Page 58 of Dark Things
He screams and drops his arm, the gun clattering on the ground, but before he can move, Haunt is behind him, a powerful arm wrapping around his throat before he drags him into the closet.
I step in, closing the door behind us. “Now you’re going to tell us what’s behind those doors. And if you decide you’d rather be loyal to that piece of shit, I can guarantee you’re going to regret it. This is your life or death moment. How we proceed is up to you.”
If he could kill me with his eyes, I’d be a puddle of blood on the floor. I sigh, “He’s going to be difficult. I can feel it.”
Haunt laughs and gives the guy a shake, pulling hisgun from his back and pressing it to the back of the guy’s head. He kicks him to his knees before me. I lean over and yank my blade from his shoulder. Another low scream comes from his mouth as blood pours down his arm.
“Fuck you, bitch. I’ll never talk,” the guard says.
Shaking my head, I put the tip of the blade under his eye. He flinches, just enough to cause my blade to nick the skin.
“Okay, I can see you’re not one of the smart ones. It’s annoying as fuck, but I get it. You don’t think I’m scary enough to follow through with my threats, right? Just some little girl who’s playing at being tough. But here’s the thing, I’ve been all grown up for a really long fucking time. And I’ve been killing for the last three years. Guys just like you. The ones who think I’m nothing but a silly woman. Not strong enough, not powerful enough, but yeah, let’s get this over with.”
I push up my sleeve and he glances at my forearm to the tattoo that’s there in bold letters. My mark, my identity clear for all to see. Sometimes I fucking hate looking at it, making me remember how far I’ve fallen, but right now the fear it causes sends a thrill up my spine.
“Pitch,” the guy mumbles, eyes wide searching my face.
“I think he’s finally getting it,gioia mia,” Haunt says, digging the gun in closer to the guy’s head.
“Are you? Getting the danger you’re in? The onlyoption is to tell us what’s behind the door or you get to die in this disgusting closet surrounded by what looks like cleaning supplies. I mean, they won’t have to go far to take care of your body, so there’s that.”
“Fuck, okay, fine. It leads to three rooms: the gambling rooms, the office, and the other one is used for special guests.”
I tilt my head to the side and glance up at Haunt. “So, a kill room?”
He nods, but then hisses when his head scraps along the muzzle of the gun. His hands are shaking in front of him. And his legs quake with the urge to collapse.
“Where’s your access card?” I ask.
He goes to his pocket, but Haunt tuts and bends down to reach into the guy’s pocket instead. Haunt pulls out the card and slips it into his own pocket before standing up again.
“Is there a back entry? I can’t imagine they drag ‘special guests’ through the bar,” Haunt asks.
The guy swallows, but nods. “It leads into the building behind us. It’s a front, nothing inside but boxes and building materials.”
“And does your card work to open the external door on that building?” I ask, shifting my weight and leaning against the door. These boots are killing my feet. I should have just worn my Doc Martens.
“No, I only have access to this door. Mario, Gino, and The Crows are the only ones with that info.”
A scowl slips over my face as I lock eyes with Haunt. This can’t be fucking happening, but I need to make sure.
“These crows, do they happen to be three college-age football players?”
“Yeah, Mario calls them that because they hunt as a murder. I have no fucking clue what that means; I just look after the door, but you hear things, ya know?”
I close my eyes, pinching the space between my brows. I need this like I need a hole in the head.
“Looks like we’re going to need to team up withil corviafter all,gioia mia,” Haunt says, a laugh lacing his words. I’d punch him in the tit right now if there wasn’t a meathead kneeling between us.
“Fuck my life, right now. Get his wallet, and we’ll get him out of here.”
Haunt hands me the guy’s gun he picked up from the floor, and takes his wallet out of his back pocket, flipping it open and taking out the license. “Okay, Silviano. We have your info. There’s really nowhere you can run to that we won’t find you. Now, thank Pitch that she’s letting you live, because I would have put a bullet in your fucking skull.”
After a few seconds the guy looks up at my face again. “Thanks, Pitch. I’ll be out of town in twenty-four hours. You won’t see me again.”
Haunt grabs him under the good arm and hauls him to his feet. Silviano winces but doesn’t say another word. I step into the hall first and motion to Haunt tofollow after clearing the way. We stick to the darkened corners of the bar before slipping out the emergency exit next to the bathrooms.
Silviano takes off as soon as he’s free of the building, and Haunt and I watch him go.
