Caged Wolf

Louisa's heart pounded against her ribcage as the coldness of the gun was pressed into her spine. Mistake. She had been cornered. But she wasn't done yet. The hand over her mouth squeezed harder, and a grating voice in her ear said, "Move, or I shoot a bullet into your spine." She could feel the man behind her—hard, heavy. But he had made one error. He took her to be scared. Good. She could work with that. She relaxed her body, moving as if in surrender. The arm around her squeezed just so—just so—before relaxing once more. Then, whipping her head back, she slammed it into the nose of her assailant. The noise was awful. The man was cursing, but she was already in motion. She spun, elbow to the throat before he could shoot. His gun landed on the ground. Louisa sprinted after it, but before she could retrieve it—Click. Another gun. Aimed square at her face. "Spiffy." Leonardo Costa's voice was honey-gold, chuckling. Louisa fought her eyes back up to his. Costa had the gun to her chest outside the warehouse. Next to him, Hendrik Vasquez growled, stirring the whiskey in his glass as if this were some spectator event. "You were always a fighter," Costa stated, advancing on her. "That's why I liked you." Louisa's stomach roiled. "Let her go," she said, attempting to remain even. Costa's eyebrow rose. "Her?" Louisa clenched her teeth. He wanted her to say it. He wanted her to grant the permission. She didn't. But Vasquez laughed and advanced. "Ahh, now I see." He leaned back on his head, gazing at her. "You're a fine mother, aren't you?" Her fists balled. Vasquez grinned. "You've taught him well, I guess? Tough? Clever?" He took a sip of his drink in his own relaxed manner. "That'll make him worth that much more." A blinding, uncontrolled fury tore through her. She struck out. But Costa was quicker—twirling on one foot, twisting her wrist brutally. A searing pain ran down her arm, but she did not scream. "You want to come in here and give ultimatums?" Costa gasped, silent and deadly. "You have no right to negotiate, Moreau." She gritted her teeth, her eyes scanning his granite-hard, black stare. "You will not lay hands on my son." Costa's fist curled. "He is not your son." She snarled and tried to struggle free, but he did not let her go. Vasquez stepped in, his voice a honeyed tone. "I believe you're getting things wrong, Miss Moreau. We don't want to harm the boy." A sneer, a cruel smile played on his lips. "We have to take him." A Dangerous Gamble Louisa's world reeled. The savage cruelty of the words sent shivers down her arms. Costa released her wrist at last, and she swallowed hard, unable to catch her breath. Vasquez stepped nearer, his soothing tone. "*. "There are men who would pay millions—no, billions—for a child with his blood." His eyes blazed with evil delight. "Mafia royalty. Strength. Intelligence. The perfect heir." Her stomach churned with disgust. "He is not for sale." Costa scoffed. "Everything's for sale, Moreau." She whirled on him, rage pumping through her veins. "You're disgusting." Costa shrugged. "Say what you want. But Vasquez has buyers. Consumers. And your boy?" He leaned his head to the side. "He's a goldmine." She would kill him. Right there. Right now. But she was not walking out of this building if she lost her temper. So she made herself breathe. She had to think. She needed an exit. "You know that Lorenzo won't permit that," she said to him, her voice stern. Vasquez chuckled. "Lorenzo is a businessman. And businessmen can be negotiated with." Louisa suppressed a comeback. "And what if I don't play along?" Vasquez sipped from his glass. "Then we take the boy regardless." She clenched fists. Vasquez smiled. "But I'm a reasonable man. If you're a good girl, I may be willing to accept an alternative arrangement." Louisa's gaze narrowed. "What kind of arrangement?" Vasquez glanced at Costa, and then quickly back at her, grin widening. "You." He kept her still. "We don't want the boy," Vasquez's mind calculated. "Not if we've got you." The warehouse grew thicker, heavier with the weight of his words. Costa leaned toward him. "Join us." She felt the snare grow tight around her.

"You serve us," Vasquez continued, the sarcasm dripping from each word. "Provide us loyalty, talent, and obedience. and your son remains intact." The words choked her like a noose strangling her more with each turn. She'd fought all her life to remain independent. To keep Gabriel safe. And the enemy was willing to give her something that she had no option to refuse. Her life. Or her child's. Costa sneered. "What's it going to be, Moreau?" Louisa raised her chin, looking up at him. She was outnumbered. Outgunned. But she was not broken. Not yet. And she'd burn them to the ground before she'd let them hurt her boy.