Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133975 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 670(@200wpm)___ 536(@250wpm)___ 447(@300wpm)
The warning was barely out of her mouth when the door flew inward, splintering apart and propelling the bald bodyguard across the room. The explosion was directed inward, and the force drove huge splinters and fragments of wood and steel into the guard’s torso and head, killing him instantly.
Keys and Master walked right in through the smoke and debris. As they did, Alena attacked Nolan, her foot sweeping up and around to catch him on the side of the jaw, driving him down. She followed up, smashing down with her fist and then stomping with her foot onto his throat, crushing it. She bent down and made certain he was dead.
Keys kicked a gun out of the second bodyguard’s hand and continued his forward momentum, slamming his hand into the man’s throat, driving into his windpipe. The bodyguard choked and gasped and dropped to the floor, eyes wide with shock, lungs desperate for air that was never going to get through the shattered windpipe.
Master was on the third bodyguard, catching his head in a lethal hold and dispatching him without mercy.
Owen held up his hand as Lana began her advance. “Whatever this is about, we can come to an agreement.”
It was Keys who answered. “You should have left Lyric alone. She’s mine.”
“Ours,” Alena corrected. “Our family. You don’t have enough money in the world to make up for what you’ve put her through.”
“You don’t have any idea who you’re dealing with,” Leo said. “Seriously, you’re going to want to make a deal.”
“You’re the ones who have no idea who you’re dealing with, especially when you were stupid enough to take the bait,” Lana said. “Really? Did you think we’d want to party with you in any capacity?” Her voice was filled with contempt. “You do think a lot of yourselves.”
She kicked Leo in the chest, driving him back away from her. The kick was strong enough that his spine smashed into the wall so hard that pictures crashed to the floor, sending glass shards scattering. Lana followed the body down, jabbing him in the throat hard and then catching him around his neck, snapping it with a sudden jerk.
“Three minutes,” Alena said. “Get it done.”
Keys didn’t hesitate. He moved like lightning, catching Owen by the throat with crushing fingers and spinning him around and over one shoulder, breaking his neck.
“Three down. Miles will be four. Expect to hear any minute,” Keys said. “Let’s get out the way we came in, people. Make certain cameras are down.” He didn’t have to worry, he was wearing someone else’s face, but Lana and Alena had waltzed right in. “We’ve got two houses and a warehouse to hit before we can go home.”
Alena sighed. “Where another party awaits us.”
“Think of it like a barbecue,” Master advised. “Where we get to uncover a traitor or two.”
* * *
“The Johansens own a plumbing business,” Code reported, indicating a building on the corner of a long string of warehouses. “They store everything there.”
“Any security guards?” Alena asked. Her road name was “Torch” for a reason.
“Preacher and Ink checked it out thoroughly,” Code said. “You’re good to go.”
“Insurance?” Keys asked.
Code flashed a grin. “Well, you know, they started out with a very small insurance policy on this warehouse and both homes. They have huge numbers now, millions on both homes and this warehouse. They aren’t the smartest criminals when it comes to insurance fraud. Not only did they suddenly change the policies, inflating numbers, but they immediately committed arson.” He laughed. “Convenient those homes are next door to each other, all safe behind gates in one of those real upscale communities they wouldn’t let the likes of you in, Keys.”
“Yeah, well, they didn’t let the likes of their daughter and sister into their little upscale community either. They threw her away.” He still wasn’t entirely convinced he should let the three evil holier-than-thou assholes live. Czar had talked him into a different type of lesson for them: wipe out everything they had and leave evidence of arson and insurance fraud. It was so blatant that the policies would raise red flags instantly.
“Nice that we have three targets, so each of them can take the blame for a fire,” Master said. “I appreciate, by the way, that no one asked me to go to the prison to do Miles in.”
Keys sent him a slight frown. “Absinthe is working on expunging your record. I think it was very clear you’re not going to do the dirty work anymore. We have friends in that prison; they owe us a huge favor. Czar called it in. Miles will be dead by tomorrow morning.”
“Don’t like calling in favors for dirty work,” Steele said. “But in this case, it will be impossible to trace the hit back to us.”
“Lyric has several scars from where that fucker stabbed her with a knife. She was eighteen and thought he was a friend,” Keys said. “Hopefully, they’ll follow the same pattern on his body and let him know why he’s taking his last breath.”