\[Rosco’s POV\]
“What is this?
My eyes scan the crowd in front of Nadia and me as we step out into the day. There are so many reporters that I’m sure this is yet another trick of Nadia's, but why would she do something like this when she was technically still a criminal on the run?
“Our announcement of being a couple,” she responds, keeping a broad smile on her face. “Or are you going back on your word? Are you going to make me a single mother?”
Frowning, I continue to take in the scene around me while biting back on my initial response. If Nadia thought I bought her bullshit of me getting her pregnant, she was full of shit. I wasn’t such a fool to believe that she fucked me while I was out. However, I couldn’t explain the mark on her neck, but that was a problem for another time.
“Aren’t you a criminal?” I counter, keeping my expression neutral. “Are you trying to announce your location to the world?”
“Not much longer,” she giggles. “Once we go home, you will explain that the whole thing was set up by your soon-to-be ex-wife because she knew that we loved each other.”
“Bravo,” I sigh, allowing myself to be led forward. “You truly have thought all of this out.”
“Of course I have,” she responds, waving to the reporters as they begin to snap our photos. “How could I..."
The rest of her words are lost as her body jerks, and when I turn to see what has happened, my eyes grow wide due to the bullet hole in her head that I’m met with.
For a moment, no one moves as they try to determine what it is that is actually going on. When they finally snap out of it, all hell breaks loose while the reporters and bystanders start to run for cover in fear that they will be the next ones to be shot.
Cursing, I take in Nadia’s motionless body as it crashes to the ground before beginning to move. Who the fuck was causing all of this?
Extending my senses, I attempt to locate the perpetrator, and when I finally locate him, I feel both relief and annoyance.
Not wasting any time, I begin to move, making my way back into the building, and then take the stairs two at a time until I reach the roof. Kicking open the door, I storm forward, grab the one responsible by the collar, and lift.
“Have you lost your mind?” I growl, taking in Marty’s amused expression. “Opening fire when there are so many civilians present!”
Honestly, I didn’t give a shit about any of these fucking reporters. Instead, my issue was that the only person who knew how to save Denali was now lying in a pool of her own blood on the ground. What was I supposed to do now?
“Have you forgotten I’m a perfect shot?” Marty counters. “I could have landed that blow with my eyes closed. Anyway, shouldn’t you be thanking me?”
“Thanking?” I repeat in disbelief. “You got rid of the person who held the information I needed."
“Did I?” He counters, giving a whistle so that two of his men make their way toward us while dragging someone who is bound in silver chains and has a sack over his head. “I know that I may be careless most of the time, but I’m not stupid.”
As he speaks, one of the men pulls the sack off their captive's head so that I can take in Byron's, Nadia’s best friend's, enraged expression.
“WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?” He roars, attempting to attack Marty. “YOU KILLED HER, YOU BASTARD!”
“The world is better off without her." I shrug.
For a moment, Byron glares me down and then bares his teeth as a snarl escapes his lips.
“IF YOU DIDN’T JUST THROW HER ASIDE, SHE WOULDN'T BE LIKE THIS!”
“So you’re suggesting that I should have simply gone along with her selfish whims? She made a choice to do all those things; no one made her. How you can sit here and defend a person like her is beyond me.”
“She…” Byron begins but stops as a sob rips through him. “She wasn’t herself. She…”
“Showed who she truly was.”
I didn’t have the time or patience to sit here and argue with this man over Nadia. She got what was coming to her, and now my only concern was finding Denali.
“Where is she?” I growl, moving forward and stooping in front of Byron. “Tell me.”
“Who?” Byron counters, lifting his defiant gaze to mine. “I don’t know who..."
“You do,” I counter, letting my fist connect with his jaw. “Cut the fucking act! I’ve already wasted enough time on people who aren’t worth it. Now that Nadia is gone, you’re the only one who knows where my wife is. I suggest you tell me instead of making me torture it out of you. I’m quite annoyed right now.”
“I don’t…” He tries again, but stops as I wrap a hand around his jaw.
“Where. Is. My. Wife?” I repeat, begin to pull it down bit by bit. “Fucking tell me before I break your jaw and then move on to the rest of your bones.”
At my words, a laugh escapes Marty, who is watching the whole scene in amusement.
“You’re next,” I warn, shooting him a glare. “For letting any of this happen.”
“Me?” He repeats, his eyes growing wide. “I was damn near killed, and you’re saying that this is my fault?”
“You wouldn’t have died.”
He knew better than to try to trick me. One of Marty’s abilities was the ability to heal quicker than any other wolf. To kill the bastard, you would have to decapitate him.
Turning my attention back to Byron, I continue to pull his jaw down until I feel it cracking.
“Where the fuck is my wife?” I repeat as his expression contorts with pain. “If you tell me now, I may help you stay out of jail for helping a killer.”
“I really don’t know,” he hisses. “As far as I knew, she was supposed to be meeting up with her twin sister!”
Twin sister? Was he referring to Elise? If that were the case, then she would be the one to know exactly where Denali was, but how the hell was I supposed to find her?
“And her ex,” Byron continues, spilling all. “Nadia truly had nothing to do with it, so why..."
“Because she claimed she did,” I snap, cleanly breaking his jaw. “Now tell me the fucking truth!”
“‘His ish da truf,” Byron garbles as his jaw hangs slack. “I don.. know.”
“Rosco,” Marty calls as I prepare to break Byron’s shoulder. “I think the man is telling the truth.”
At his words, I narrow my gaze in disbelief. Was he actually taking this bastards side right now? There was just no way.
“Aren’t you wasting time?” He continues when I remain silent. “Denali is the main priority, and you’re beating a dead horse here. I suggest we just throw him into a cell and deal with him once we have located your wife.”
“And how do you plan on doing that?” I demand.
“Didn’t he say that the last person she should have spoken with was her twin?” He responds. “Then isn’t it obvious that we locate her and question her?"
“And if we can’t find her?” I counter.
“We will,” he chuckles. “I’ve stolen the asshole's phone, and I’m sure the number we need is in there. Now, let my men handle him so we can end this game of hide and seek.”