Page 71 of Dark Things
A wave of sadness visibly comes over him when I mention my mother. “He took you away from everyone that cared about you. Then he fucks with my plans, and now for a third time he’s inserted himself into my family. I won’t stand for it. He will be dead, and it’ll be a shame if so are you.”
“You don’t have much time left,” I say, not breaking eye contact.
“For what?” I can see the curiosity brewing. This is turning into a very educational meeting. We’ve been after Mario for a long time, and there’s hardly been any word of him, but he’s given me more information than we gathered in years.
I laugh and close my eyes. I might as well get some rest before I have to move. The rope tying my wrists together is just about frayed from the movements, and I don’t plan on wasting the opportunity.
“Please continue. It will be so much sweeter this way,” I reply, not opening my eyes.
I hear shuffling, and then a quiet murmur but I keep my breathing even and strong. The stab to my upper knee makes a small groan come out of mymouth, and my eyes pop open. Mario is still holding the blade.
“This is the end,figlioccio. I’m truly sorry to have to do this, but since you’re just as stubborn as your mother, it has to be this way. I’ll regret this for a long time.”
He pulls the knife out, and the blood pours down my leg, hot and thick. I don’t break eye contact. “What do you know of my mother?”
Just a little more time. I have to hang on till then.
“She was the love of my life before he took her from me. There was nothing I wouldn’t have done for her. She was perfect before he ruined her, like he does everything else. You and Catarina should have beenmine,” he roars.
Mario’s true nature reveals itself. He’s angry and broken from what Stan did, and I can’t say I don’t feel the same. Stan has always been a shit parent and human. Maybe life would have been different with Mario, but there’s no way to tell. Wishing for something like that is pointless.
“Mi dispiace davvero per questo, figlioccio.”
The knife is pressed to my neck, and it nicks the skin there, but there’s no time to dwell. A shock wave rattles the room a second later, and Mario’s frown turns into a snarl.
“What the fuck was that?” Colter says.
I pick up my head, and stare into his eyes. “Pitch is here, and she’s fucking pissed. Get ready to run, boys.”
29
Rebelle
The club is silent when Rook drives the van through the parking lot of Haven. I sit in the passenger seat, kitted out with all my delicious weapons and a couple of cool toys, my favorite being the nifty hand grenade I’m about to throw through the front window.
I turn around in the passenger seat of the van and address the rest of the team, a group of men that Rook handpicked. I don’t know some of them, but Knox and Vail are from Kentucky. Twin brothers I’ve worked with many times. They aren’t as loyal as Rook, but they do know how to secure a scene and they’ve been on our side for a long time. I can trust they’ll get this done. All I need is for them to be a distraction while I slip in and get Haunt.
“Remember, this is a rescue mission. I sent you photos of the three men I need alive besides Ghost.Capture and detain if you need, but they will be alive once this ends or you’re going to answer to me, and my patience is really being fucking tested today. Leave the rest to me. Understood?” I say, looking each of them in the eye.
“Yes, ma’am,” echoes from all of them. I nod once and get out of the van, drawing my weapon. I shoot a bullet through the front window, watching as it shatters under the force. I pull the pin and chuck the grenade through the now broken window. I turn my back, hold my ears, and crouch down, waiting for the blast to hit.
A hole is blown into the wall, and we fan out into the club. There’s no one on this floor, but that doesn’t mean that others won’t be here soon. I made an epic entrance, so I’m expecting company.
I make my way over to the curtain, hiding just in front of it and off to the side. A bunch of guards come to investigate, but my team engages, and I’m free to slip away unnoticed. There are two guys in the small hall, guns in hand. Before they can get a shot off, I shoot both of them in the forehead, and they go down. I swipe the keycard and open the door, slowly moving beyond into the dimly lit corridor.
More guards try to rush me, but I manage to get two before a third gets a shot off. I duck and spin, shooting him in the shoulder. His gun clatters to the ground. I walk over and kick him to the ground, gun trained on his face.
“Where the fuck is he?” I say, my voice even and controlled.
“Fuck you, you fucking cunt!” he yells.
I stomp my foot on his bullet wound. “Want to say that again?” I ask, grinding my boot further into his shoulder.
He screams so loud that I’m sure everyone in the fucking club heard him, including the guys in the shootout going on behind the door.
“Tell. Me. Where. He. Is.”
“Back room to the left. Now get off me!”
