Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
David sneered. “I wouldn’t be a good number one if I just let you—”
“You think they should be in there torturing motherfuckers?” Maxwell leaned forward. “Seriously? Do you?”
David looked down at the ground. “They’ve had a rough week.”
“Not as rough as mine and I’m not torturing anybody.” Max touched his chest. “Step aside.”
I moved further to the left.
David went all the way to the right.
“Perfect. I’ll tell Kazimir that it was a whole battle to get you all to let me in.” Maxwell touched the knob and tried to turn it. Next, he slammed his body into the door a few times and then kicked it.
The door swung open.
The stench of death and blood rushed out, making me turn to see what was going on.
Oh God!
I held my stomach, nervous I might vomit.
No. Who. . .did this?
I stood, horrified and transfixed by the sight. While I knew that they would be hurting the men, I didn’t think they would have gone this far.
It was gruesome on biblical proportions. Blood doused most of the suite.
I felt bad for the maids.
Sawed-off body parts stacked each corner. Arms resided in one place. Legs in another. There was even a pile for what looked like...penises??
I turned away, unable to look at anymore.
I wish he had never opened the door. I didn’t want to know.
Meanwhile, Max stormed into the room.
Giorgio came to me and touched my arm with his blue gloved hands. “Are you okay?”
Bile burned up my throat. I swallowed hard.
“You should go a few feet to the side.” Giorgio took my hand and guided me down the hallway.
So horrified, I followed him.
Who did what? Was that all. . .the Lion or the Mouse?
Giorgio stopped me several doors down. “Now slowly breathe in for four seconds and then breathe out for four seconds.”
I did as he said.
Instantly, my stomach relaxed.
I continued with the slow breathing.
Yelling sounded from the suite. Apparently, Maxwell and Kazimir were in the midst of a huge argument. I had to get it together and return.
Alright. Suck it up and head back over there.
Giorgio watched me with concern.
I shook my head. “This is embarrassing. I don’t faint from the sight of death.”
“That was more than death, it was a serial killer’s paradise.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Still. . .it shouldn’t have made me feel sick.”
“Decomposition creates a wide range of chemical gases that are emitted from the dead. That’s why the smell is unpleasant.” Giorgio reached into his pocket and pulled out a plastic bag. “Gases like putrescine and cadaverine, they all cause the foul smell.”
I watched him take a sanitary wipe out of the plastic bag.
“But, the smell is not what makes you sick. It is that our body interprets the smell as a threat.” Giorgio handed me the wipe. “Your body does things to make you want to quickly get away from that area.”
“Oh. . .”
“How are you?”
“Better.”
“You do not look better.”
“Still, I have to get back. Thank you.” I didn’t take the wipe. “I feel fine now. I don’t need to wipe my hands.”
He kept the wipe in front of me. “One always needs to wipe their hands.”
“But my hands are—”
“Dirty and covered in germs. You were handling a bloodied Mancuso. Plus, your gun is filthy—”
“My gun is not filthy. I clean it—”
“You cleaned it in the middle of the helicopter ride back to the hotel? I didn’t see that.”
“No, but. . .” I sighed, grabbed the wipe, and cleaned my hands. “Just never mind.”
Giorgio took out another empty bag from his other pocket. “When you are done, put your dirty wipe in here. I empty this bag every hour. Just in case you were worried about how I would get rid of it.”
“I was not worried.” I cleaned my hands some more, took his bag, and stuffed the wipe in there. “Thank you, Giorgio.”
Right when I headed off, he blocked my way. “You should reconsider your employment with the Mouse.”
“What?” I looked at him.
“Once this war with Black Axe and the Italians is done, consider coming back with me to France. I would pay well for your skills.”
I opened my mouth in shock.
“And I am much more civilized.” He stepped to the side like the perfect gentleman and did a dramatic gesture with his hand to proceed.
Go back with him to France? Was he serious?
I hurried off.
Giorgio called after me, “And do not forget that you still owe me a clean pair of panties!”
Did you have to say that so loud?
I shook my head and caught David glaring our way. At first, I thought that glare was for me. However, Giorgio was the target of David’s angry gaze.
Chapter 5
Kazimir
A Decision of the Soul
Maxwell’s voice sounded outside the suite’s door.
Part of me was relieved that he’d arrived. I had so many questions that hopefully he could answer. However, I didn’t want him to see her this way.