274- Reckoning
274- Reckoning
POV Nicholas:
At that moment, Raica was in the hands of lunatics — the same ones who had cruelly murdered her brother and who, for worse purposes, wanted to spill her blood.
I remember exactly the last time I felt lost — nothing, useless. That horrible sensation marked a moment in my life, froze my limbs, and derailed my tracks. I couldn’t bear to lose her.
Uncertainties cross my mind, and I despise any future without her. Panic spreads from my feet to my head like caustic soda eating through my skin.
"Raica… I will find you," I whisper like a prayer, asking God, the Heavens, the universe for one chance. One single chance. An exchange if necessary — my life for hers. Fair. Very fair.
"Sir." Gael approaches, his weapon up, eyes alert to any sound. "There’s something strange — there are no images on the cameras."
"No?"
"No, sir. There’s no trace of anyone coming in or out."
My eyes find Brizz, sprawled on the concrete, touching the wound near his mouth. The moment is unique; my phone vibrates. I grab it and the investigator’s name flashes on the screen. Beca would have been the next step, but she heard the roar of my heart from afar. "They got her, Rebecca…" The voice leaks out like static.
"Nicholas, where are you?"
"Didn’t you hear what I said, fucking hell?" I roar, and I feel every muscle stiffen, a throbbing in my chest that suffocates. "The bastards broke into the club and took her. Raica could be… —" I swallow the sentence, but the thought lashes my subconscious.
She could be dead!
"I’m with her, Nicholas…"
"What?" I spin without moving from the spot, waiting for Rebecca to come in carrying Raica in some direction — a useless thought, for her voice keeps sounding in my ear.
"Raica is on her way to the hospital now." I cover my mouth, exploding inside. "Don’t worry, we managed to capture her before those bastards completed the plan, when they took her out of the club without difficulty."
"Without difficulty?" I stare at Deloy, who struggles to stay standing, listening intently to the conversation.
"I’ve been watching the UP since the murder. I knew sooner or later they’d challenge the police and come back to the crime scene, protected by your partner…"
Protected by my partner…
"Are you sure?" I widen my eyes and scan the man who takes two short steps toward me. "What’s his relation to this shit?"
"He was there, Nicholas."
"He… he… what?"
"I know Deloy is there. He didn’t leave the club; I have a cop watching him. I need you not to let him leave. I’m on my way, okay?"
Unfortunately, I understand! If he was there, that means the bastard participated in the murder and is part of the filthy gang.
"He’s not going anywhere — I live in this club." I hang up. "Gael," I call to the other without looking at him, reaching my hand to the side. "Give me your weapon…"
The bastard in front of me lifts his previously drooped shoulders — pure pretense. I see hell cutting through his eyes. "The gun, damn it!" I turn to Gael, who brings his eyebrows together and hands over the barrel; my arm sticks to my side as I take possession of the pistol. "Clear this area — now."
"Yes, sir." He needs no second order to empty the place with one or two shouts.
"Nicholas, what is this?" He shakes his head and runs the tip of his tongue over the wound on his mouth.
"A gun, friend." I evaluate the barrel, moving it from side to side and aiming at him. "What did you do, you son of a bitch?"
"Are you going to kill me?"
"You participated in the beating and in Renan’s death, you damned—"
He lets out a vile, raw laugh.
"No. I just didn’t stop them from doing it," he utters calmly, like a fucking psychopath.
I squeeze my eyelids shut and open them, seeing the disgusting creature two meters away. One by one my fingers tighten on the pistol’s grip, fixing the target. With Raica safe, my heart races with another certainty.
"So you always knew then."
"Fuck, brother, the world belongs to the powerful — how could I prevent Munhoz from playing with the bitches? I just didn’t imagine you’d buy this fight and go on your knees for the black pussy."