Charly sighed, partly in surrender, partly in giddiness while staring at the sparkler on her finger. “You’re not going to ask me, are you?”
“Nope.” He kissed her lightly on the lips. “Because you’re already mine.”
Two weeks later
“Cartel boss Benito Carillo murdered in prison.”
The news article went on to detail how a guard found the once-feared crime boss dead in the shower stalls.
Stabbed multiple times.
Security around the maximum-security prison was also put to question.
It was done. Antonio dropped his phone back into his suit pocket. No one hurt a hair on Charly’s head and got to live. With the one exception. He didn’t think she would appreciate him killing this person even though Antonio could plan out an elaborate scheme to get rid of him. But he would make sure he would never hurt her again.
“Should I come with you, chefe?” Oscar asked. From the back of the Escalade, Antonio’s eyes met his bodyguard’s in the rearview mirror. Oscar was also feeling the need for retribution. It seemed he had also grown fond of Charly.
Oscar returned to LA with Ida two weeks ago. Charly was preparing to go back to work at the CDC but, with their relationship taken to the next level, she was apparently feeling an urge to nest. And Ida was only too willing to take her through the paces of how Antonio liked to run his household. He sighed. He didn’t really care, but if it made his woman happy to make him happy, who was he to complain? It was a win-win.
“No, I’ll handle this.”
Oscar’s mouth tightened, but he gave a brief nod.
Antonio stepped out of the vehicle in front of Sinai-Rhodes hospital, straightened his suit and cracked his neck. It was a problem keeping his simmering anger in check whenever his thoughts strayed to Charly’s father.
Unfortunately, killing William Bennett was not in the cards.
He understood Charly well enough to know that she would never forgive him if she found out, so Antonio did the next best thing. He was making sure William Bennett never breathed the same air as his daughter ever again.
Striding through the sliding doors, he walked past the reception desk and went straight for the elevators. He knew where to go. He even had an appointment. Antonio and Charly had not appeared in public together yet because he wanted to make sure he didn’t have any enemies lurking in the background. His offer to help the LAPD was going to be done covertly. And as soon as Garrison surfaced from wherever he had disappeared to, he was sure the CIA officer could use some of his help as well.
He approached the doctor’s secretary. “I have an appointment.”
The secretary gave him an appreciative appraisal. “Mr. Andrade? Go on in. He’s expecting you.”
Without hesitation, Antonio rapped on the door and opened it. He wanted to get this over with.
William Bennett surged out of his chair and rounded his desk. Antonio closed the door and twisted the lock.
Charly’s father was a stocky man, a head shorter than Antonio. But he was one of those barrel-chested men who was a combination of muscle and fat. It sickened Antonio’s gut knowing he used that strength to crush Charly’s hand and ruin her dreams. He blinked the rage from the edges of his vision.
“Mr. Andrade, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Bennett said, extending his arm in greeting.
Antonio ignored it.
The doctor frowned, dropping his hand. “I’m sorry. I’m not familiar with Brazilian customs.” He smiled. “But the hospital board is beyond thrilled with your planned donation to the hospital. Your legal department sent the documents in but did note you wanted something in return.”
A corner of Antonio’s mouth lifted. “Your resignation.”
Puzzlement mixed with outrage as Bennett’s face mottled red. “Excuse me?”
Antonio invaded his space, backing him up against his desk. “You’re the bastard who hurt the woman I love.”
Bennet’s brows cinched tight and Antonio saw the point where his madness bled into his eyes. “If this is about a surgery I’ve performed …” The doctor reached for a paperweight on his desk and swung it toward Antonio’s head, but he was prepared for it. He caught him by the wrist and slammed it on the table, then he grabbed the doctor’s neck catching the base of his throat between his fingers.
The doctor started choking.
There was a knock on the door. “Doctor Bennett, is everything all right in there?”
“Tell her everything is fine or the hospital loses,” Antonio whispered harshly, easing his fingers’ grip.
“I’m fine!” Bennett called. “Just choked on my coffee.”
The man glared at Antonio. “Tell me what the fuck this is all about?”
“Charly.”
Bennett’s face grew redder. “Has she corrupted you too?” The man squeezed his eyes shut. “I should have ended it.”
It took all of Antonio’s self-control not to snap the doctor’s neck. He could kill him like he did Lev Skoryk. The Dim Mak. Luis had taught him the version of the delayed death touch that was a priceless move in an assassin’s arsenal. A mere touch on vital points of the intended target didn’t cause his death until days later. The move remained a myth in the world of martial arts and assassins.
“I should end you,” Antonio snarled softly.
“Can’t you see she has corrupted you?”
Yes, he should finish him now, but Antonio also saw what Charly did. The torment of a man who believed his daughter was pure evil. A man who was mentally impaired. Who had no business running a hospital.
He released the doctor and took a step back. “I’d be careful with what you say. I know what you did to your own daughter. And I have the names of the people involved who performed that illegal hand surgery. Do you want that scandal to come out?”
“How .. And how can you be so blinded?” he sputtered. “Can’t you see what she did to those poor people in the CDC. I left a tip for the LAPD, but no one is taking me seriously.”
Antonio chuckled darkly. “You’ve been used, Bennett. One
