36. Matias

36

MATIAS

T he crisp morning air bites at my skin as I step outside, and Thiago's stern voice crackles through the phone, "We have a situation, little brother. A shipment was stolen last night."

A low growl escapes my lips as I clench my fist. Incompetence w be tolerated, not when so much is at stake. "Do we have any leads?" I demand.

"Suarez," Thiago spits out the name like a curse. "He's been growing restless, questioning our leadership. This could be his attempt to make us look weak."

My jaw tightens at the mention of that snake. Since we landed in America, he's been scheming and plotting behind our backs. "We can't let him undermine us," I growl.

"Agreed," Thiago's voice is firm. "But we need proof before we act. For now, we must maintain control and show no weakness."

I nod, even though he can't see me. The thought of Suarez slithering around, plotting against us, fills me with a rage that threatens to consume me.

"I'll handle it," I assure Thiago. "No one crosses us and gets away with it."

There's a pause on the other end of the line, and I can practically hear the gears turning in Thiago's mind. "Be careful," he warns. "We can't afford any mistakes."

A bitter laugh escapes my lips. "Don't worry, I know how to handle guys like Suarez." I hang up the phone, my mind already churning with plans. It's time to end Suarez's games once and for all.

I gaze toward the bedroom door, where Kali sleeps peacefully, blissfully unaware of my chaotic world. A pang of longing tugs at my heart, but I quickly push it aside. There's no room for weakness in our line of work.

With a heavy sigh, I steel myself for the task ahead. Suarez has made a grave mistake, and it's time to remind him of the consequences of crossing the Acosta brothers.

After leaving her a note on the kitchen counter, I enter my car and drive toward the compound.

The news of Suarez's treachery has set my blood boiling, and the beast within is stirring, hungering for retribution.

Thiago looks up from his desk as I shove open his office door. "Little brother," he greets me with a slight nod. "Good to have you back."

"Tell me you have something," I growl.

Thiago shakes his head slowly. "Suarez has gone to ground, along with his most loyal men. We've searched everywhere, but they've seemingly vanished. "

A low curse slips from my lips as I punch the wall, the drywall cracking under the force of my blow. "He couldn't have gone far," I snarl. "He's planning something, I can feel it."

Thiago holds up a hand. "Calm yourself. We cannot afford to act rashly. We need to approach this with caution and?—"

His words are cut off by the sudden blaring of my cell phone, the shrill ringtone piercing the tense silence. My heart stutters as I glimpse the caller ID—Kali. She's never rang me before.

All thoughts of Suarez and his betrayal are instantly pushed aside.

"Kali," I answer gruffly, my voice tight with concern.

Her trembling voice filters through the speaker, laced with fear. "Matias, someone is in the apartment," she whispers. "Please… I need you…"

Those words are all it takes to set my blood ablaze with a primal fury.

I hear men speaking Spanish in the background.

Motherfuckers.

"Stay where you are," I growl, my tone brooking no argument. "I'm coming." I end the call and turn to Thiago. "I think Suarez is after Kali. Come on." I storm out of the compound, my boots pounding against the hard-packed dirt as I approach the car, Thiago following behind.

"How do you know it's Suarez?" he demands.

"There's men in my apartment speaking Spanish. I heard them in the background." I clench my jaw so tightly that my teeth grind together. The only thought consuming my mind is getting to Kali and protecting her.

We reach the car, and I slide behind the wheel. With a twist of the key, the engine roars to life. Thiago settles into the passenger seat, his hand resting on the holster at his hip.

The tires kick up a cloud of dust as we peel out of the compound, my knuckles white as I grip the steering wheel. The city streets blur past us as I weave through traffic, ignoring the blaring of horns and the shouts of pedestrians.

Every second that ticks by feels like an eternity while the beast within claws at my insides, desperate to be unleashed.

Finally, we reach the apartment building, and I throw the car into park, barely waiting for it to come to a complete stop before I'm out the door and sprinting toward the entrance.

The hallway is eerily quiet; the only sound is my boots pounding against the floor. I reach the door to our apartment, and my heart stutters at the sight that greets me.

The door hangs open, the frame splintered and cracked. The apartment is in shambles, with furniture overturned and belongings strewn about.

And in the middle of it all, Kali's phone lies shattered on the floor, the screen cracked and lifeless.

A low growl rumbles in my chest as I take in the scene, my vision tinting red with fury. Suarez has crossed a line, and now he'll face the consequences .

"Kali!" I bellow, my voice echoing through the wrecked apartment. But there's no response, no sign of her anywhere.

Thiago appears at my side, his expression grim. "She's gone," he says quietly. "Suarez has her."

My fists clench at my sides, and I can feel the beast within me straining against its chains, hungering for blood. "Then we find them," I snarl, my voice laced with venom. "And when we do, Suarez will beg for death before I'm through with him."

For the first time in my life, I have something to lose and it's terrifying, but I can't dwell on that. All I can do is remain strong and focused on getting Kali back from that motherfucker.