39

DOMINIC
That asshole might be like a bloodhound, but I have one thing he doesn’t.
Samantha.
She’s already told me where Henry is hiding out, so I won’t have any trouble seeking that fucker out and putting an end to him.
I know what he’s like… I know how he thinks.
This has gone too far.
Even if Falesco calls Henry off the trail, he won’t stop. He’ll consider it a failed job, a stain on his reputation. He won’t let it stand.
I know because I’m the same way.
That’s why I’m going to get to him first.
“So, this is it, huh?”
I find the abandoned warehouse, just on the out skirts of the city. A shit hole, but just the sort of place a man like Henry would hide out.
But he isn’t alone.
I knew he wouldn’t be. Samantha warned me as much.
He has a little entourage now-guys he’s gathered who probably owe him favors-to keep him safe.
Maybe they’ve worked so far, but they won’t now.
Henry has an adversary he can’t win against in me.
I just have to be patient. Wait it out until the moment is right. Luckily, I have alotof experience in that area.
If there’s one thing that the military taught me, it’s patience.
If I need to wait out to get what I want, then that’s what I’ll do.
I’m parked away from the warehouse, obviously, I’m not about to be caught off guard. But I have the best binoculars on the market so I can keep an eye on what’s happening there.
Men, surrounding the building, with guns strapped to their sides. But they aren’t intimidating me. I know most of them. Idiots. Wannabe gangsters who think the streets are like the video games they spend most of their time playing.
I don’t know why Henry is screwing around with these idiots, but that’s fine.
I’m gonna take them down one by one until I get to him.
The center of it all.
The asshole who thinks he can get anywherenearIsabella.
“Not on my watch,” I mutter as I watch the comings and goings. “Not a chance in hell.”
My heart still hurts when I think about Isabella. I need her far to the back of my brain so I don’t get distracted here. My chest aches because I’ve had to walk away from her, but what else was I supposed to do?
We knew it was going to come to an end. There was no way it could last. I mean, that’s been in the back of my brain the whole time, right?
I guess I just didn’t expect it to feel like this when it eventually fell apart.
The fact that I might not ever see her again is crushing.
I don’t knowhowI’m going to handle it, but that’s an issue for later on, right? One step at a time. I just need to get this done first.
Action first.
Feelings later.
Eventually, darkness descends.
It’s time.
I head out the car, stealthy as possible, and make my way to the warehouse.
The first man I grab isn’t even expecting me.
Slitting his throat happens before he can even gather himself back up.
He slumps to the floor.
For a second, I consider stripping this asshole down to disguise myself, but I decide against it at the last moment.
There’s no point.
I’ll be quick, and that will give me the upper hand.
The next couple of guards cause me a little more trouble because they’re together.
Taking one down is much easier when the other guy isn’t crying out and fighting back.
But it’s fine.
My military experience gets me far.
Once inside the warehouse, I need my night vision goggles to get through the darkness. I can’t snap necks as quickly when I can’t see what I’m doing.
My emotions are completely switched off while I work. This is the best way for me to work. My head is on the end goal entirely, nothing else will get in my way.
I’m going to take Henry down so he can’t get near Isabella.
Sheis the only thing keeping me going.
Whoa, shit.
This all gets a million times more real when I spot a selection of photos taken of Isabella on a wall. High school photos, candid shots that might have been taken off the Internet, but some that have definitely come from stalking her.
Seeing this and knowing that it was going on a long time before even I got to Isabella makes me feel ill.
My fists curl up.
I’m going to have to snap this fucker’s neck.
I can’t have a man obsessed with Isabella walking around this planet.
It doesn’t matter what ends up happening with me and her, I won’t let anything happen to her. She’s too good, too pure, too special.
She deserves so much more.
“…I don’t know, but I’m going to make sure…”
Henry’s voice chills me to the bone.
Hatred floods through me more painfully than anything that’s come before.
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to kill someone as much as this before.
The ability to think straight has gone.
I can’t plan with precision anymore.
I reach out and grab him, spinning him around rapidly.
I’ve definitely caught him off guard. Surprise overcomes him.
“Dominic? What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Surprised to see that I’m still alive after your little trick?”
Realization flickers across his face.
“Yep, that’s right, Henry. I know what you’re up to. I just don’t know why.”
A cloud covers him, darkening his expression. “You know exactly why, Dominic. Because you lied to me. I asked you about the clinic thing, and you lied to my fucking face. You didn’t just tell me that you had Isabella, saving me time and money. I could have taken on another job.”
I point to the wall of photos. “You could have just let her go?”
He scoffs. “All right, whatever. Maybe not. Maybe never, but who the fuck cares? I needed the money. You know that better than anyone. Or do you? Because I’m starting to think that you’ve been fucking Isabella the entire time.”
I blanche. I knew he was suspicious, but to say it out right is something else.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh. I think Ido. I think I know exactly what I’m talking about.” He snorts with laughter. “Come on, Dominic. Bull shit. Stop lying to me. I know better than anyone what you’re like. Itwasyou in the clinic that day. I knew it was all along, and you’ve been screwing her the whole time. You don’t like me saying this? Then why don’t we fight this out like men. With fists.”
I part my lips, about to tell him not to be an asshole, but he isn’t playing about.
He swings his fist back and smacks it into the left side of my cheek before I can even catch my breath.
Shit.
I guess we’re doing this then.
I hit him back, but Henry is already in a black out rage mode. He’s fully attacking me, pushing me back, shoving me against the wall, backing me into a corner.
Shit, I wasn’t expecting this.
He might be about to win here.
Mostly because he has me pinned in a manner where it’s hard for me to fight back.
“She’s a fucking slut, isn’t she?” Henry growls. “I bet she fucks everyone. Silly little whore. I want to have her for myself, and when you’re dead, I’ll have her.”
That’s enough for me.
That swirls burning hot rage inside of me. I’m seeing red, about to lose my shit.
There’s nowayI’ll let Henry go anywhere near her.
The strength overcomes me. I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore. It’s like I’ve lost full control of myself. I lash out just as hard as Henry. Maybe even harder.
I keep thumping endlessly until Henry can’t seem to stand up any longer.
His legs buckle and I pin him down.
I won’t stop.
I can’t stop.
I need him to stop moving. I can’t have a man out in the world who dares to speak about Isabella like that. Who I know will do terrible things to her, given half the chance.
My heart is absolutely thundering against my rib cage, blasting burning hot blood throughout my body.
I’m growing dizzy with all of this. It’s too much. But I have to protect Isabella. This is why I’m here, to put an end to this.
Fuck.
There is blood everywhere now.
I think Henry might have stopped moving.
Finally, I fall off of him, and I do what I can to catch my breath.
I touch Henry’s chest to feel no heartbeat. I put my hand over his mouth to check that there’s no breath.
He’s dead.
It’s over.