Chapter 4 4

Zeldric

I pace back and forth in my office, taking long drags from the cigar between my fingers. It’s been over an hour since the guys brought Beni in. I know the doctor they kidnapped is treating him, but no one is giving me any updates, and I can’t bring myself to go into the game room on my own. That would be a disaster. My men can’t find out about one of my greatest weaknesses, or they’d lose respect for me.

"Relax, Zeldric. If anything had happened, Oscar would already be here. He’s a good dog," Luna singsongs from the L-shaped sofa in the corner of the room.

I stop pacing and lock eyes with Lagos, my right-hand man and the only person I trust besides myself.

"Go check on my brother," I order.

As usual, he doesn’t argue and does exactly as I say. He steps out of the office and closes the door behind him.

"Speaking of loyal dogs…" Luna smirks. She gets up and walks toward me, swaying her hips. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she starts massaging the nape of my neck with her fingers.

"I know exactly what you need to relax, baby," she whispers seductively.

I push her hands away and let out an irritated breath as I take a step back.

"My brother got shot. What I need right now is for him to recover, not to have a fucking quickie," I hiss through clenched teeth.

Realizing she’s not going to get anything from me, she plops back down on the couch with a sulky look, pretending to be angry.

I still don’t know why I keep her around. She’s hot, and she gives insane blowjobs, but other than that… She’s one of us, I remind myself, exhaling heavily. Besides, her hacking skills come in handy more often than not. She’s not just a pretty face—she’s smart, even if she doesn’t always seem like it.

Ten minutes later, I’m even more on edge.

I told Beni not to take risks, but he never listened. He’s obsessed with proving his bravery, and all he’s going to do is get himself killed.

The door suddenly swings open, and Lagos enters, smiling.

"Relax, he’s fine. The medic says he’ll recover."

I released all the air I didn’t even realize I’d been holding and nodded.

"Make sure everything is cleaned up."

"Already done," Lagos replies. Not surprising. Aside from Beni, he’s the only one who knows about my weakness.

Without saying another word, I rush out of the office, cutting across the house until I reach the game room door. I grab the handle and push it open, my eyes widening at the scene before me.

Lying on the pool table is my brother. He looks asleep or unconscious, his abdomen wrapped in bandages.

But that’s not what catches my attention.

A woman is aiming a gun at my men.

There’s something about her stance, the way she holds the weapon… Police? No… Military, maybe?

She takes a step back, her heel slightly lifted, and I settle on the second option.

"Let me go, and no one gets hurt," she says firmly, her voice unwavering.

She doesn’t seem the least bit scared despite being surrounded by five armed men. And she hasn’t even seen me yet—I’m standing behind her.

One of my men steps forward, and I instantly realize that was a mistake.

She shoots him in the hand.

A cry of pain fills the room as his gun clatters to the floor.

Two more shots ring out.

One bullet hits another guy in the shoulder, the last one embeds itself in someone else’s thigh.

Oscar and Gambo stare at her in shock. The latter starts to move, and I have no choice but to step in before she kills him.

"Lower the gun," I say.

In less than the time it takes to blink, she spins around and points the weapon at my head.

Holy Christ, she’s gorgeous.

I lock eyes with her honey-colored ones.

Her chestnut hair is tied up high, and her face… Those features should be illegal.

She looks like an angel—fair-skinned and smooth, with soft, rosy lips that beg to be kissed.

I tilt my head slightly, letting my gaze trail down her body.

Even though she’s wearing dark blue cargo pants with reflective stripes and a simple matching t-shirt, I can tell she has a slender, curvy frame.

"I asked nicely," I murmur. "Don’t make me take it from you by force."

"I’ll kill you before you take a single step," the woman says without even blinking.

I glance over her shoulder. Gambo and Oscar have their guns aimed at her.

"That’s possible, but either way, you’re not getting out of here alive."

I wait a few seconds, and my jaw nearly drops when I see her shrug and flash a small smile.

Why isn’t she shaking with fear?

Anyone else in her position would be shitting their pants, but this woman looks at me with defiance, as if I’m nothing more than an inconvenience she can get rid of with the flick of her hand.

"I can either die alone or take a damn criminal off the streets. Not a hard choice," she replies, and I know she’s ready to pull that trigger at any moment.

"Alright, you win." I slowly raise both hands and glance over her shoulder again. "Guys, lower your guns. Let’s all calm down and find a solution that doesn’t involve bloodshed."

Oscar and Gambo hesitate for a few seconds but eventually do as I say. Then, I turn my attention back to the woman.

"You’re not fooling me. The moment I lower my weapon, one of your men will put a bullet in the back of my head."

"They won’t. You have my word."

"The word of a criminal doesn’t mean much," she retorts.

"But mine does," I state firmly. And I mean it. I never break my promises. "Lower the gun, and no one will lay a hand on you."

She stares at me with such intensity that I have to take a deep breath to steady myself.

There isn’t a single trace of fear in her eyes.