Chapter Thirty-two: So Blue

Emiliano

SO BLUE

Performed by The Trishas

I could almost feel theI told you so that was brewing behind Julio’s lips, but he was smart enough to keep it to himself. Even though I’d known it was risky to go after the girl while she was at Hatley’s, I’d assumed my men could handle the situation. It angered me that they’d been so incompetent. Except, my cousin had never let me down before. He’d always come through, even when I’d pushed us to the edge and back. So, what did that tell me about Hatley and his little sidekick?

Were they just lucky, or did they actually have skills I’d underestimated?

I watched as the doctor stitched up Julio’s arm. Blood dripped from his biceps onto the plastic covering the floor and every inch of the room, including the walls and the ceiling. I’d learned a few things along the way. It had been difficult to get my father’s blood out of the wood floors in the study when I’d killed him. I’d had to tear up the entire room, which had prompted my remodel of the wing of the house that had become my private lair. That was when I’d used one of the bloody planks to create the frame holding my last remaining picture of Natalia. Reminders of what happened when I used rage instead of intelligence to outsmart my enemies.

After the doctor packed his bag and left, I asked, “What did Ruiz tell them?”

“The DEA agent said Ruiz told them nothing. That they have no clue you’re involved.”

I didn’t believe it, and I didn’t think Julio did either. After all, we’d been at this game a long time. We’d been lied to by men with much more skill at it than the undercover agent.

“You let him shoot you.”

“So he had something to give them,” Julio said, shrugging into a black T-shirt with an ease that belied the fact he’d just had a bullet hole sewn up. It was one of the many things I admired about my cousin. His pain tolerance was almost as high as mine.

“I pretended to play along,” Julio continued. “At the moment, it serves our purpose if he can really bring the girl to us.” He waved a hand at the plastic room and the lone chair he’d just abandoned. “We’ll get the truth out of him once he’s here.”

It would give me great pleasure to use my tools on Enrique Salazar. Excitement rippled through me. Tomorrow would be full of pleasures both expected and unexpected. The DEA agent. Hatley. His pretty little plaything. And of course, the final retribution against my sister—making her daughter love me.

“You placed a tag on him?”

Julio nodded.

“Good. Make sure he keeps his promise,” I said, swiveling on the heel of my dress shoe and heading up the stairs to the ballroom where the event decorators were hard at work.

The decadent splendor I’d planned would take the gala’s guests by surprise, just like I would take the world by surprise when I finally had Natalia’s code and brought countries to a grinding halt. When I had the most powerful people on earth competing to kiss my feet.

The gala would be the first of many extravagant events I’d hold here, at the White House, the Kremlin. Anywhere I wanted. I’d throw a series of parties all draped like elegant wonderlands, dripping with diamonds and candlelight and champagne. A macabre contrast to the events occurring behind the scenes while the wealthy guests sipped and danced and laughed. Inside, crystal and china. Outside, blood and bared bones.

The idea of it made me hard.

I’d satisfy that need as well.

Gia Kent would satisfy it for me on bended knees.

I’d spend time with Hatley’s woman while he was forced to watch. He’d struggle against his bonds. He’d scream and rave and threaten to kill me, but there would be nothing he could do. I’d get the revenge Natalia had first begged me not to take with a promise that she herself had betrayed. I’d get my revenge, and then I’d take both their lives.

I’d have everything Natalia had stolen from me. Nothing would stand in my way ever again. The world was going to be mine to crush or save. I’d have the world’s leaders dancing to my tune and calling my name just as desperately as Hatley and his woman.