Page 145 of Hunter's Revenge
I see where he’s coming from. And like any other man who loves his wife and vows to protect her, I do feel something for hearing his was raped by his own father. But that’s as far as my sympathy goes.
“You have it, Malik Volkova, and there is no need for it to be so.”
“I beg to differ. I chose the mode of punishment for the crimes against me. You should be lucky you get to keep your life.”
“It is not luck why I am alive. We both know that.”
This is going fucking nowhere. “Like I said before, cut to the motherfucking chase. What do you want?”
He puts the cigarette out. “I have an opium field in Argentina. Check it out. The land itself is worth a few million. The business even more. We have notable buyers we have a good rep with. You can have it if you divorce Gwen and hand back the cartel to us.”
If it’s one thing I know in life it’s this: if an enemy is willing to offer you something of worth for something you have, you should never give what you have away.
Not that I would.
“And what happens to Gwen? She has to marry a man of your choosing whom you can control? And after the cooling period, what will you do to her, then?” I make it sound as if I’m considering it.
“Those are things you don’t have to worry about. She is Santiago’s daughter. My cousin. I will personally take care of her and make sure I find her a good husband who will look after her for the rest of her life.”
He must think I’m an idiot to believe his lying forked tongue.
If Santiago believed for one minute that his daughter was going to be safe with these people, he wouldn’t have moved the heavens and earth to keep her a secret.
The translation to what Diego is telling me is, he’ll find some asshole who won’t kill Gwen until the time is up. Then they’ll kill her because they won’t allow her to keep her share of the ownership or inheritance. They’ll get everything and my beautiful girl will be nothing but a memory. She’ll join the other ghosts in my life.
“No.” That one word feels like I just signed my life away, but then again, there was always a target on my back. It was just a matter of when someone would pull the trigger.
“No, Señor? Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent.”
“She doesn’t belong in our world. You know that, right?”
“Of course, I do. But you think I’m going to hand her over to you?” I raise my brows.
“What if we could promise to ensure she returns to her normal way of life?”
“You need to stop now because I don’t believe a word you say.”
He feigns innocence, pretending to be hurt by my comment. “That’s below the belt.”
“I told you no bullshit.”
“Okay, well, it was worth a shot.” He shrugs, brings his hands together, and pretends to applaud himself. “Next time you see me, I might not be so nice.”
“I look forward to that day, friend.”
“Just remember, amigo, it’s not always good to show devils like me your weakness.” He glances back to the dance floor and a shiver laces through my blood, cascading from my head to my feet. “There is always a way to get what you want. You just have to find it.”
Dipping his head, he walks away.
I watch him until he’s gone.
His visit here must mean whatever plan he’s concocting isn’t working as quickly as he’d hoped. But that doesn’t mean he’s not looking for a way, as he said.
I look down at the dance floor and see my girl talking away with Anastasia and Lorelai.
Nothing good can happen from here. I can feel it in my bones, but I can’t allow anything to happen to Gwen.