Page 73 of Inferno

And he told me clearly, “get out of the house by any means possible.”

As he frowns looking at his phone, I seize the opportunity to retrieve my blade and flick it open. Lunging forward, I plunge the blade directly into the artery in his throat. I’ve been practicing my knife skills more recently, getting ready for this.

His phone tumbles onto the deck, and he reaches out, so I bury it deeper and twist, making him fall to his knees with a grunt.

His face pales and he gasps for air, grabbing his neck as blood spills out.

He falls on his front with a thud, crimson now pooling near my feet.

Bending down, I maneuver him so I can unholster his pistol and I run for the gates.

I can almost taste freedom.

Where do I go next?

I don’t know. But as far away from here as possible. I have the coordinates for a meeting spot Drago has set up.

Who I’m meeting is a mystery. I don’t care. This risk of staying here far outweighs the dangers outside this compound.

This fucking hellhole.

The gravel crunches under my boots as I sprint as fast as my legs will take me.

I know this place well enough to know where the guards could be.

As I get closer to the black iron gates, I hide in a bush, assessing the situation.

One guard in the booth.

Ducking between the hedges, I find my way to the stairs and climb, flicking off the safety of my pistol as I near the top.

Keeping myself below the window. I take a breath, grabbing onto the seal, I pull myself up with my left hand and aim with my right.

He’s busy tapping away on his phone and I grin, pulling the trigger straight into the side of his head.

My heart races as I slide open the window and jump in, searching for the button to open the gates.

“Sorry, Dan.” I whisper.

I don’t really feel remorse for these monsters anymore.

Hitting the green button, the gates slowly open. Excitement runs through me as I descend out of the window.

I let the adrenaline flood me as I sprint through the open gates.

I’m so close. So fucking close.

Whatever part of the universe took Vlad out on a job today with the majority of his men was clearly looking out for me and my baby.

A new life; I can almost taste it.

Just me and my baby.

The faint sounds of engines rumbling makes me come to a halt. I edge backwards up against the wall and duck behind the oak tree.

Four blacked out vehicles slowly drive by; I keep my guard up, holding my breath as the last car passes and enters the compound.

I don’t have long before they see the bodies.

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