Page 89 of Waging War
Their conversation is muffled through the door, but I can make out enough.
“Yeah. Diablo had us take what was left from Lucky’s and bring it here.” There’s a pause. “He didn’t tell you?”
“He told me he was moving the equipment elsewhere. I wasn’t aware it was here.”
“Since Lucky’s is gone, there’s no home base for distribution. He started the takeover two hours ago. Said we needed to clean house first.”
Air slides in and out of my nose as my throat constricts. If something happens to Cassidy or Jules, I’ll never forgive myself.
“Where’s the owner and his crew?”
“Dunno. There was a pregnant woman and two guys with her when we got here. I don’t know what the other guys did with them, though.”
Shit.
“Put the rest of the boxes in the kitchen and hurry up,” Ben says. “We don’t have all night. If Diablo wants this place prepped and ready, then that’s what we’re going to do.”
“You got it.” A box hits the ground with a thud. “Hey, have you seen Félix?”
Ben waits a second. “No. Why?”
“Oh. Well, he’s been missing for a little while now. Some other guys showed up at Marquee’s last night, but I haven’t seen them today either.”
“I’ll look into it. For now, worry about yourself, and get the job done,” Ben says.
“Right, uh… sorry. I’ll get this taken care of.”
There’s a grunt as the man reclaims the box, then I hear Ben’s voice fade as he begins barking orders at the rest of the men.
I slide down to the floor, listening to the ramblings of these guys as they pass by. After a while, their conversations begin to slowly drive me insane. One of them mentions a date he’s got downtown at Rosenburg’s in a few days.
I scoff. Who in their right mind would willingly date one of these idiots?
Moments after I’ve heard the last voice, the door slowly cracks open. I clamber to stand as my heart beats out of my chest and scramble hastily for my knife.
Relief washes over me when Ben pokes his head into the darkness.
“Are they gone?” I ask him.
Grabbing his extended hand, we step out into the hall. “The last two guys left fifteen minutes ago. We need to get the hell out of here now.”
“Where could they have taken Cassidy and the guys?”
He rubs a hand down his face as we exit the back. “I have no idea.”
Mind whirling, I check the list of options we have left. If I had it my way, we’d storm the compound, surprise attack Bruce, and then I’d slit the asshole’s throat.
“Hazel?”
I tip my head up. “Hmm?”
“You’ve got that look in your eye again.”
“What look?”
His lips quirk. “The one you get when you’re contemplating murder.”
Wrapping those sturdy hands around the back of my neck, he strokes the bottom of my jaw with his thumbs. “He’s killed the chief, hidden Samantha, and now he’s taken over The Pound. I’m out of ideas, Hazel.”
