Page 131 of Impenitent Claim

“Always put a final bullet in the forehead.” They hadn’t taught this kid anything! He planned to disappear and go to college in California. I would wire him ample funds, and he was content to start a cozy life there.

But it seemed he lacked basic survival instinct to even make it that far.

“Rusalka, baby, I need you to listen.” I tugged at Isabella, who held onto me for dear life. “I have to go clean this mess up so we can be done here. That means I need you to let go—”

She whimpered.

My sweet siren fucking whimpered.

I ground my molars. Death was too kind to the people who did this to her. She’d been through hell the past week—well, longer than a week. But this? This was terrible. Graphic! I didn’t know what torment they inflicted on her, but someone was going to pay. If not in this life, then the next. I would hunt them even through the afterlife to make sure they suffered.

“Izzy,” I protested, pressing my lips to the sensitive skin of her temple as another shotgun blast shattered behind us. “I need to go end him.”

“No, it’s my responsibility, my mess to clean up,” came the soft declaration behind us. Alonzo pulled himself tall, turned to the door, and took a step forward.

Mid eye roll at the kid’s bravado, I staggered as Isabella launched herself from my hold. She managed to take two steps before I overcame my surprise.

A hollow roar croaked from my lips.

I wrenched her back, forcing her to stay safely behind the stone of the exterior wall.

The siren struggled and fought. “He’s playing knight! He’s going to get hurt! Ilya, please! I have to save him. One of them has to live!”

Each plea was a stab to my heart.

I drew my remaining weapon but didn’t move until I knew for sure Isabella wouldn’t rush forward. Violent shouts in Italian rang out behind us. Isabella flinched.

“Go to the front gate. Wait for me,” I commanded through tight teeth.

Defiance flashed in her eyes. “Aldo needs to die.”

A laugh barked out of my throat. “I promise you, siren, he will.” I dangled the slim chain between my fingers, the Italian horn dangling in the air. Isabella looked at her own hands, which were shaking too hard and had dropped it when we ran. “I have all the luck I need, Izzy.”

Chapter 49 – Isabella

Ilya turned, ready for war. It didn’t matter what the poor organ had been through, my heart jolted, stopped—and then leapt into a furious patter. Rapid Italian shouted through the door, but Ilya prowled into the storm.

He might be a great bear, but what did that make me?

A mama bear.

Hiding in the presence of the enemy wasn’t an option. I palmed my gun, mentally counting the bullets. There would be only one chance to end this before the nightmare destroyed everything I loved.

“Let him go, don. It’s me who you want.” Ilya spoke with authority. He didn’t need to shout or menace for his words to break through the foyer like thunder.

“You?” the don spat. “You’re no one.”

“No—he’smine,” I breathed, ghosting to the doorframe and peering around it. They didn’t hear my whisper, didn’t sense my approach. Once again, my enemy underestimated me.

The scene before me was hellish. Nothing could evoke the same terror as the evil man pointing a shotgun at his son and the cage fighter.

Ilya faced the don, frame loose, hands open at his sides. His handgun wasn’t even pointed at Aldo. “It’s true, you don’t know me. But you took something of mine, and you’ve made it a fucking inconvenience to collect.”

I lifted my pistol, forcing my muscles to stop shaking. My blood raced, which would only make the shot harder. I had maybe five seconds to calm down and make the shot.

Time slowed, pulsing at the steady beat of a drum. Ilya took a step toward Alonzo. Air caught in my lungs.

The corner of the don’s eye twitched. “So you destroyed my empire?”

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