Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96129 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 481(@200wpm)___ 385(@250wpm)___ 320(@300wpm)
Anthony barged in the room like he owned the place, like he was going to scare everyone in here to pay up more than they owed. I was sure he’d been doing just that for years now. It took him a second to realize what he was seeing, his pale blue eyes sweeping the room and landing on us. Slowly, understanding sunk in, and his commanding demeanor cracked.
“What is this?” he asked, eyes narrowing slightly.
He was still trying to hold onto his bravado, but we all knew it was pointless. Nothing could get him out of this room alive. Next to me, Rocco popped another M&M into his mouth. My boots dropped on the floor with a thump. That was when it fully registered and Anthony moved. It happened quickly. He dropped the black bag in his hand, I picked up my gun and took my first shot, the bullet hitting his knee. He went down immediately. From the bodega, Santiago shouted. Anthony started dragging himself with the right side of his body, trying to stand. I shook my head, walking over.
“Hold still.” my foot on his ribcage, stopping his movements. He looked up at me, still glaring, beads of sweat forming between his brows. “You’re making a fucking mess.”
“Fuck you, De Luca.” He spat. It was strong enough to reach the bottom of my pants. I sighed and pressed the bottom of my shoe harder against his ribs. Anthony groaned. He looked toward Santiago. “You’ll pay for this.” His gaze shifted to me. “You really think she’s worth this? You think she’s worth dying for?” He groaned again when I pushed my foot harder. I heard a crack. I could tell he felt it, the way he gasped in a breath.
I looked down at where I’d shot him then looked over at Rocco. “I missed.”
“Really?” Rocco walked into the room, shaking his head. “You’re losing your touch.”
He leaned against the wall, still eating his M&Ms. Santiago hadn’t said a word, but from the way he was breathing, I knew he was hiding behind the counter. Probably praying. I hoped he was. We all could use some of those.
“You’re never going to get away with this. You have no idea what’s coming. You have no idea who’s on our side,” he said with a groan.
“You mean Joe?” I raised an eyebrow. “You think we don’t know about that?”
The shock on his face told me everything I needed to know. He narrowed his eyes and laughed, trying a new tactic. It was like watching a replay of an old movie. I’d done this song and dance too many times already, so I already knew whatever came out of his mouth next was meant to piss me off.
“Did she tell you how I pinned her down? How I made her squirm?” Anthony asked, a smile still on his lips. I wanted to cut his face up, but I wouldn’t. Not yet. I pushed my boot even deeper. Another crack. “Fuck.”
“Mr. Vega,” I called out. “You can go home. We’ll clean up this mess, lock up, and wipe the camera footage. You don’t have to worry about anything.”
He came out from behind the register, and I thought he’d either look scared or disgusted. What I saw was anger. He stopped right beside me and spat on Anthony’s face.
“I’d kill you myself if I thought I could do a better job than these guys.”
Anthony gasped out a laugh. “You led me right between her legs.”
“Mr. Vega,” I said as calmly as I could muster. “You may want to leave within ten seconds.”
He walked to the door and stood by it, holding it like he was curious enough to stay a bit longer, like he wanted this guy to suffer as much as I did.
“Were you aiming for the femoral?” Rocco asked, finally walking closer. “You missed it by a lot.”
“Nah, he’d bleed out too fast.” I pushed down on his ribs again, cracked another one. “I was aiming for his dick.”
Rocco let out a laugh, walking to the back. “I have a better idea of what you can do to his dick. I’m gonna need to take a can from one of those boxes though.”
“You’ll die for this, De Luca. For sloppy-second pussy.”
My laugh came out forced and without humor as I shook my head, looking down at the stupid motherfucker.
“Hey, Roc,” I called out. “Make that three cans. One for each hole.”
I heard the door open and close and looked up to see Santiago locking it from the other side. He gave a nod. Of approval? I wasn’t sure. It didn’t matter. He had to know I played by no one’s rules, except maybe his daughter’s.
“Where do you want this one?” Rocco walked back into the room, shaking one of the cans.
It was about to be a very long night, because the man under my boot had marked her, bruised her, traumatized her, tied her up, pointed guns at her, and was going to pay for all of it.