Page 128 of Dark Breaker

Neither men answer. They simply glare at us.

A crashing noise comes from outside and the two goons exchange looks.

“Check it out,” the goon next to Massimo says.

My guy retreats, leaving the room.

I glance at Massimo and meet his gaze. I flick my eyes toward the handgun pressed into his head, then rock my head forward slightly, baring my teeth to imitate a bite. He subtly nods his head.

I nod in return, then start rocking to and fro, noisily wobbling the chair back and forth on the floor.

The goon tilts his head toward me. “Stop that.”

I simply smile. “No. You’ll have to shoot me, Fucker.”

He aims the handgun at me, apparently happy to oblige.

Massimo leans forward and bites his wrist.

The goon screams, and starts smashing Massimo in the head with his free hand, but then Luciano stands, bringing the chair tied to his back with him. When within range, Luciano head-butts the dude from behind.

Massimo releases his hold on the goon’s bleeding wrist and the dude stumbles backward drunkenly. I kick out one of my legs, tripping him.

Luciano repeatedly stomps him with the legs of his chair until the dude stops moving. Then Luciano kicks me the goon’s gun.

I grab it and point it at the door. I know the other dude is going to return, and quickly—he’ll be wondering why his friend screamed. Well, I have a present for him. At least I hope I do: it’s tricky as hell to aim up from the floor like that with my wrists bound together. I’m just going to have to wing it.

As expected, the other goon comes running inside. I fire three shots, adjusting my aim with each one. The first shot hits him in the thigh, the second misses, the third smashes into his chest.

The man collapses.

Massimo gets up and crab-walks toward him with the chair on his back. When he’s close enough, he stomps the legs down onto the man’s head, confirming the kill.

Then Massimo leans his chair to one side, quickly losing his balance and crashing to the floor. He grits his teeth upon impact—I know how unpleasant that feels. Then he scoops up the dropped handgun in his bound hands and aims it at the open doorway.

Luciano and Nicolo similarly reposition, moving away from the entrance so that they won’t be visible until someone enters.

We wait tensely. I soon hear more footsteps coming from the hallway beyond.

Massimo exchanges a knowing glance with me, and we ready ourselves to open fire again.

I really hope it’s the Jackal.

Right now, more than anything I want to give him a face-ful of lead.

That, and find Rosa.

21

Rosa

The Jackal and his men lead me through a side hall, and then into the expansive main storage area of the warehouse, where crates on pallets and shelves are stacked to the ceiling in neat aisles. The men don’t blindfold me or cover my eyes in any way, allowing me to memorize the route they’re taking me on. I know I probably won’t escape, but it’s nice to be able to know where I am in relation to Fabio at least.

We pass by a row of windowed offices adjacent to the storage area. The men shove me into one of them and lock the door.

Like the others, this office has a window, so I can see the goon they left behind to stand guard outside.

My wrists are still tied, so I don’t have much freedom of movement when it comes to my arms, but at least I can still walk around if I want. Not that there’s anywhere I can go at the moment.