Page 96 of August

Her body was weak and her mouth as dry as the stale, musty air of a crypt.

Moments before, she’d thought she’d heard movement outside the window. But no, that had been wishful thinking. There’d been no bullets, no shouts. No rescue.

Just Marko setting up the camera that would film her torture and death for the sake of tormenting and haunting her family.

That realization made her eyes mist over. She sniffed and fought the urge to make one more attempt at reaching Marko. Moving away from the tripod, he stepped in front of her and tilted his head as if to be sure it was positioned correctly.

Instinct kicked into gear and Gigi swung her foot, catching Marko in the back of the knee. He howled and went down hard.

Fight swam through her and she kicked again, this time getting him in the nose.

“Dammit!” He grabbed her leg and twisted.

She yelped and Marko surged to his feet, glowering at her. A second later, Alvarez walked into the room. “What’s going on?”

Marko kept his back turned to Alvarez for a beat, wiped the blood from his nose with his sleeve, and turned. “Nothing. All set.”

Suspicion crossed Alvarez’s face, but he took in the propped-up camera and the plastic beneath her chair.

Seeing Alvarez again made Gigi’s blood boil. This was the man she’d been running from. The man who’d sent an assassin after her in Wyoming.

Who’d killed Joe.

And the waitress.

And Taschen.

Her throat constricted. But as she took in his graying hair, slender build, and wrinkled face, she realized he was no match for August. August would chew him up and spit him out.

Satisfaction hiked her lips up into a devious smile.

Alvarez caught her change of expression, and his eyebrows met over the bridge of his nose. “What are you so happy about?”

She grinned and let out a low, taunting chuckle. “Oh, nothing.”

He took a step toward her, his head tilted the way it had been before he shot Alec. “Tell me before I cut out your fucking tongue.”

She screwed up her face. “Eww. Why on earth would that idea even come to mind? Kind of sick if you ask me.”

“I’m not messing with you!” Alvarez’s voice shook the walls, and Gigi’s shoulders scrunched to her ears.

“Okay, fine. Chill out.” She wet her lips, her bravery starting to slip. Why she’d thought pissing off Alvarez was a good idea she’d never know. Maybe she wanted to go out strong.

“Talk,” he spat.

She lifted a shoulder with as much nonchalance as she could muster. “It’s just that you’re going to die a slow and painful death and you don’t even realize it.”

Marko inhaled sharply. Alvarez’s face darkened, and then he laughed, throwing back his head. He brought his gaze back to her, his shoulders shaking slightly as he drew closer. “You think the man I duped is coming to save you? Aw, chica. You’re wrong.”

He trailed his finger along her shoulder then down over her collarbone, where her ripped shirt revealed the lace bra covering her. “I’m going to kill you and then him for what he did to my brother, Fernando. No one hurts my family and gets away with it.”

Gigi’s skin turned cold everywhere he touched her. She wanted to lash out. To kick and scream, but something told her to save her energy because she was going to need it.

“It’s a shame I need to make an example out of you. Otherwise, you’d be fun to sell.”

His words shook her core. Fear shot through her with the force of an earthquake.

“Marko,” Alvarez said calmly. “Start the video.” He reached inside his suit jacket and withdrew a knife.

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