Page 106 of Ruined By Blood
CHAPTER 35
Icross the distance between us in two strides, my patience snapping like a dry twig. My hand closes around Henry Sterling's throat, lifting him partially out of his chair.
"I'm done with your games," I growl, squeezing just enough to make his eyes widen with genuine fear.
The click of weapons being drawn echoes through the room. Four guards aim their guns at my head, but I don't release my grip.
"Hold your fire!" Henry chokes out, his face reddening under my grip. "Stand down!"
The guards remain steel, weapons trainedon me while I keep Henry dangling. His expensive Italian shoes barely touch the ground.
"You think I came here without a plan?" I tighten my fingers, feeling his pulse race beneath my palm. "You think I'd walk into your house unprepared?"
A shot rings out. Sharp and decisive.
One of Henry's guards drops to the floor, a neat hole in his forehead. Before the others can react, a second shot follows, then a third. Bodies hit the floor in rapid succession.
The remaining guard swings his weapon toward the shooter but freezes when he finds himself staring down the barrel of a gun held by his own colleague. Noah. My infiltration insurance.
In the same moment, Charlotte pulls a small pistol from inside her sleeve, pressing it against Henry's temple. Her hand is surprisingly steady.
Henry's eyes bulge, darting between his wife's face and the gun at his head.
I release his throat and step back, straightening my jacket. "You always underestimated her, didn't you?"
The room falls silent except for Henry's ragged breathing.
Noah kicks the fallen guards' weapons away, checking each body efficiently. "Clear," he announces, moving to secure the door.
"You had a man on the inside," Henry says, his voice hoarse from my grip. "How?"
"You should pay your people better," I reply with a cold smile. "Or treat them with a shred of human dignity. Either works."
My eyes find Sienna, who sits frozen in her chair, watching the scene unfold with wide eyes.
The door bursts open behind us, and I don't need to turn to know who it is. The steady rhythm of familiar footsteps tells me everything.
Alessio strides in, flanked by six of our men, all armed and radiating lethal purpose. His gaze sweeps the room, taking in the dead guards, Noah's position, Charlotte's gun at Henry's head, and finally settling on Sienna's bruised face.
"Mr. Sterling," Alessio says, his voice pleasant as if greeting a business associate at lunch. "Pleasure to finally meet you face to face."
Henry's composure cracks further. "What is the meaning of this? You can't just?—"
"Your security team was quite impressive on paper," Alessio continues, ignoring the interruption. "Twelve men on the perimeter, eight inside the house, four personal guards." He gestures to the bodies on the floor with a casual wave. "Unfortunately, they're all dead now."
Blood drains from Henry's face. "That's impossible."
Alessio's thumb brushes along his bottom lip as he considers Henry. "You're left with exactly what's in this room. And us, of course."
Our men spread out, securing windows and positions by the doors. The takeover is swift, professional, practiced. We've done this before.
Henry's eyes dart around, looking for an escape route that doesn't exist. When he finds none, his gaze locks on me, hatred burning through the fear.
"You won't kill me," he snarls, desperation making his voice crack. "The repercussions would be catastrophic. You'll pay for this, Feretti. You and your entire family."
His words hang in the air, empty threats from a man who has finally realized he's lost everything.
I take a step closer, my voice dropping to a register that makes even my own men tense.
