Page 73 of The Wicked

“You’re an asshole.”

The car swerved suddenly, tires screeching. My heart jumped into my throat.

When the car settled again, I was heaving. “Motherfucker! Just because you have a death wish doesn’t mean I do too.”

He glanced my way, looking very calm as he said, “Seatbelt.”

I scoffed, securing my seatbelt. I was ready for this night to be over.

Elio drove like he had extra lives, and in order to swallow my fear and hold on to my pride, I didn’t utter a word because he got us to the meeting point at exactly 9:59P.M.

I unhooked the seatbelt and wasted no time getting out of the car, a gag rising in my throat at how wobbly my legs felt. I brought out the painting and dropped my bag on the seat, slamming the door. The sight of the boats rocking atop the water by the docks, and the cold breeze, helped quell my urge to throw up.

Elio got out of the car, looking pointedly at the black SUV a few feet away from us. “Your client?”

“Should be,” I answered, looking around us.

It was dark, save for the dim lamplight around the boats and the small cabin a few feet away. An unsettling feeling came with the atmosphere, and it made the hair at the back of my neck stand at alert.

“Let’s get this over with,” I said, walking towards the SUV.

“Wait, something is not right… or just walk right into the pending danger.” He sighed. “Estúpida,” he muttered, but I heard his footsteps fall in right behind me.

I reached the SUV but stopped short when I saw the person inside the car. His head was on the headrest, eyes wide open, with a bullet wound between them.

“Shit, he’s dead,” I said.

“What the fuck?”Dog’s voice rang out in alarm.

Elio pushed me aside and approached the body, hand touching his skin. “It’s still warm. It just happened.”

“Guys, the mission has been compromised.”

“Are you bloody shitting me? Three times in a row? Somebody fucking jinxed us!”Upper exclaimed.

Elio’s gaze snapped to a spot behind me at a slight click sound, and he groaned in annoyance. “Great.”

He suddenly and forcefully pulled me down, and the next thing I heard was multiple shots firing directly at us.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Zahra

Adrenaline pumped through my veins as Elio and I ran around the car to take immediate cover. The bullets didn’t stop, slamming into the black SUV, shattering its windows.

I hissed as the glass rained down on us, light, sharp, and graceless. Elio was covered from head to toe, unlike me, whose skin was exposed to any little graze. My breathing was harsh and my heart was racing. “What the fuck is happening!” I yelled as Elio reached behind him, seeming very calm as he pulled out his gun.

“It’s an a–mbush, th–at’s w–hat,”Devil said.

“Conne–ction’s failing, fuck…” Upper said, his voice a distant static, but I could still pick out its tight edge.

“I still don’t get it. An ambush for a painting?” I said, breathless and annoyed.

Elio shifted beside me, lifting his head a little to—I guess—see who was shooting or how many of them were there.

Another string of bullets came, slapping against the car in sharp thudding noises that had my blood running hot. Elio ducked immediately, cursing while sending a stern glare my way. “There are about six of them, maybe more. We have one gun, and I am in no mood to kill anyone tonight.”

My eyes widened. “Well, if you haven’t noticed, they’re kind of in the mood to kill us.”