“Who the f**k are you? What do you want?” I hissed.
Tess trembled, her rapid, shallow breaths hitting the back of my neck. Something snapped inside her, turning her silent tears into terror-filled gasps. Pressing hard against me, her teeth chattered. “They can’t—Q…I can’t do it again.” The edge of lunacy in Tess’s voice made my anger reach a whole new boiling point. “I’m bankrupt. I can’t afford another toll! Please. I have nothing left.”
Don’t revert, Tess. Please don’t undo all my f**king hard work.
“Get the f**k out!” I roared. “Get out before I f**king murder you!” Ignoring their guns and soulless eyes, I reached behind, crushing Tess’s front against my spine. I hated how wobbly and cold she was. “I won’t let them take you, esclave. I promise.” On my sister’s grave, I promise. “Stay with me.”
The gunshot in my leg turned from a fire to a cataclysmic inferno.
A silenced semi-automatic was pointed in my face. The man wielding it, sneered; his teeth perfect pegs of white. “We’re not here for her.”
My heart bucked. Spanish accent.
Spain.
Everything clicked into place.
Lynx.
He had midway houses in Rome to traffic the overwhelming number of women he traded in Spain. The complications I’d told Tess about all revolved around that cocksucker. Young, ambitious, with no f**king remorse. Lynx had been a personal enemy ever since he killed a girl I’d agreed to trade for—just because he didn’t like the shirt I wore to the meeting.
Asswipe. Fucking juvenile sadistic delinquent.
Tess stifled a sob, sucking back her downfall into crazy, latching once again onto reality. She twisted in my arms, trying to get free. Glaring at the men, she yelled, “Just leave. Go back to the hole you crawled out of. Don’t do this!”
A man with black hair laughed. “Do what? This?” Closing the distance between us, he swung the gun at my temple.
I didn’t think. Just reacted. Ducking, I launched. Lowering my shoulder, I plowed into his chest, crunching him to the floor in a heap of body parts.
I didn’t care about my leg. All I cared about was ripping out his f**king heart. He gasped for breath punching anywhere he could. He managed to knock the air out of my lungs, bruise a rib, kick my knee.
He was strong, but he didn’t have psychotic rage thrumming in my veins.
Tess.
Above all I had to keep her safe.
I landed a square punch, sending his fighting body into a loose pile of bones. My fingers latched around his gun, wrenching it from his hold. Limping to my feet, I aimed at the ringleader who’d royally f**ked up my night.
“Ah, ah, ah, I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
I swung around. My stomach splattered to my feet. One of the brown-haired men had Tess in a vice-like grip, his gun bruising her temple.
Fuck!
Instantly, I threw my newly acquired weapon away.
If it was just me, I could’ve taken them on. I might not have won—but I would’ve done some serious damage before they killed me.
But I was handcuffed by my love for Tess. I couldn’t put her in any more harm than I’d already caused. How much more did that poor woman have to go through because of me?
I’d brought nothing but death and horror into her life. I’d brought her back from the edge once. I’d paid my debts and I refused to layer her with more.
My eyes locked with Tess: I’m so f**king sorry. So unbelievably sorry for everything that I’ve caused.
Tess exploded into action. Shoving the guy off her, she sprinted the distance between us, colliding with my chest. “Don’t you dare look at me like that Quincy Mercer. Don’t you dare say goodbye.” Her voice cracked as tears gushed from her eyes.
I wanted to hug her forever but another man punched me in the jaw, dragging Tess out of my embrace.
“No!” I spun in the ass**les hold, ready to tear off his ears. My heartbeat relocated to my thigh, thundering a f**king gong of agony.
“Enough!” The man struck my temple, crashing me into Franco. I tripped over his body. He groaned in pain, but his eyes were fierce and ready to fight. “Je couvre tes arrières, Mercer. Nous pouvons les prendre. Ensemble. ” I’ve got your back, Mercer. We can take them. Together.
His shoulder looked dislocated, and he bled out of his ears—concussion. His left hand was hidden in his bloody blazer. He’d put up a good fight but no matter how good, the odds were against us.
My eyes flickered between the Spanish men, waiting to see if they understood.
One man stalked toward Tess, shoving a gun against her head. Looking at me, he ordered, “Get up, ass**le.” He didn’t seem to know what Franco said—just working on precaution. Obviously the dumb f**ks couldn’t speak French.
“Tu es blessé. Ne leur donne pas une raison de nous tuer. Tu connais le plan. Il faut s’y tenir.” You’re hurt. Don’t give them a reason to kill us. You know the plan. Stick to it. I glared at Franco, willing him to stay down and not be f**king stupid. I needed him for the next stage. And if the next stage failed, I needed him to look after Tess.
Franco’s face blackened. “Je vais la garder en sécurité.” I’ll keep her safe.
My heart stuttered in relief. I trusted Franco as much as I trusted Frederick. As long as Tess was with them, I could keep my mind sharp and find a way to survive—away from her—away from the distraction of trying to keep her from being hurt.
I have to get them to leave.
“Stop speaking in French if you don’t want your little girlfriend’s brains splattered all over the glass you f**ked her against.”
Goddammit, I needed to kill these bastards. And I would, one way or another. In this life or the next. My teeth ached to tear into them. My hands already steamed with phantom blood—their blood. I f**king hated to think of Tess seeing this—especially after everything I’d done to save her.
Stumbling upright, I glowered at the man holding my woman. “Leave her alone.”
There was no denying I deserved this. After all, I’d put more traffickers down while searching for Tess than the worldwide Interpol had in three years, but it didn’t mean I was prepared to pay their price.
What did they expect?
Money? My life? Torture?
If I knew their end goal, I might be better prepared. I’d know which weapon to use. The only positive thing was they’d come for me. Not her.
The man planted a kiss against Tess’s cheek. She jerked away, only to careen back into his arms as he yanked her back. My spine stiffened, every urge inside saying attack. Fucking attack.