Page 67 of Hart of Vengeance
I pulled on the bag for nothing more than to loosen the tension around my neck in an attempt to quell the claustrophobia kicking in.
The man rammed the gun into me harder. “I told you not to move, asshole.”
“Just take this bag off my head.” My voice was strangled because the acid in my throat was ready to come out.
The dude laughed. “Shut the fuck up, or I’ll put a bullet in your knee.”
“Why not kill me?”
“Oh, I tried to the other day on the street.”
He was the dude in the red ball cap. “So, do it now.”
“Plans have changed. It seems the boss wants you alive for a bit longer.”
My brain was not connecting the dots.Whoever wanted me dead doesn’t now?I couldn’t imagine Tito having second thoughts about killing anyone, unless he wanted to kill me himself.
My phone rang, and the dude dug into my pocket. “Seems Dillon is looking for you,” the asshole said before a cold air swept in. “We don’t need anyone tracking you.”
“Did you just throw my phone out?”
He roared with laughter. “I can’t wait until you see what’s next.”
“I’m shaking with excitement.”Not!
As we traveled to wherever the fuck we were going, I prayed—not for me, but for the bastard responsible for shooting Jade. Because when I had the chance, vengeance was going to be sweet and rewarding, and afterward, I would walk back into prison with open arms.
21
Jade
My eyelids opened, and my ears slowly started to register beeps and dings. The sound had pierced through my brain fog, or maybe it was the dull throb of pain in my chest that had woken me.
“Jade,” Mallory squealed. “You’re awake.” Her warm hands landed on my arm.
I shuddered, and tears stung my eyes. “It hurts to breathe.” My brain scrambled to form a coherent thought.
Mallory’s big blue eyes came into view. “I know, honey. You just had a bullet removed from your chest.”
I squinted at the bright light overhead before examining myself just to be sure that bright light wasn’t some indication I was on my way to heaven. An IV was tethered to the back of my hand, and a hospital gown covered my body. That was all I could see aside from the hospital room. I tried to lift my hand to touch Mallory so I could make sure she was real. “I’m not dead,” I said to ground myself in reality.
Tears floated in her eyes. “Nope. You’re in one piece. Thank God.”
I licked my dry lips. “Thirsty.” My mouth felt as rough as sandpaper.
Mallory had a cup with a straw in it in front of me in less than a second.
The cool liquid slid down my throat, clearing the pebbles of sand. I sucked the cup dry.
She returned the empty cup to the dresser next to my bed. “Do you remember what happened?”
“Things are hazy, but yeah. I was talking to Denim one minute, and then I was on the floor.” I grimaced at the memory of how hard it had been to breathe.
Tears flowed down her cheeks. “I was so worried.”
“Where’s Denim? Is he all right?” My gaze bounced around the small room, but all I saw was a window and a small alcove with a counter.
Mallory paled. “I don’t know. He went to get help, and no one can find him.”
