by Kim Linwood
Leading the way with my gun, I check every room down the hall. They’re all empty, each one feeling like the springs of a trap pulling tighter. Are they even here? This whole setup could be a distraction. But why? If I could retreat and analyze the little intel I have, I might find an answer, but that takes time. Time we don’t have.
At the end of the hall is another stairwell. Hope they don’t mind me dropping in the back way. Edging down the stairs, I make my way back to the third floor. The door’s locked, but I brought my picks. Crouching out of sight, I stick them in and feel for tumblers. With a little luck they intended to force me out the other door and are focusing down there.
It’s a simple lock and clicks open in no time.
Pushing the door open, I brace for something to happen, but nothing does. I press Nora’s contact on my phone and leave it in the stairwell. Down the hall, a phone rings twice.
Gotcha.
They won’t be distracted long with nobody on the other end. I follow the voices filtering out of a room halfway down the hall, driven by adrenaline and rage. I screwed up by wasting time in her apartment and they took her out of the back of my car where she should’ve been safe.
Someone is going to pay, and if she’s not alright, it’s going to be a big fucking bill to settle.
I slam the door open, taking stock of the room. No Nora, but two men guard a door to yet another room. Not well enough. They move fast, but I’m faster, putting my first shot in the forehead of the one with the bloody shoulder. The other guy dives behind a desk, firing wildly and hitting the wall.
“Payne!” Nora screams, her muffled voice coming through the door.
Fuck. I let it distract me, which is all it takes for the guy behind the desk to get off a shot. Pain slices through my thigh, dropping me to one knee. PO Harper would be shaking his head.
The goon gets overconfident when I go down, sticking out his head to see what he hit. It’s the last thing he ever sees.
My victory’s short lived. Long arms wrap around me from behind, lifting me from the floor with a powerful bear hug. My gun drops uselessly to the floor. Shit. I didn’t keep an eye on the door and that rookie mistake is going to fuck up my whole rescue. Black spots dance at the corner of my vision as he tries to squeeze the life out of me.
Throwing my head backwards, I slam into his face so hard I’m seeing stars. He roars like a wounded animal, doubling his efforts instead of letting go, all the while swearing a blue streak in Italian.
I kick at his knees, trying to connect with my heavy boots, but after I graze him a second time, he growls and charges forwards. He drives me into the wall like a linebacker. My lungs scream for air and the metallic taste of blood fills my mouth. I think my nose might be broken again. If I live through this, I’m going to get it set for real this time.
“Carter! You decided to join us after all. You could’ve just used the front door, you know.” The asshole from the phone strolls in. No wonder he sounds slick. Pretty sure his hair’s styled back with Pennzoil straight from the can.
He scoops up my Beretta, giving it a quick look and smiling. “Relax. Once Vinny’s got you, you’re not going anywhere.” The big guy holding me grunts in agreement.
There’s a furious muffled growl in the other room, its source decidedly female.
Nora.
I struggle, but Vinny’s built like a fucking tank.
The asshole with my gun grins. “She’s fine, for now. Just a little annoyed we had to put the gag back in.” He looks at the two bodies on the floor and sighs. “Couldn’t you have just knocked like a normal human being?”
“Who are you?” I bite out as soon as Vinny the Bear backs off enough for me to take a full breath.
“I’m… a middleman. It’s not really important. What’s important is that there’s someone here who wants to see you, and I don’t think he’s very happy with how this is going.”
“Oh, boo fucking hoo.”
Vinny laughs, stopping short at Asshole’s glare.
“Come on, Vincent. Let’s go make our guest comfortable.”
Okay, so that could have gone better, but we’re both still alive. Could be worse.
36
Nora
“Mmmmmmmmnnngh!” I slobber all over the gag and glare at Palmieri.
Payne’s come for me. Gunshots and the sound of fighting comes from the other room. Vinny charges out, but I can’t see through the door from here. All I can do is listen and wait.
There are no words that can fully describe the hope that fills me, but anything could happen. I refuse to think about them shooting Payne. I need to get out there and help, but all I can do is rock myself back and forth, and grunt.
Some backup I am.
The ropes dig into my wrists and ankles as I make a new attempt to twist myself loose, like some sort of action movie hero. No go. All that gets me is more rope burns. I’d given up on getting free a long time ago, but then we heard the bang from downstairs, and everyone started looking nervous.
They should be, because if Payne’s come for me, he’s going to be pissed.
Once he gets free anyway. He stumbles in, shoved from behind. Following close behind are a slightly bloody Vinny and a older guy in a suit. Payne’s arms are bound behind his back with bright yellow zip ties. Only some quick footwork keeps him from toppling and crashing into the floor face first.
“Payne!” I try to scream, but through the gag it’s muffled and pathetic-sounding.
They’ve got him. What do we do now? He shouldn’t have come. What’s the point of both of us dying?
Blood trickles down his face, he’s favoring one leg and his nose is even more crooked than I remember, but when he sees me, only relief fills his gaze. He gives me a pained half-smile. “Next time I say we’re in a hurry, just get in the car, okay? Don’t threaten to shoot me first.”
“Mmmf,” I agree wholeheartedly.
“What a touching reunion,” Palmieri sneers.
Payne spits blood at his shoes. “Fuck you. I don’t even know who the hell you people are. If someone’s going to shoot me, I’d at least like to know why.”
“It’s too bad you can’t introduce us properly, sweetheart.” Palmieri walks behind me and puts his hands on my shoulders. I flinch away from the touch, and it disgusts me that I can’t shake him off. “I’m the one pulling all the strings.”
“Really.” Payne snorts. “Who’s pulling yours?”
“Nobody,” Palmieri growls, but his fingers dig painfully into me. “And if you want your pretty little friend here to keep breathing, you’ll be smart to remember it.” His grip eases slightly. “Don’t believe me? Ask Keaton here how well things are going with her father. I’ve spent too much goddamn time answering to other people to go back now. I’ve got nothing to lose.”
“Your boss?” Payne mouths to me.
I nod.
He glares up at Palmieri. “Ah, but see, the flaw in your plan is that nobody’s ever accused me of being smart.” Even bound and bleeding, he commands the room, his voice calm and even. “Which is probably what landed me in this mess in the first place, but in the meantime, I’ve had a little time to think.”
“Oh? A gun that thinks. Will wonders never cease?” Palmieri’s chuckle is dry. “Too bad most of that thinking’s done with your dick. Otherwise you might’ve considered the ramifications of not fulfilling our contract. If I’d known you were so easily distracted, I’d have made sure Trabucco's bodyguard was old and fat.” His fingers play along the collar of my shirt while he speaks, setting my teeth on edge and goosebumps racing right down my back. “Serves me right for underestimating the power of fresh pussy.”
He must have a death wish, because after that, if Payne doesn’t shoot him, I will.
“I considered them. I just didn’t care, and your contract read like a middle school revenge fantasy. What’s next? Cement shoes?”
Vinny ducks his head to the side, hiding a laugh. The other man’s face darkens.
“You used to be a SEAL. I’m sure you’ve had plenty of training in withstanding torture.”
“Sure.” Somehow Payne manages a cocky grin, though the trickle of blood from his nose and over his lip makes it macabre. “Come at me, bro. Let’s dance.”
“Oh, I love your confidence.” Palmieri chuckles, then squeezes, cutting off my air. “So maybe you're right. What about her? Think she’s a good dancer?”
Oh no.
Payne roars and lunges forwards. Vinny reacts quickly, tackling him before he gets to Palmieri. Even with his hands bound behind his back, Payne manages to hook his legs around Vinny’s and nearly flips the heavier man. The only thing that stops him, is getting his head knocked to the floor hard enough to make his eyes go vacant.
Again I struggle against my ropes while I desperately try to suck in air. I can hold my breath a good while, but not without preparation, and Palmieri didn’t do me the courtesy.
“Enough!” As soon as the man speaks up, I recognize his voice from the call they made to Payne earlier. He pulls a gun out of his jacket, cocks it and presses it against Payne’s forehead. Leveling a cold look at Palmieri, he sneers. “Let it go. We’ve got him. We don’t need to fuck with the woman. If you’re going to shoot her, then do it. Stop this cat and mouse shit.”
My stomach flips.
“He was—”
“I said enough!” There’s an authority to his voice that Palmieri lacks, and I start to see what Payne meant by asking who was pulling the strings. “You had your chance and you blew it to fucking hell and back. If you want to impress the boss, you’re going to have to do better than this. We told you taking Trabucco out was too big a risk, but no, you had it under control. Well now the FBI has him and you’re over here dicking around with the help.”
Palmieri’s face is an ugly shade of eggplant, but his hands relax enough that I can draw a gasping breath. “He—”
The man shakes his head. “He’s a tool. When a gun fails, do you blame it? Or do you turn to the person holding it? Think about that while you figure your way out of this sinkhole you put yourself in. I’m done losing men.”
A massive boom shakes the entire building like an earthquake. The earlier explosion sounded like a popped balloon in comparison.
“What the fuck was that?” Vinny shouts.
They all look at Payne, who shrugs.
“Let’s go.” The man nudges Vinny’s arm, then looks at Palmieri. “This is your mess. Keep an eye on them while we check it out, or clean them up and catch up.”
“You can’t just leave me here.” Palmieri backs up, looking at the other men like a drowning man watching the last life raft float away.
But they do.
37
Payne
About fucking time. I was starting to wonder if I’d set the timers wrong. Twenty minutes is hell of a long time to wait while people stand around talking about killing you and the woman you love.
If Palmieri was half as smart as he thinks he is, he’d shoot us both. He’s got the gun, but the wildness in his eyes, like a cornered animal, tells me he’s never actually pulled the trigger. He might’ve played games with life and death, but there’s no way that spineless bastard has ever done his own dirty work.
He looks back and forth between us and the open door where his supposed partners went. Shouts echo from the hall, and he comes to a decision. Without even a witty parting shot, he takes off.
Amateur.
I pull myself upright and work Nora’s gag off with my teeth. It tastes of bile and sweat, but she’s still alive. That’s good enough for me. If only I could get the ropes around her arms and legs just as easily.
She spits and stretches her jaw. “Please tell me you have a plan.”
“I have a whole fucking binder full of plans. I seem to have lost the page with this one on it, though, so we’re going to have to wing it.” I crouch until her hands are even with my waist. “There’s a small blade over my left hip tucked behind my belt. Go down from the top or you’ll slice up your fingers.”
“Right… of course you do. How much time do we have?”
“Not much. That sound was their cars exploding. It’s only going to take so long before someone comes looking, either them or the cops.” Every second that passes ticks in my head like a countdown to failure. “It’s fine, no hurry. Take your time.”
“You aren’t making this any easier!” Nora growls. “My fingers feel like they’re stuffed with sawdust.” Silence fills the room, interrupted occasionally by noise from below or little frustrated snarls. “I’m really glad you’re not dead,” she says quietly. “And that you came.”
“Did you doubt that I would?”
“I wouldn’t have blamed you if you didn’t.” There’s a note of lingering sadness in her voice, but it hasn’t broken her spirit. “Got it. Hold your hands still.”
I don’t move a muscle, trying not to think too hard about her numb fingers holding a thin, razor-sharp blade and sawing right next to my wrists. “You wouldn’t have to. I’d’ve blamed me enough for the both of us. No matter what you think of me, I wouldn’t have abandoned you.”
A second blast rocks the other side of the building. Ten more minutes gone.
Surprised, Nora’s hands twitch. “Shit! Fuck! Cock-a-doodle!”
The bright metallic clink on the floor tells me all I need to know. “Cock-a-doodle?”
“I’ve had a bad day, okay? Give me a break. My mom says that.” Nora’s voice catches when she mentions her mother. There’s a pause, then she draws a ragged breath. “What was that?”
“Backup distraction. I might not have a plan, but I had a lot of explosives.” Ignoring the sharp pain of the zip tie cutting into my skin, I put everything I’ve got into breaking through what’s left of the plastic. It hurts like a bitch, but between her work with the knife and the determination of my vested interest in not dying, it snaps.
As soon as my hands are free, I turn and trap Nora’s face in my hands. Blood rings the outside of my wrists, but I don’t care. “Just in case I don't get another opportunity…” Leaning in, I press my lips against hers. She's so soft and vulnerable.
And she’s mine.
Those fuckers are going to pay for getting her involved. “We will make it out of this, because we've only just started, and I’m not letting them take that away from us. Do you understand me?”
She nods, a fire lit in her eyes. “Now get me untied so we can go fuck them up, already.”
My cock gets inappropriately hard. “You’re sexy when you’re out for blood. Have I ever mentioned that?”
“I might’ve noticed this morning.” A hint of a smile plays over her lips.
I grab the blade off the floor and make quick work of her ropes. “Let’s go.”
Standing is apparently a little difficult after being tied to a chair for so long. Nora wobbles and grabs my arm for support. I help her out into the front room while she finds her legs.
“Oh my God.” Nora freezes, eyes glued to the two dead men on the floor.
Giving her a second, I grab her Glock off the table, forgotten by the Mafia goons. “We’ve got to keep moving,” I prod.
She nods, then strides right over to the one of them and spits. “Shoot this, asshole.” A second later her face goes a little green. “I think I’m going to puke.”
“Come on.” I pull her to me, pressing her face against my chest and inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo.
“I just spit on a dead guy.”
“Mmmhmm.”
“He wanted to shoot me.”
“I shot him first.”
“Me too.” Nora lets out a strangled little laugh. “That’s why he wanted to shoot me.”
“Here.” I hand her the Glock, which she cradles to her chest like a cherished stuffe
d animal. “Does that help?”
She sniffles. “A little, actually. Yeah.”
Damn, I love this woman.
38
Nora
“There’s at least two guys out there.”
Payne nods, searching the bodies and grabbing a gun for himself. “Desert Eagle.” He turns it over in his hand, giving it a once over. “Little man, big gun syndrome at work, but it’ll do the job.”
“Are we going to… shoot our way out?” The words stick in my throat. I’m trying to stay tough, but unlike Payne, I don’t have any real combat experience. My nerves are frayed to the breaking point.
He must see it in my eyes, because he shakes his head. “The building was pretty clear when I came in, but they have to be scrambling now. I don’t want to risk going out the way they’re expecting, but we can’t just sit here waiting for your boss to come to his senses and finish the job.”
He grabs one of the chairs in the room and jams it under the door handle. “This won’t hold them for long, but it’s a tried and true slower-downer.” Then he pulls me back into the room we came out of. “Come.”
“I always knew Palmieri was an ass,” I mutter as I let Payne guide me. “He’s going to ruin me one way or another now. Either I end up dead, or I’ll be run off the force and lucky not to end up in jail.”
The thought makes me shudder. It seems impossible for anyone to believe I’d do the sorts of things he threatened to accuse me of, but I’m so new. My friends and family wouldn’t buy it, but if it came down to my word against his, I just don’t know.
No time to think about that now. Once I get out of here, I’ll worry about how to prove my innocence and get Palmieri behind bars, but for now, I need to worry about surviving the day.
Payne puts a hand on my back and takes me to the window. “Don’t worry about him. All that matters is getting you out of here and to someplace safe until it blows over.”
