Page 76 of Bullseye
Looking up, I make steady eye contact. “All the way. I will go all the way in to keep her safe.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Knock, knock?” Benny sticks his head in the door. “Boss? Okay to come in?”
“What do you have, Benny?”
“That question you had. I have the answer.”
“Ah, very good.” Don Bordono walks back to his chair and sits down. He motions to Benny. “Go ahead. Tell us what you know.”
Turning to me, Benny explains. “The boss. He asked me to check on your girl. Our guys tell me that you can find Seneca right now, hanging out with Ironclad.”
“What?” I’m on my feet before I realize it. “Is she okay?”
“Apparently, they’re getting along real well.”
All I want to do is take everything in the room and rip it to shreds.
Don Bordono stands as well. “My guess is she’s getting chummy with Ironclad, so he’ll help her free her brother. Tough girl. Makes sense.”
“And you’re just telling me now?”
“I just found out,” Benny explains.
This is all too weird. If Don Bordono really didn’t expect me and wasn’t sure what I wanted, then why did he have Benny hunt down Seneca moments after I arrived? But there’s no time to worry about any of this now. Now, it’s about getting to her and keeping her safe.
“Where are they?” I ask Benny.
“At Mammon, of course.”
Fuck it. Mammon is Ironclad’s underground world and the clubhouse for Lucifer’s Riders. Seneca’s not just up against Ironclad there, she’s up against everyone who works for him. Fuck.
“Don Bordono, I humbly ask your permission to leave.” It’s killing me to stand here, but there’s protocol to follow.
“Go, go,” he tells me. “Seems this is an advantageous time to do what needs to be done.” He crosses his arms before his chest and raises his eyebrows.
“I understand. Don, Benny.” I nod to each man before I turn and, doubling back through the house, rush out the door.
Hurrying toward my bike, I know that I can make it to the city in less than half an hour, then Mammon is all the way downtown…
Jumping down the front stairs off the porch, I run—
“Avery Fucking Pairings.”
Shit. Turning around, I catch Mikey and Tony walking toward me.
“Mikey. Tony.” I nod to them. Both of them seem leaner since jail, and both a hell of a lot angrier. “Where’s my father?”
“What?” Mikey grins. “No hug for your old friends who did time for you?”
Turning my back on them isn’t my greatest plan, but I know my father is at least alive, and I need to get to my bike and get to Sen—
Suddenly, a heavy metal chain clocks me on the side of the head, clipping my ear. Holding my hand to my ear, I pull it away. Blood is streaming down my arm.
“What the fuck is your problem?” Backing away, I ready myself for the fight, but my mind’s not here, it’s with Seneca and Ironclad. Swallowing the bile in my mouth, I take a few steps away from them, just making it to my bike.
With one fast swoop, Tony wraps the damn chain around my torso and yanks me off my bike, somehow, keeping me balanced on my feet while pinning my arms behind my back. Somewhere, in my deepest subconscious, it’s like I’ve decided to take the damned beating. At least, when it’s over, I can go.
