Page 67 of Veiled Vengeance

How graceful.

He jumps up onto the stage, bypassing the steps, and removes a key from his pocket. Pierce’s grip around Carmen’s wrist is visibly too tight as he uses the key to remove the handcuffs, but Carmen doesn’t let the pain show as she glances at the bar again, subtly shaking her head.

“Come on. Big brother gave up his bitch to get you back. Time to go.” He shoves Carmen off the stage in our direction. As shefalls, she lands on her side and hits her head on the ground. He hops down, bending his knees to brace himself, and lands beside Anthony. He squats down next to Carmen and whispers something else in her ear.

Carmen’s cheeks flame, and she lifts her head and spits right in Pierce’s face. Pierce rears his hand back and smacks her across the face. The force causes Carmen to fall back down.

Anthony drops his grip on my chin and leans his head to the side. I follow his line of sight, and my breath catches in my throat.

Shit.

With guns in hand, Gabriel, Diego, and Mateo sprint towards Carmen. Anthony draws his handgun from his waist while Pierce and their men do the same.

My heart stops as Anthony raises his gun and fires.

CHAPTER 28

GABRIEL

My fingers tap on the arm of my chair as I set my chin against my fist on the other arm. A beautiful redhead dances on the stage in front of me, but my attention is transfixed on the woman who has unwittingly enchanted me.

I knew the moment I brought her into my life I was putting her in danger. But Carmen Flores isn’t a fragile snowflake.

She’s a spitfire. She’s fierce.

Even now. She’s nearly naked in a room full of people. She has been kidnapped and hurt, but her pride is intact, and she holds her head high. As she walks around the pole in her heels, she rolls her eyes at the two men sitting by her stage.

That’s my girl.

Carmen’s acting like she has chewed gum on her shoe rather than acting like she’s been kidnapped by human traffickers.

The two men, Anthony Cole and Pierce Murphy, laugh together at Carmen’s annoyance. They’re going to regret taking what’s ours.

My eyes wander to the main stage, where Mateo pretends to be entertained by the dancer there. He puts his index and middlefingers together and touches his lips with them. Slyly switching my attention to the bar, Diego gives me the same sign.

They’re both ready.

Asher and Spencer walk in with one of Anthony and Pierce’s men. The man walks with falsemachismo. He thinks his big gun makes him tough.

Idiota.

As they walk by, Asher looks at me and nods his head once.

Another step closer to getting Carmen out of here.

I need her back where she belongs. In my home, my bed—fuck giving her space. We gave her space, and this happens.

I watch as Spencer, Asher, and Anthony talk together. They may not be throwing punches, but they’re close to it. The way Spencer clutches her arms and the way Asher’s muscles in his back are taut tell me all I need to know.

As Pierce jumps up onto the stage right next to Carmen, I sit forward in my seat. My hand rests on the gun hidden under my suit jacket.

Pierce produces a key and unlocks the handcuffs. Once she’s free, he pushes her off the stage and onto the floor. Carmen doesn’t have time to brace for the fall, and she lands on her side.

He was already a dead man, but now he’s going to suffer.

Jumping to my feet, I watch them intensely. In my peripheral vision, I notice Diego and Mateo standing as well. Pierce hops down and crouches beside Carmen.

Don’t be stupid, mi vida.

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