Page 45 of The Love Language of the Cartel

“Get dressed,” he commanded. “Your father and his men have touched down in Mexico.”

My heart did a backflip inside my chest. “W-what?” I inquired, unsure of the words I’d just heard.

“He’s coming for you, Demi. And I’ll be damned if I let him have you.”

The time had finally come for me to pick a side. And now that I knew the truth about my father’s intentions and had seen a softer side of Ozias, which one would I choose?

Ozias

Acouple of hours later, the phone vibrated on the mahogany nightstand, slicing through the unspoken tension inside my bedroom. I reached over and picked it up, glancing at the name illuminated on the screen—Cyrus Malone. My heart skipped a beat. Cyrus wasn’t the type of man who called to shoot the shit; his call alone meant it was close to showtime.A warningalwayscame before destruction.

I answered calmly. “Cyrus, to what do I owe the pleasure?” I answered, tone thick with sarcasm.

“Cut the shit, Ozias,” he replied in his typical greasy voice. “You know why I’m calling.”

“I do?”

A part of me was amused. I knew I had Demi right where I wanted her. From the beginning, I didn’t hide anything from her about who her father was and his selfish intentions, and I showed her the actual value of her worth.There was no way she’d go back to living under his thumb now that I’d given her the opportunity to taste true power.That, and making her pussy bust like an AK every chance I got. She’d never leave me.

He scoffed. “You’ve been a tough man to track down, but you fucked with the wrong one this time. Tonight, all that changes.I’m sending my men in. Give me back Demi, and annul the marriage, or lose everything, including your fuckin’ life.”

My jaw clenched. “Is that a threat?”

“No,” Cyrus grumbled. “It’s a fuckin’ promise. My men and I are on their way to your gates as we speak. Armed and waiting. I want my daughter back in my custody in the next fifteen minutes or else. Tick-tock, mothafucka.”

Then, the line went dead.

Rage boiled inside me, scorching my veins and causing me to propel the phone across the room. I stormed over to the window, needing to see for myself. Sure enough, four pairs of headlights were driving up the curvy road to my iron gates, casting long shadows against my mansion. I was able to make out figures of my men—armed—and standing the gate.

I spun around and raced to my bedside to immediately begin barking orders into the intercom. “Get the fucking security team! I want every man available armed and at their posts now! We’re not letting these mothafuckas take a single step onto this property, and we’re damn sure not letting him take her!”

Demi stood nearby with worry etched into her expression. “W-what’s happening?”

“Your father,” I answered curtly. “He’s come for you. He’s finally making his move.”

Her lips thinned. “He’s outside r-right now?”

“At the gates as we speak.”

“Then I’m coming with you.”

I swung my head in a sharp no. “I’ll handle him. You stay here where it’s safe. I’ll send Javier to protect you.”

“No, Ozias. Absolutely not!”

“This isn’t up for fuckin’ debate, Demi. I said no!” I barked while pulling out my bulletproof vest.

My voice rose as I contemplated putting it on her, but knew it was two sizes too big for her small frame and would likely weighher down. If it came down to it, I’d take a bullet for her with no question.

Her firm gaze met mine, equally determined. “You said it yourself. You need me,” she said, her tone softer but no less determined. “You said I was the queen, right? Then let me reign.”

I glared at her for a long minute, torn between my instinct to protect her and the fact that the truth she’d spoken had turned me on. Finally, I nodded half-heartedly. “Fine. But your ass better stick to me like fuckin’ glue, Demi. No hero bullshit. I may not have another vest, but I’m not letting you go out there without being strapped. Have you ever shot a gun before? It’s real simple. Aim at the fuckin’ enemy, release the safety, and pull that trigger as hard as you can.”

“Okay,” she said, striding forward to stand at my side. “I can handle myself. I got it.”

I strapped us both up, and we went downstairs hand in hand. Outside, the rumble of engines grew louder, and the standoff between my men and his began to take shape at the gates.

As Demi and I stepped out of the mansion, the line of armed men stationed at the gates came into clearer sight, illuminated by the vehicle headlights of Cyrus Malone and his men. We inched closer, walking in step with each other as if we were of one body. At the heart of it all stood Cyrus, a towering melanated figure projecting a familiar aura of command even in the darkness of the night.

---