“Where is Amalia?” I have no time for whatever mind games he plans to play and decide to cut to the chase. The sooner he gives her to me, the sooner all this shit will be over.
He strolls to me slowly; the fucker measures each step as he swings the cane from side to side. “Where she belongs. With her family and fiancé.”
Jealousy and possessiveness sweep over me, bloody and vicious in nature, ready to kill any man who thinks he has rights to my woman, especially the one who put a fucking ring on her finger and announced to the whole world she is his.
Amalia is mine. Mine and no one else’s.
My obsession might have taken longer to show itself to me, but once awakened, it will never go away.
She shouldn’t have come to Chicago if she wanted a peaceful life with a violinist.
Although our union was inevitable, right? I’d use her for my revenge sooner or later.
“Give her to me,” I grit out through my teeth. We stop several feet away from each other, the energy radiating from us, my body buzzing with anticipation and danger, urging me to force Lachlan out of my way. “She’s mine.”
His brows rise. “Is she?” He rubs his chin with the tip of his cane. “She ran away from you.” He clacks his tongue. “She must have found your charms lacking.”
Counting to ten and willing all my patience in my fist, I still keep my voice calm when I say, “We had a deal a long time ago.”
“We did,” he agrees. “I told you that if she willingly chooses you as her man, I will not object.” A beat passes. “Her answer is Lionel. You’ll respect that.”
I almost bark a laugh at this one. This coming from a man who held his own wife captive.
“She came to me. I claimed her. She’s mine.”
“I’m afraid we’ll have to agree to disagree on this one, horseman.” I don’t miss how mockery coats his voice on the last word. “Amalia made her choice. You’ll leave her alone. Or—”
“Or?” If the situation wasn’t so serious, I’d find it amusing that someone dares to threaten me at all and thinks he can get away with it.
In my city!
Anger and danger flash on his face, alerting me to the real monster residing in his soul, the one who is ready to sink his claws in whoever stands in his way. “You won’t like the consequences.” He sweeps his gaze over me. “I will forgive this emotional outburst and you barging onto my property. Don’t make the same mistake again, Remi. Because next time, I will kill you.” He half turns, fully expecting me to obey, but he freezes when I fire several bullets into the air.
“I won’t leave without her, Lachlan.”
No one will keep me away from Amalia anymore. I’ve played nice all these years.
Fuck that shit.
He straightens up, our gazes clashing as we face off against one another, equal determination on our features, and he nods, accepting my terms. “Very well. If it’s a war you want, it’s a war you’ll get.” With this, he snatches a gun from the back of his pants and points it at me while I do the same, removing the safety from mine.
And instantly, the energy around us changes, becoming more electrified and dangerous, intensified by the thunder echoing in the night and the lightning streaking across the sky, then followed by the darkness settling around us.
Nature prepares for the upcoming storm, rivaling the one happening between us.
I’m aware of movement from behind Lachlan. Four men walk from the bushes and join him, two on each side, one deadlier than the other, and they each have their own guns.
Of course the king doesn’t travel without his faithful knights.
Arson, Callum, Madman, and Micaden.
“Five against one.” I sigh dramatically, placing my hand on my chest, and shake my head in fake disappointment. “Where is your famous moral code?”
A muscle twitches in Lachlan’s cheek. “When you want to kidnap one of our own, you don’t get our moral code.” His gaze shifts for a second behind me, and he adds, “Besides, it’s five against four.”
That’s when I feel my best friends joining me, Santiago on my right and Octavius with Florian on my left, their guns glistening under the moonlight, and I grin.
I never doubted their choice.