Total pages in book: 115
Estimated words: 107376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107376 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 537(@200wpm)___ 430(@250wpm)___ 358(@300wpm)
The impact drives us both into the dirt, the wind knocking out of my lungs as a second guard joins him, then a third.
Across the property, Maddox is laughing at the display. “You’re doing great.”
A rifle butt catches him across the shoulder and he feigns a stumble as if being caught off guard, then he allows them to take him to the ground, hard, the same way they’d done to me, and before long, we’re completely surrounded.
The guards are brutal as they jerk us to our feet and slam the butts of their guns into our backs and shoulders, getting their shots in for their lost friends.
Maddox catches my eye over the top of a particularly nervous guard’s shoulder, his eyes sparkling like the stars in the night sky. “You know,” he says loudly. “I think they’re starting to like us.”
A guard punches him square in the stomach and I let out a sigh. This idiot is going to get us killed before we even get to phase B.
Maddox sputters and snorts a laugh. “Okay, maybe not.”
I lower my head to hide the smile threatening to pull across my face, because despite the restraints, despite the weapons, and despite the men surrounding us, everything is going exactly according to plan. And judging by the amusement in Maddox’s eyes, he more than knows it too.
Twenty minutes later, both Maddox and I are bound by our wrists, dangling from chains like Christmas ornaments on meat hooks driven into the concrete ceiling, our feet barely scraping the floor.
It’s not ideal, but it’s also not the worst situation we’ve ever been in.
Antonio’s men surround us, the material of my shirt barely holding on as they take turns whipping, beating, and trying to break us down. I clench my jaw as my ribs take another blow. This fucker’s got a good swing on him.
“Shit,” Maddox says. “That looked personal.”
I only grunt in response as the guard swings again, nailing me in the exact same spot while my rib gives out under the pressure.
“Yep, definitely personal.”
Their brutal attack goes on for nearly an hour, only walking away when both Maddox and I are left completely battered and bruised, blood dripping to the ground beneath us.
Only one guard remains to keep watch over us, sitting by the door with a rifle already locked and loaded in his hands. I roll my eyes at his performance. I don’t know what he thinks he’s going to achieve with that gun, but I can guarantee he’s going to be sorry if he attempts to use it.
I close my eyes and take a breath, mentally documenting my injuries and figuring out just how hard it’s going to be to get through to the next phase of my plan. But considering we could be here a while, I have time to regain my energy. All that matters is that we’re in the heart of the lion’s den, and sooner or later, Antonio is going to walk through that door to put a bullet through both of our heads, and when he does, Maddox and I will be ready. Not to mention, we’ll be splitting the five-million-dollar payout for completing the contract.
I almost grin to myself. The amount of money someone would pay to destroy their competition blows me away sometimes, especially considering just how easy it could have been to take a gun and shoot the bastard themselves. It’s not as though the type of person who ordered this hit wouldn’t have the connections. Honestly, it seems like a waste of money if you ask me, but nonetheless, I’m more than happy to take it off their hands.
“You good?” I murmur, glancing at Maddox beside me, watching a trail of blood snake down his face from the cut above his brow.
“No talking,” the guard grunts.
Maddox ignores him and nods. “Never better,” he says. “Going well so far.”
I snort a laugh. “Exceptionally well.”
“Hey,” the guard spits, clutching the gun harder. “I said no talking.”
Maddox just smiles and looks out at the windowless concrete box around us. “This is quite nice actually. I like what they’ve done with the place,” he muses. “They’ve definitely upgraded since the last time we were here. It could use a window or two for ventilation, though. All out, I give it an eight out of ten.”
“Absolutely not.”
“What?”
I shake my head just as the guard flies to his feet, red faced and grasping his gun. He storms toward us but foolishly stops directly between us.
“I said,” he spits, turning toward me and pressing the gun against my chest, though I don’t doubt that he’s under explicit instructions not to kill us. Antonio would want that pleasure. “No fucking talking.”
My gaze flashes to Maddox, and the second he smirks, we each move. My foot slams out, catching the fucker in the chest and sending him flying back toward Maddox just as my best friend catches the guard with his legs.