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Pure rage ignited behind his eyes but I turned, heading for the door before he could react.

“De Luca.”

I almost grinned, stopping in my tracks. I allowed a beat to hover between us before I faced him.

“I know what hotel room Nirah is in.” He began, making the muscle in my jaw tick. “One call and the sniper on the roof will put a bullet through her head.” He assured me with a single step forward, and something heavy snaked around my heart. “Don’t threaten my woman in my city.” He strode toward me, still keeping his distance. “This isn’t America.”

I called his bluff. “You don’t know where Nirah is.”

“I know when unwanted guests enter my country.”

My eye caught one of his men beside me and I grabbed him, blowing his brains out. Damien stepped back as his lifeless body dropped to the floor between us and a car pulled up outside.

With only a few strides I was in front of the car, putting a bullet in the windshield and yanking open the backdoor.

Big brown eyes of fear stared back at me as I reached forward, grabbing Isla, his fiancée, and hauled her onto her feet. She screamed, trying to fight me off but it was too late.

Holding her trembling body to my front, I wrapped my large forearm around her neck.

“Damien?” She squeaked.

“Oh how easier snapping your pretty little neck will be.” I lowered my lips to her ear and she squirmed in my hold.

A car door slammed shut and Damien’s right hand, Maddox, rounded his car—gun in hand—but froze when my gun lifted to Isla’s head.

“I’m as confident in my aim as you are in your fists, De Luca.” Damien clearly stated, his gun aimed at me. I knew that to be true, but I didn’t give a fuck.

“Scared, Kulikov?” I grinned and I watched Isla wince as my arm tightened around her.

“No no, please,” she begged, nails digging into my forearm.

I could hear footsteps attempting to sneak up behind me and could almost laugh.

“Call them off.” I warned but Damien didn’t even bat an eye.

Two shots rang through the air, followed by bodies collapsing.

“He didn’t budge, did he?”

“No, tesoro. He didn’t,” I answered without having to look back at her. Of course she escaped. I should’ve been pissed, but fuck. Her timing was impeccable.

“Oh, she’s pretty.” Nirah swooned, taking Isla’s face in her hands. “It’s nothing personal,” she whispered, pulling Isla from me. “Maybe you and I should go for some tea while our husbands have a little cat fight.” She entwined her arm with Isla’s. “What do you say?”

Isla’s face found a deep scowl of confusion and disbelief.

Damien cocked his gun. “Let her go.” He shifted his weapon toward Nirah.

“Woah, there, buddy boy. I don’t want trouble,” she innocently said. “I only killed your friends because they were going to shoot Antonio,” she matter-of-factly stated.

“Let. Isla. Go.” His tone turned sterner than before. He was growing impatient.

Humorously, I looked over at Nirah and nodded toward Damien.

Nirah sighed, looking at Isla. “I guess we can’t hang out,” she sorrowfully whispered. “Go on,” she mumbled, letting go of Isla’s arm.

Isla immediately stepped away from us, rushing toward Damien and he wrapped his arm around her,

Nirah slipped her arm around mine and I lowered my gun, keeping my eyes on Damien. “You have a weakness.” I pointed out.