Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 109674 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 548(@200wpm)___ 439(@250wpm)___ 366(@300wpm)
“Where’s my uncle?” Corvin shouted, still half hidden behind the door of the car. I hadn’t seen him since my fifteenth birthday party, and time hadn’t done him any favors. He was half bald and, from what I could see, not in the shape of his life.
I tossed my head back. “In the transporter. Where’s the boy?”
Corvin motioned to someone in the car, and another older man got out, holding a small child by a leash attached to a collar around the child’s throat. The kid stared unblinkingly ahead, in shock. What had these assholes done to him? From a distance, it was difficult to make out if he bore any resemblance to Achille or Flavia. I wouldn’t put it past Corvin to use another boy to trick me.
Their punishment would be worthy of their crime.
Corvin motioned at the area between our cars. “Bring my uncle forward. We’ll meet in the middle and do the exchange. I won’t go near that transporter. I don’t trust you, crazy bastard.”
I gave Niccolo a nod, who released a sigh and headed to the back of the transporter with Sasha. A couple of minutes later, they came forward with a cuffed and blindfolded prisoner. They hadn’t closed the flap of the transporter again.
The prisoner wasn’t Lamorgese. It was a Bratva asshole who’d sustained burn wounds during his attempt to ignite one of our drug labs in central LA. Sasha and Niccolo had cut off his calf a few hours ago to make him look more like Achille, and the burn scars on his face prevented anyone from seeing who he really was anyway. I grabbed his arm, and he let out a muffled cry. The fabric stuffed into his mouth stopped him from spewing anything in Russian that would give him away and ruin my plan.
Niccolo’s jaw ticked with tension.
“Stick to the plan,” I reminded him. I didn’t need him to protect me. I could handle these weaklings and a few enraged chimps.
He nodded. I dragged the prisoner forward just when Corvin did the same with the small boy, who stumbled and fell as he couldn’t keep up with him. The second man followed closely. I didn’t mind.
Corvin tugged hard at the leash. “Get up!”
The boy struggled to his feet, then stumbled after Corvin, who was practically choking him with the collar to get him to move faster. Corvin definitely was his uncle’s blood. I’d enjoy his screams. The second man gave me a triumphant smile as he thought they’d won this round.
I bared my teeth, causing his smile to drop.
When we finally arrived in the middle, I narrowed my eyes on Corvin. His widened eyes were directed at the bone crown on my head. “You always struck me as a man who likes to torture little kids to feel powerful.”
“Careful,” Corvin snarled, dragging Luciano to his side. The child’s face was turning increasingly red.
I shoved the prisoner to the ground. “Here’s your uncle. I’m not sure he’s worth the bother.”
“Check if it’s him,” Corvin told the other man, his hold on the leash tightening further. I could hear a familiar deep grunt coming from the transporter. Corvin looked around but obviously couldn’t place the noise. His bad.
I trained my ears on the noises coming from the back to know when I’d have to be quick.
The older man stepped toward the Russian prisoner curled up on the ground, while Corvin’s eyes were once again drawn to the bone crown on top of my head. “You like it? Your uncle contributed to it. I’d really love to add your fingers too.”
His expression fell with horror, then it hardened.
The older man bent over the prisoner on the ground, gripping the cloth in his mouth. Low grunts and pants came from behind me. Not much time now.
Corvin stiffened as he looked behind me toward the transporter. “What is in there?” The older man ripped the cloth out of the mouth of my Bratva prisoner, and a string of Russian curses fell from the guy’s lips.
“Your uncle’s sanity,” I said with a wide grin.
I reached for my crown and jerked the bone knife hidden among the other bones free, then kicked the older man’s head as hard as I could and hurled the knife at Corvin’s shoulder. His face lit up with agony, his eyes going wide, and he released the leash. I stormed forward, tugged my fur coat off, and thrust it over the boy so he wouldn’t witness more before I ripped the knife from Corvin’s shoulder. It was my favorite weapon, so I wouldn’t give it up.
High-pitched shrieks and guttural grunts ripped through the night. That was an angry male chimp. No time to lose.
Corvin let out a gasp, his shock-widened eyes focusing on something behind me.
I didn’t look back. It wouldn’t do me any favors. I knew exactly what an enraged chimp out for blood looked like. I picked up the boy wrapped in the coat, then sliced my blade along the hollows of Corvin’s knees, making his legs buckle. He fell forward and landed on his palms, but his terror-stricken face was directed at the chimp.