Ivan growled and ripped my pants open. “You betray us! Who you contact? How?” His pause was slight as it came to him. “They watch screen?”

“Sir!” The man called him again, right as the gunfire started. 

Ivan growled. “Kill them all.”

“Yes, sir.” The man ran back out, leaving me with two angry men and one out-cold brother.

“Tell me what you do, little hacker. Who you contact?”

“Someone you never should have gone against.” I told him haughtily. “He’s going to kill you when he gets here. You really should have done your homework better, or maybe found someone better to spy for you.”

Ivan snarled at me as he lifted his hand to hit me again. 

“I suggest you stop and rethink what you are about to do, Ivan.” The command was relaxed but forceful. And emphasized with the sound of a gun being cocked.

I closed my eyes and sighed. I knew he would come.

“Dillan.” Ivan said calmly. “This no concern you. None this does.” He lowered his hand from where it definitely had been preparing to strike me again, but he still had me pinned, half-naked, under him. And right under the piece that said he was enjoying our positioning more than I was.

“Oh, it concerns me very much. And not just because you were trying to force me into a war with the Italians.”

Ivan’s hand came out of nowhere as it smacked across my cheek again, with an angry growl. He was off me seconds later, lying on the ground, the side of his head bleeding around the fingers holding it. 

Neil was already dead at BoBo’s feet, his head twisted at an odd angle. Dillan moved to kneel next to me, his hands hovering around helplessly. Gone was the calm scary demeanor, now was the concerned boyfriend. 

“Are you alright? How late am I?”

I started to sit up, and he moved in to help me. “Just in time actually. He only hit me a few times, that’s it.”

“Why hell you help her? She hack computers. She lock you out!” Ivan growled from the floor, trying to stand back up, using the wall to maintain his balance. It looked like it had been a hard hit. I was sure he was dizzy.

Dillan helped me stand, and then carefully buttoned my shirt before holding me.

“She did, but then we talked things over and made peace.” He grazed a gentle hand around the bruises threatening to form on my face. “Now, she is the love of my life.” Dillan turned back to look at Ivan, leaning against the wall. “And you tried to take her from me.” His gun raised again.

But someone else shot first and Ivan fell to the floor. 

We all looked, shocked, at Randy, sitting against the other wall, holding a gun in the air. “It’s my job to protect my sister, not the other way around. I think it’s time I start doing that.” His voice was barely understandable as he pushed out the words.

Right before grunting and falling back to the floor. 

I ran over and checked his pulse again. I sighed. “He just passed back out.”

Chapter 16

Dillan

I almost didn’t make it in time. It had taken longer to organize with Bruno than I thought it would. But then, I’d never had to organize a war party before.