All I have to do is hold out a little bit longer before I can kill him and toss him aside, like the asshole he is. Until then, I have to follow his orders, at least if I want to find Dove. Which, as of right now, includes going to Damon Rossi’s strip club to demand a meeting with his brother, which I’m one-hundred percent sure isn’t going to happen.
“Why do I have to take Alberto with me?”
“Because I said so,” Matteo says. I don’t understand why he insists on his second in command coming with me to see Damon Rossi. There must be more behind it than him sending a babysitter.
“I don’t care to be a part of your pissing contest with Xander Rossi. All I care about is Dove,” I barely get the words out. My patience is as thin as the blade I plan to slit Matteo’s throat with.
“This is part of getting her back, you want her back, you do this. Otherwise, you might as well have tied a nice little bow around her.”
“Shut up!” I growl, knowing that if I didn’t need this bastard right now, I would already have bashed his head in.
“I shouldn’t have to tell you to be grateful that I’m even offering to help you. I could’ve shot you dead, after the way you marched in here,” he sneers, curling his lip. “Remember, it’s you who needs me… I don’t need you.”
I don’t get a chance to respond before he walks out, the sound of the door slamming, echoes through the room. I’m exhausted, angry, and disappointed...I’ve never felt the way I’m feeling right now. Hopeless beyond measure. I’m doing everything I can to stay afloat, but the waves of despair keep crashing into me. I need Dove. Need her scent surrounding me, need to feel her body against mine, but above all, I just need to know that she is okay, and none of that will happen until I finally have her in my arms again.
Shoving the emotions that are threatening to overtake my psyche down, I mentally prepare myself to talk to Damon Rossi. I’m not stupid, walking in there and demanding a meeting with Xander isn’t going to go well for me. The fucker will most likely laugh in my face, but I have to do this. I have to try and find out where they have Dove, and what they’re doing to her. This is no longer about her just being mine.
This is about me protecting her, saving her. We were destined to be together since the night she was dropped off at my foster home, and though I’m nobody’s white knight, I’ll do anything to save her. Anything.
A neon sign flashes brightly back at me as I pull into the parking lot of Night Shift. I’ve been pissed off since I left Matteo’s, and I get the feeling coming here is only going to sour my mood further. I’m tired of the mafia games. I never should’ve left the safe house with Dove.
I know Donna was dying, and that Dove never would’ve forgiven me for not being able to say goodbye, but I could deal with her hate if it meant she was safe and sound, tucked into my bed every night beside me. Instead, here we are because I let my feelings for her call the shots, instead of my brain. Sighing, I turn the car off and open the driver’s side door.
Climbing out of the car, I stretch my tight muscles before closing the car door. Alberto climbs out of the passenger side and follows me across the parking lot.
Here goes nothing. Maybe if I’m lucky, Damon takes mercy on me. Though that’s doubtful. My boots scuff against the concrete as I walk to the front door. It seems like it takes an eternity to get there. Opening the door, I step inside, the place is surprisingly clean, and bigger than I thought it would be, based on the size of the building.
Walking up to the bar with Alberto on my heels like a dog, I’m greeted by a half-dressed woman. She looks to be a little older than Dove, her eyes glitter with excitement when they land on me. The place is mostly deserted, other than a few bar patrons. Looks like I got here before the real show started. Doesn’t matter, I didn’t come here to watch chicks strip. Pulling my gun out, I set it on the wooden bar, and let her make of it what she will.
She blinks slowly and gives me a grim look. “If you’re looking for a fight, you’ve come to the wrong place. This is a strip club.”
Her eyes dart to someone over in the corner of the room, and I know without a doubt, she’s calling one of the bouncers over here without even saying a word.
Footsteps sound behind me, and I smirk, my blood pulses in my veins and my muscles tighten, the anticipation of a fight does crazy things to my body.
As soon as his meaty club lands on my arm, I turn on the barstool, grab it, twist it around until I hear a snap, and press it against his chest.
With my other hand, I punch him right in his ugly face, a river of red blood erupts from his nose as he stumbles backward, colliding with a nearby table. I punch him again for safe measure, and because I really want to beat the fuck out of someone. Like a piece of paper, he crumples to the ground.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Alberto standing a few feet away, arms crossed over his large chest. He is shaking his head at me like he is disappointed in my undiplomatic behavior. Well, fuck you.
“Shit!” The young girl behind the bar mutters under her breath. I turn around to face her once more and find her face ashen, the excitement in her eyes before is replaced with fear. It’s a much better look for her. She has no idea the things I’m capable of doing, the things I will do if I don’t get the information I want.
“I’m here to speak to Damon Rossi,” I growl.
Her gaze widens, and she scurries across the bar and picks up the phone, but she never gets to call whoever it is she’d planned on calling.
“Zane Brennan. I’d say it’s a pleasure to meet you, but we both know it’s not.” Damon Rossi’s deep voice meets my ear. Whirling around, I come face to face with the asshole. He briefly turns his attention to my unwanted companion.
“Alberto, didn’t expect you to show your face here,” he says before pinning me with his gaze once more.
“Where is she? I know you have her here. I went to Christian’s compound. She wasn’t there, and I know that your brother took her with him when he left the place. I don’t have to tell you what will happen if you don’t give me the answers I want.”
I’ve got a death wish fucking with the Rossi family, but I might as well be dead if I don’t have Dove in my life.
“Who is she?” Damon cocks his head to the side like he doesn’t know what the hell I’m talking about. His confused expression makes me want to smash his face like a pop can. When it comes to being an asshole, Damon is the worst of the Rossi brothers. Xander might be ruthless and heartless, but Damon is a completely different can of worms. “I don’t know who it is that you’re referring to.”
“You do.” I take a threatening step toward him.
Damon looks like a typical mobster with his perfect suit and slicked-back hair. But I know more about him than he thinks. I know he’s happily married, and he has a cute little family with 2.5 kids that he would do anything to protect.
“You and your brother have someone who doesn’t belong to you, and I want her back, unharmed. Otherwise, I’ll be forced to take something pretty and sweet of yours.”
The sly grin that was on his face just moments ago has evaporated into the air. In its place is a dark emotionless mask.