Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1825

"What the hell is going on over there?!" Warrick roared over the line.

Rizzo threw a terrified glance at Tarquin and swallowed hard. "It's Eagle's crew! They hit us with heavy ordnance!"

Warrick cursed violently. "Where is Eagle?!"

"He's... he's in my vehicle," Rizzo stammered. "I knew they were coming for him, so I initiated a tactical transfer."

"I didn't think they'd have this kind of firepower! They wiped out my entire sector!"

"They didn't just hit your sector!" Warrick snarled. "They leveled the main armory and obliterated millions in product! Lord Bauer is furious!"

"Bring him to my estate immediately! I'm going to butcher him and every single one of his men before the sun sets!"

"Yes, sir, I'm on my way," Rizzo replied hastily.

Hanging up the phone, Rizzo turned to Tarquin. "Lord Bauer knows. The entire region is going into full lockdown. You're never going to make it out alive."

Tarquin kept driving, his expression utterly detached. "Worry about yourself. You just lied to your boss. When he finds out Eagle is already gone, he'll mount your head on a spike."

Rizzo froze, a cold sweat breaking out across his forehead.

"I'll give you a way out," Tarquin said smoothly. "Instead of going to Warrick, you're going to bypass him entirely and head straight to Lord Bauer. You will tell him that my syndicate has no quarrel with his empire. We came strictly for Warrick."

"Tell him the millions he lost today are entirely on Warrick's head."

"And deliver this message: as long as Warrick draws breath, we will continue to rain fire on his territories. He is marked."

Rizzo wasn't completely dense. "You're trying to manipulate Lord Bauer into taking Warrick out? You're delusional!"

"Bauer practically raised him. He treats Warrick like his own flesh and blood. He'll never authorize a hit!"

Realizing the depth of Tarquin's psychological warfare, Rizzo felt a new level of terror. This man wasn't just a physical threat; he was a brilliant, ruthless strategist.

"Who... who are you?" he whispered.

Tarquin didn't bother answering. "Are you taking me to Warrick, or are you going to Lord Bauer to save your own skin?"

Rizzo swallowed hard. "I'll go to Lord Bauer."

"Good." Tarquin casually reached into the center console, retrieved a combat knife, and tossed it into Rizzo's lap. "Whatever you did to my brother, you're going to do to yourself."

Rizzo's eyes bulged in absolute horror.

Driving with one hand, his elbow resting casually against the window, Tarquin didn't even spare him a glance. "You crossed a line today. You made my family bleed. If you make me do it, I promise you, it will be infinitely worse."