Page 81 of Brutal Mercy

Diego grabs my hair. I lash out as he yanks me back. And smacks me so hard I see stars. Viciously gripping my hair like he’s going to rip it from my skull, he backs me into a corner. He shoves me against the wall and knocks the gun from my hand. It lands and slides across the floor.

He cruelly grips my face, his needlelike fingers digging into my flesh.

“I didn’t realize what a whore you were, spreading your legs for that Italian scum.”

“My husband will end you,” I snap.

“He can try. But even now, my men are attacking the Russians too. And your husband is dead.”

With a yell, refusing to believe I lost Hades, I scratch Diego’s face, drawing blood. It’s got me wishing I knew how to fight. That I knew how to punch and kick him so he falls.

He smacks me a few times for the offense. “You will learn your place,puta. Or I will give you to my men. How haughty will you be after they take a few turns, huh? Your sister was no match for them. I doubt you will be.”

Horror descends into my soul at his comments. “If you touched Lyla—”

“Oh, they touched her all right. Couple of times. Fucked her real good.” Diego sneers.

My heart drops because I know Lyla was a virgin. And an unholy rage fills me. This is for my fucking sister. I spit in his eye, blinding him. And this is for my parents. I butt my head into his nose as hard as I can. Blood sprays everywhere.

“Ah fuck, you broke my nose, bitch. I’m going to make you wish you were never born,” he roars, holding his injured face.

He backhands me hard enough to make me scream. Pain riddles my body, and I slam into the floor. Holding my throbbing cheek, I spy the gun a foot away and scrabble across the floor to reach it.

I reach and reach until I grip the handle.

But I don’t have time to think. I rise off the floor, pointing the gun at him.

And then I hold it on him. Rage and grief mingle inside me at all the pain he’s caused me. Tears slip down my face.

I scream. “Why? Why did you do it? Why couldn’t you leave me and my family alone? We did nothing to you. And you ripped my family apart, you evil fuck. And I want to know why?”

“You’re not going to kill me.” He scoffs.

I pull the trigger. The bullet hits the wall just to the right of his face. “Bullshit, I’m not. But I need to know why before I end your sorry existence. Why did you take my family from me, asshole?”

“Because I wanted you.” He shrugs like they were bugs in his way and he stomped on them.

“That’s it. You destroyed my family because you wanted me. You son of a bitch. I hope you enjoy hell.”

And I point the gun at him. My hand trembles.

Just pull the damn thing already. All I need to do is squeeze the trigger, and it’s done.

Chapter twenty-three

Hades

MymenandIrace inside. I hear voices in the ballroom. I signal my guys to scout the area and back me up. At the door to the ballroom, I turn the handle as quietly as possible, then carefully open the door.

Luna is facing off with Diego Alvarez. She’s holding a gun on him. Her hand trembles. Tears stream down her bruised cheeks, and I’ve never seen anything so beautiful or fierce as my little goddess.

And I walk up behind her and say, “Let me.”

She shakes her head. “I can do it. I should. He killed my family. He had his men rape Lyla. Everything that’s happened in the last four years is because of him. He doesn’t deserve to live. And I should be the one to do it, to avenge my family.”

“I know you can, love. But I don’t want you to. Let me give this to you. Consider it one of my wedding presents.” I hold out my hand for the gun in her hands.

With shaky fingers, she hands it over and surrenders.

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