The Hermit (Mafia Empire Book 1)

As we speed away from the airfield near Puerto De Lomas, I lean out of the window and open fire on the fuckers attacking Alan, Krystof, and Sef.

There’s no sign of Martin when the three guards climb into the other SUV, and only when they catch up to us do I slump back into my seat.

“Jebat! It looks like we lost Martin,” I mutter, rage boiling in my veins from losing a good man. “This is going to be one hell of a day.” I glance over my shoulder at Grace, who’s pale as fuck. “Are you okay, moja láska.”

“Yes.”

When she starts to climb onto the seat, I shake my head. “Stay down.”

She scoots closer to me, and reaching her arm out, she places her hand on my hip while resting her forehead against the side of the seat.

I take a moment to give her hand a reassuring squeeze, then say, “You did well back there. Just keep doing as I say.”

“I sucked ass,” she mutters while lifting her head. “I want you to train me once we’re back home.”

“Okay,” I murmur, checking the side mirror before glancing around us as we head through a neighborhood toward the area where the factory is situated.

I pull out my cell phone and quickly open the chat with the alliance members. “I just landed in Peru. The bratva was waiting. Let me know when you all arrive.”

I watch as they listen to the message, then the replies come fast.

Santiago: I’m ten minutes away from the factory in an abandoned building. The fucking Russians are everywhere, so be careful. They have roadblocks set up.

He sends his location just as Ilias’ reply comes through.

Ilias: Jesus fucking Christ. We’re landing in the mess you left behind. Leo and Enzo are with me. We’ll catch up to you soon.

I program the location into the GPS and tell Evinka, “We’re heading to an abandoned building where Santiago is waiting.”

I quickly send the location to Alan so the guards know where we’re going.

Evinka takes a sharp left turn, and we come face to face with a bratva roadblock that has her slamming on the brakes. A spray of bullets hits us, and as she throws the SUV into reverse and floors the gas, I take the opportunity to open fire on the fuckers.

I manage to hit a few men before the SUV turns sharply again, and we race away from the Russians and right past our fucking guards who are supposed to protect us.

I check in the side mirror, and when I see Alan catch up to us again, I grumble, “The guards are still with us, but at this point, I have no idea what I’m paying them for.”

Evinka opens her window, and sticking her hand out the window she flips Alan off. It has him racing his SUV around ours and taking the lead.

When he looks in the rearview mirror, Evinka signs that she’s going to fuck him up when this is over. Alan just gives her a thumbs-up.

I glance at Grace, and even though she’s putting on a brave face, I can see the fear in her eyes. Reaching behind my seat, I take hold of her hand.

She grips me tightly and asks, “How are you doing?”

“As long as you keep breathing, I’m fine, miláčik.”

When we approach another street that we can use to get to the other side of the goddamn neighborhood, Alan slows down and glances up the road.

Waving his hand fast, he signals Evinka to floor it while they wait for us to pass, using their SUV as a shield to protect us as we race past another bratva roadblock.

“Jebat!” The guards take fire but seem to be okay, then I mutter, “It’s only a matter of time before they come after us.”

Letting go of Grace’s hand, I grab my cell phone and call Santiago.

The moment he answers, I say, “The fuckers have every street blocked. We can’t get to your side of the district.”

“Fine, I’ll come get your asses,” he chuckles. “Send me your location so I can find you.”

I quickly send him the location, then mutter, “Don’t take your time.”

“Me? Never. Be on the lookout for the truck with the MBRL you supplied. That discount is counting in your favor today.”

When we end the call, I shake my head. “I thought I was insane, but Santiago is a whole different level of crazy.”

“What’s an MBRL?” Grace asks.

“A big fucking multi-barrel missile launcher.”

I quickly send Alan a text so he’ll know Santiago is coming.

Just then, a message comes through from the alliance.

Ilias: The fuckers are everywhere! We just took out a roadblock. Where are you?

“U-Turn! Ilias and the others are behind us. They took out one of the roadblocks.”

Evinka throws up the handbrake to make the SUV turn sharply, almost giving Alan a heart attack.

Dominik: We’re coming back in your direction. If you see an insane fucker in a truck with an MBRL, it’s Santiago.

I check the magazine of the machine gun, and seeing I have around twenty rounds left, I slam it back into place.

When we near the side street we just drove past, I open fire on the Russian fuckers before giving them the middle finger.

This time, they scramble to get into their vehicles, and I say, “Brace for an attack.”

“Jesus,” Grace whispers.

“We’ll be okay, moja láska. We’ve gotten out of shittier situations than this one.”

“Good to know,” she mutters.

When the alliance comes into view, I glance behind us to see if the bratva soldiers followed us. A grin spreads over my face as I order, “Stop the SUV.”

Evinka hits the brakes, and I throw my door open. The instant the vehicle stops, I lunge out and open fire on the fuckers.

Alan comes to a screeching stop beside us, and the guards quickly jump out of the SUV. Leo, Enzo, Ilias, and their men join us, and all hell breaks loose as we take a stand.

The gunfight doesn’t even last five minutes, and the moment the last Russian drops, I hear the sound of a truck rumbling to our right.

Santiago brings the rigged vehicle to a stop, and leaning out the window, he shouts, “You couldn’t wait for me?”

“Your slow-ass truck took for fucking ever,” I shout back.

I rush to the SUV, and opening the back door, I hold my hand out to Grace. “Come, miláčik.”

She grabs hold of me, and I pull her out of the vehicle. The moment she’s on her feet, I hold her close to my side.

When she glances at the dead bodies, she murmurs, “Good God, Dominik.”

“You brought your woman to a fucking war?” Ilias asks, his tone thick with disapproval.

I tip my head in Cassia’s direction. “Don’t fuck with me today, old man.”

Gripping Grace’s hand, I walk to the truck.

Santiago glances at the two men in the front with him and says, “Ride with Evinka.”

After they climb out, I help Grace into the truck before getting in beside her, then say, “Let’s fucking end this.”

Everybody piles into their vehicles, and Ilias and Leo take the lead while Enzo and Evinka bring up the rear.

“What do you think of my baby?” Santiago asks.

“A little on the slow side, but it will get the job done,” I mutter.

He pats the dash. “Don’t listen to him, my princess. You’re a big, beautiful beast.”

“Jebat,” I mutter under my breath while shaking my head.

Santiago steers the beast toward the other side of the district, then glances at Grace and asks, “Having fun, Mrs. Varga?”

She shakes her head and mutters, “I wish I could actually be of help instead of just being along for the ride.” She waves a hand in front of her face, then adds, “And it doesn’t help that this place is hotter than Satan’s buttcrack.”

He lets out a bark of laughter. “Satan’s buttcrack. I like that. I might use it in the future.”

When we pull up to the abandoned building, it’s to see half an army of Santiago’s men waiting for us.

We climb out of the truck, and Santiago meets me at the front of the beast.

His eyes lock with mine, and for once, he has a serious expression on his face as he says, “See the number of men I’ve brought to fight the bratva?” He waits for me to nod, then continues, “I want the same amount from the other alliance members stationed on the island, and you better arm them all. When shit goes down in my backyard, you better show me the same support I’m showing you today.”

“Of course,” I mutter.

“Why are we here?” Ilias barks. “We should be attacking the factory. I want that Pavlov dead!”

Christ, the man is testing my already non-existent patience.

“We’re regrouping,” I snap angrily. “Just be ready to head out.”

Cassia steps closer to her father, and also looking annoyed, she tells him, “You’re going to give yourself a heart attack if you don’t calm down.”

He shoots her a glare, snapping, “Shut up!”

“That’s enough,” Leo says as he joins us. “The war isn’t between us but out there.”

Evinka, Enzo, and the rest of the men join us, then I suck in a deep breath before I say, “I don’t give a shit about the factory. I just don’t want the bratva to have it.”

“Can I blow it up?” Santiago asks, excitement sparkling in his eyes.

Evinka signs, “We’re not blowing it up unless it’s our last resort.”

“Evinka says no,” I translate for her.

“You let your second-in-charge bitch speak for you?” Ilias asks.

Before I can react, Evinka throat punches the old man. He staggers back as he gags while leveling her with a hate-filled glare.

I pull the gun from my chest holster, and my fingers wrap around the handle.

“At this rate, we’re not going to get anything done,” Enzo mutters, his tone filled with a world of boredom.

“Listen to your daughter,” I hiss at Ilias. “You need to calm the fuck down and watch your mouth. Disrespect my sister and wife one more time, and I’ll fucking end this alliance with a bullet to your head.”

“I’d do as Dominik says,” Santiago chuckles. “There’s work to be done.” He looks at Evinka. “So, no blowing up the factory?”

She nods, her eyes burning with rage.

“Got it.”

Letting out a sigh, I say, “It will be easier to attack from the back of the factory. The fuckers know we’re here, so there’s no element of surprise.” I glance at Santiago’s men. “Any sharpshooters?”

Santiago looks over his shoulder and shouts, “Knight!”

A man steps forward, and just from the way he moves, I can tell he served in the military or navy.

“He never misses,” Santiago boasts.

“Can you eliminate the Russian soldiers guarding the outside of the factory while we breach through the back entrance?” I ask.

Knight just nods.

Santiago grins at his man, who heads back into the building.

“What’s the plan?” Leo asks.

“We get in the cars and attack,” I mutter. “No amount of planning will prepare us, because the fuckers have access to every fucking missile and grenade in the factory.”

“Lucky us,” Enzo says. “Let’s get going.”