Page 92 of Protecting Bree
“I’ve been doing this a long time, and I’ll continue to do it for years to come. You can’t stop me. No one can.”
Smiley laughed. It wasn’t a humorous sound though. It was rough, harsh, and condescending. “You’re an idiot.”
Mateo’s eyes narrowed, his lips pressing together in irritation.
Bree wasn’t sure it was best to antagonize this guy, but as she’d said in the apartment, she trusted Smiley.
“By the way, your friend Rex told me to say hello,” Smiley continued, standing with his arms crossed over his chest, as if he didn’t have two automatic weapons pointed at his head and probably a contingent of more armed assholes racing down nine flights of stairs to join in the fun, even as he spoke.
Mateo straightened out of the fake relaxed pose he’d assumed.
“That’s right. I know you’ve heard of him. He was responsible for taking out del Rio. And now he’s got his sights onyou. You fucked up, Castillo. Got yourself on his radar. And the only outcome is death and the end of your reign of terror.”
The man’s smirk was back. “Yes. I know Rex. And the boy he raised as his own? He is most likely my biological son.”
Bree nearly let a gasp escape. She’d heard about the child Rex’s wife had while she was in captivity. That boy was Mateo’s?
“How do you figure?”
Smiley was still outwardly relaxed, but Bree could feel how tense his muscles were under her hands.
“Del Rio let me have her as often as I wished. She was my favorite. I loved the fear in her eyes, even as she willingly spread her legs while I did whatever I wanted. With how many times I took her, there’s no way the bratwasn’tmine. Your precious Rex is raisingmychild.” Mateo laughed. An evil sound that made Bree shiver. “How do you think he’s going to feel when he hears?”
“If you think you’ll even live long enough for your lies to make it back to him through your slimy underground network, you’re wrong.”
Mateo looked pissed now. And even…a little scared? It was nice to see, but it also worried Bree. For good reason.
His next words proved he was done with this little conversation.
“Kill him,” he ordered his men. “But she’s mine.”
The two men took a step forward.
Bree acted without thought, dashing around Smiley and standing in front of him with her arms outstretched. “No!” Her only thought that, since Mateo didn’t want her dead—at least not yet—she could guard Smiley with her own body.
But Smiley was having none of it. He shoved her to the side and rantowardthe men with guns, all in the same motion.
It obviously surprised the two assholes, because they didn’t even manage to pull the triggers before Smiley was on them. He kicked the gun out of one man’s hands even as he punched the other guy in the face.
The fight was on. Smiley didn’t give either man a chance to grab hold of his weapon again. He was like a man possessed. Shifting his attention back and forth from one man to the next, not giving either an opportunity to get the upper hand.
It would’ve been beautiful to watch, if Mateo hadn’t rushed forward and grabbed Bree.
She struggled against him, but her ribs still hurt like hell and she was no match physically for the taller, stronger man.
“You’ve been a pain in my ass!” Mateo hissed. “You’re going to regret defying me.”
“Fuck you!” she spat, fighting for all she was worth. She wasn’t going to go with him willingly. Broken or cracked ribs be damned. If she didn’t get away this time, she was as good as dead. And the life she’d envisioned with Smiley would go up in a puff of smoke. She’d never get to meet Addison or Maggie’s babies. Wouldn’t get to see Julie or Fiona again. Wouldn’t get to know Remi, Kelli, Wren, orJosie better. Wouldn’t get to watch Yana and her brothers grow up.
Fuck that. She wasn’t ready to die. She’d fight for herself and for Smiley.
While she’d been standing behind him, she hadn’t just been cowering. She’d tried to get the pistol out of the holster at the small of his back, but he’d felt what she was doing…and had subtly stepped forward, clearly sending a message. Which was probably smart; she’d never shot a gun before, and the last thing she wanted was anyone to overpower her and use the weapon against her or Smiley. Besides, she didn’t want to take away his only weapon.
So, she’d done the next best thing.
The long-sleeve shirt Smiley had found for her was plenty big enough to hide the plastic knife she’d made while in that chicken truck. That seemed so long ago, but now, the makeshift weapon felt right in her hand.
She’d used it once to kill, she’d use it again if she had the chance.
