A shudder shook Gigi’s spine as the dog brushed against her leg.

“I’m gonna kill that mutt!” Alec shrieked.

Marko shoved Gigi backward, and she hit the wall as Alec stumbled into the hallway. Blood ran in thick rivulets down his arm and dripped onto the floor. Pain contorted his face, and he narrowed his eyes on Micha like a predator.

“Micha, out,” Marko ordered. The dog ran toward the kitchen.

Alec turned to glare daggers at Marko. Once again, Gigi held her breath. Apprehension buckled her knees, and she fought to stay upright. Drawing Alec’s attention her way—even though she was only inches from him—could mean meeting her maker.

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