Page 95 of Gangster's Empire: Leeza & Havel

This time it was the man on the phone who responded. “We cannot give our public approval, but behind closed doors we will say that we are not unhappy with the removal of your president from power.”

Havel finally recognized the voice.

Radik.

They’d fucking pulled Radik into this insane plan. He’d like to know how they brought the giant warlord on board since the man despised the entire Koba organization and their associates for turning his sister into a mercenary. The only way Radik would have agreed was if they’d promised him something big in return.

God damn heads were gonna role when he was finally let out of the cage.

The General announced, “Yes, okay, I’ll do it. I’ll exchange this man for the President.”

Leeza beamed at him, squeezing his bicep in a way that made Havel want to rip the General’s arm off and spank her with it before beating the General to death.

She frowned, her delicate brows lowering in concern. “The exchange must be made tonight, under cover of darkness and with a minimum of people involved. We can’t have it get out that Interpol is interfering with a political movement in a country outside of Europe.”

“Of course,” the General agreed. “You may take the prisoner tonight. I will send several of my people with you and once you hand over the President, we will allow you to leave the country.”

She shook her head, her eyes luminous as she gazed at the General. “It’s imperative we keep Interpol’s presence here a secret. The more people accompanying us, the more likely it is that word will get out. What if I take the prisoner, two of your people and one of mine for protection, and the rest stay behind.”

The General was frowning as he listened, but he didn’t interrupt.

“Then I’ll come back personally with the President to ensure a smooth transition into your custody.”

Mbengue nodded, the part of her plan that brought her back into his camp appealing to him.

Havel thought he understood what she was up to. Two of Mbengue’s men would be much easier to take out than a contingent. She would leave Radik’s men behind. Men who were familiar with the terrain and the language. Men who blended in and could easily leave the camp without getting caught.

Though he still intended to strangle her, he had to admit the plan was good. And apparently Mbengue agreed because a few minutes later, with a minimum of fuss, Havel was sitting in the back of a jeep, a Mbengue soldier on either side of him, Ayaan in the driver’s seat and Leeza in the passenger seat.

They travelled for over an hour, mostly in silence, passing easily through two checkpoints, Mbengue’s soldiers recognizing their own in the vehicle. Havel had to admit that Leeza’s plan was beyond good. It was brilliant.

She’d walked into a military camp during a coup and extracted a prisoner without a single shot being fired. She’d used the General’s vanity and pride against him. He had an eye for good-looking, powerful women, and he believed Interpol’s interest in him meant he had Europe on his side as he waged war.

They arrived at a small airfield where a plane was waiting for them. Havel recognized Jozef, Cooper and Radik. Radik’s presence had Havel tensing, but the fact that he was standing next to Jozef, who looked unharmed, lowered Havel’s blood pressure slightly.

Rage still gripped him as the group left the jeep and walked toward the airplane. He’d spent an hour sitting two feet away from his new bride, her jasmine scented oil teasing his nostrils. He couldn’t ask her what the hell was going on, couldn’t shout at her for putting herself in harm’s way, couldn’t touch, lick, and fuck her the way he needed.

He was ready to rip heads off until he got some answers.

In fact, why wait?

He turned to the soldier on his right side, one of Mbengue’s men, gripped him by the head and twisted until a satisfying crack announced a job well done. He turned to the second soldier who was lifting his weapon to mount a defense, grabbed the gun and yanked it away.

He sent the full force of his fist into the other man’s face, crushing bone and dropping him, a gurgling scream coming from his shattered mouth. Havel lifted his boot and stomped, crushing the man’s skull.

Ayaan dragged Leeza away, shoving her behind her.

It wasn’t enough.

Havel had his sights set on one thing. His wife.

He shoved Ayaan hard enough to send her to the ground, eliciting a growl of rage from Radik who charged toward them to defend his sister.

Ignoring everyone and everything except Leeza, he pressed her against the jeep, his body covering hers.

He wanted to shout at her that she was an idiot, that he was going to lock her up forever, but she ran her hands up his arms and locked them at the back of his neck, resting her head on his chest.

“I missed you.” Her husky voice sent a bolt of lust straight to his balls.

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