Chapter 13

I 've been awake in this damn cell for hours, my body aching and my mind spinning. Fury courses through me like a raging beast as I stare at the cold, unyielding cinder block wall before me. How the hell did they manage to capture me? I was supposed to protect Ella and my brothers, and I failed.

Failed .

The memories play on a loop in my head, taunting me. I remember the chaos, the sudden attack, and the adrenaline-fueled frenzy as I fought back against our attackers. Three of them, and it took all three to bring me down. They bound my hands, shoved a suffocating hood over my head, and still, I fought… for her .

I saw her being ripped away from me, her screams for us echoing in my ears as they dragged her away. I tried to crawl toward her, my voice hoarse from shouting her name, but it was too late.

It was too late for all of us.

They were gone, and I was left here, chained and helpless to do a fucking thing about it.

I clench my fists, my knuckles white with rage, as I recall the feeling of powerlessness. I should have been stronger, faster, smarter. I should have protected her. My brothers, too. They needed me, and I let them down.

With a growl of frustration, I turn away from the wall and start pacing the cramped cell. I've already checked every inch of it; I know I'm alone in here. But the anger, the fear, and the guilt still gnaw at me, leaving me restless and consumed by the need to find them, to rescue Ella and my brothers from whatever hellhole they've been taken to.

I won't rest until I have answers. Until I have them back. And whoever did this to us, they'll pay with their blood for the pain they've inflicted on us all. For taking her from us.

Isabella .

I run a hand through my hair and shoot a glare at my filthy pile of clothes. I stripped off the blood-soaked mess the second I woke up, knowing it would only rot and fester the longer I'm stuck in here, and getting sick isn't something I can afford. I'd rather be cold than weak, powerless.

Never again.

This isn't my first time in a cell, but it is the first time I'm locked up without knowing why or where.

The memory of my final moments of consciousness comes rushing back, haunting my thoughts as I continue to pace the few feet I'm allowed.

"Why are you here?" I shout, my voice a thunderclap of fury barely audible over the warzone behind me.

The blacked-out fucker before me says nothing. His head cocks to the side, his body language oozing an arrogance that doesn't fit this situation. Doesn't he realize I could snap his neck in a second?

I press my arm across his throat even harder, cutting off his oxygen, and yank his ski mask off, revealing his smirking face.

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this . Wasn't him .

"Juan?" I grunt, my brows crashing together as I stare into the black, soulless eyes of Agustus Luna's favorite lackey.

Gus.

Gus.

Gus.

What the actual fuck?

But Juan doesn't answer, merely grinning at me with that fucked up, creepy smile I've hated from the moment we met. It's infuriating. My free hand slides down to my thigh holster while he continues to grin at me. I could shoot him. Could blow his fucking brains out.

I don't want to.

My fingers wrap around my tac knife. It's got a seven-inch blade that'll look really pretty, slicing him open.

"Why are you here?" I murmur again, distracting him. He coughs and sputters, his smile wilting a fraction when I choke him out with the arm bar, keeping him pinned to the truck. "What do you want with us?"

Nothing.

My temper rises so high, so fast, I'm surprised I just stab him instead of gutting him. The blade collides with his stomach, and I revel in the way he grunts, slumping forward.

"Answer me!" I demand, shoving him upright as I twist the knife. "Tell me, and I'll make it stop."

I won't.

Not until he's dead.

Fuck this guy.

With a wheeze, he clicks his tongue, his eyes drifting over my shoulder. Instinctively, I follow his gaze, knowing every single person I love stands behind me, lost somewhere in the fight.

God, I hope one of the others is with Isabella.

As if conjured by my thoughts, I catch sight of her on the ground, holding a body. From across the lot, I can't hear her, but I can tell she's crying. Can tell she's looking for help as she keeps her body draped over theirs. My eyes narrow, and I can make out the all-black tux that looks just like mine.

Panic surges through me, but I shove it down. I can't afford to lose focus.

I turn back to Juan, his laughter echoing through the air, and suddenly, it all clicks.

Ella.

He's here for Ella.

But he…Juan works for Gus.

I swallow bile as it coats my tongue and twist the blade, shoving him back further, harder. Juan gasps, his nails digging into my gut. His eyes keep flicking to the gun I knocked from his grip just minutes ago when he'd first snuck up on me, but I chuckle, kicking it away.

"Motherfucker!" he hisses when the knife shifts, tearing his flesh like butter.

"What does Gus want with her?" I practically growl, my heart hammering.

Fuck, I can barely wrap my mind around what's happening right now.

I barely had enough time to call our guards at The Den and tell them to lock everyone inside for their safety before these fuckers were on me.

I can hear Gage somewhere behind me fighting off his own attackers. A moment ago, I spotted Stone blowing someone's fucking head off.

Juan licks his lips, savoring the moment, the anticipation. Dangling what little information he's probably been given over my head as though he has any fucking right to. As if he's important. He's not. He's just another one of Gus' cheaply hired hands drawn in by the notoriety the Diablos command.

He's no one.

I don't say that, though, not as he swallows hard and turns pale, finally understanding the severity of the situation.

"He's always wanted the pretty little princess," he taunts, his voice raspy.

My blood runs cold at his words. I can feel the anger bubbling up inside me again.

"Why?" I gritted out, my patience wearing thin.

Ella…he wants Ella.

Juan spits out blood as it begins to trickle from his throat, defiant to the end. "Think about it," he sneers. "Think about who she is, what she means to this city." His head cocks to the side, his grin widening. "Or maybe you and your friends have already thought about it? Already realized how much power she holds in her tiny little body. Maybe that's why you're all fucking her." His bloody grin widens. "Bet her cunt is—"

Before I have a chance to rip his body to shreds the way I want to, Juan's attention shifts once more, and he laughs as three masked men descend upon me, tackling me to the ground.

I blink rapidly, coming back to the present. Darkness claimed me after that, but the haunting words Juan left behind continued to echo in my mind, fueling my determination to find Ella and my brothers. To piece together whatever shit show we've all been pulled into and then make every one of these motherfuckers pay.