Page 73 of Reckless Desires

“He could have kidnapped her,” Alessio replies. “Who spends half a million on pussy?” Alessio’s words bite me.

“You did,” Darius cuts in. “When you agreed to bring her back, you didn’t specify any reason to fall back.”

“Half a million isn’t a good enough reason?” Alessio shoots back.

“For someone chasing said pussy, not really seeing what the issue is here,” Cameron continues.

“This falls on you both. My terms were to bring her back. You both are the ones that got more than half his men wiped out. This five hundred thousand dollars will fall on both of you. Your wives shouldn’t have an issue with it. Anything for their little sister.”

Darius speaks up. “We don’t have an issue with it.”

“I don’t like how close you are with him,” Alessio voices. “Your loyalty should be to me.”

“It is,” Darius assures him.

“It’s insulting you would question it,” Cameron adds.

“Let’s see. Instead of paying Killian out, I want him dead.”

“What do we get out of that?” Cameron replies. “You want to start another war?”

“This round will be easier. There are fewer of them, and we can make it look like the Russians did it.”

I gasp, stumbling back. No. No. No. I can’t say for Darius, but I know Cameron wouldn’t do that to Killian. But just as Killian said once, friendship means nothing when you sit on the opposite side of the table.

“Consider it done,” Cameron says.

Chapter Forty-Nine

Killian

“And that is how to properly cut a man’s tongue out.” I hold up the muscle in my hand like a trophy. My other hand holds the blood-drenched knife like an instrument when a doctor is operating.

My unit looks terrified, not because of what I did, but because of my ease and enjoyment of doing it. These aren’t men who give their loyalty out of respect; it’s given out of fear. I learned that early on.

Beside me is a Russian on his knees who was captured. He heard something he shouldn’t have, and I cut his tongue out and broke his hands so he wouldn’t be able to communicate.

“Tommy.” I direct my attention to him. “You brought him in. What should we do to him now?”

“He’s been mutilated. Kill the poor bastard,” Tommy replies.

“Wouldn’t that be easy?” I chuck the bloodied tongue at him. “What will our enemies and allies think if we just put people out of their misery?” I challenge. No one says a word. Tommy is horrified as the tongue hits his chest then falls to the floor. “Pick it up,” I command him. “Send it over to whoever he serves. If the Russians retaliate, you cut off a limb and send it over. And you keep doing it until there’s nothing left of him.” I point to the man passed out on the floor in a pool of his own blood.

“Do you all need a lesson on how to dismember a body?” When I see him shake his head, I drop the knife onto the metal table. “Now it’s time for a nice cold beer.”

“Killian,” Mickey’s voice crackles over the phone. “Nico is heading toward you. Are you able to handle it on your own?”

I take a long, measured sip of my whiskey, letting the warmth spread through me. “I don’t have a choice, do I?” I reply, my voice steady but laced with the weight of the situation.

“Are the Costellos still in cahoots with the Russians?” he presses with concern.

“Now that they have the girl back, it’s only natural they would pull back,” I respond, glancing around the dimly lit bar, taking in the scent of aged wood and spilled drinks.

He huffs with frustration. “Have you thought about taking her again? It would be a strategic move.”

I chuckle softly, though there’s no real humor in it. “She’s a bit much to handle,” I reply, recalling the blurred line between business and pleasure. “I don’t have the energy to deal with Nico, the Russians, and an Andretti.”

Suddenly the bell above the bar door jingles, breaking my focus. I hear Donal’s voice, a mix of sarcasm and surprise. “Are you lost? The nail salon is up the block.”