Page 68 of The Madman and his broken Princess
I gave Niccolo a nod, who released a sigh and headed to the back of the transporter with Sasha. A couple of minutes later, they came forward with a cuffed and blindfolded prisoner. They hadn’t closed the flap of the transporter again.
The prisoner wasn’t Lamorgese. It was a Bratva asshole who’d sustained burn wounds during his attempt to ignite one of our drug labs in central LA. Sasha and Niccolo had cut off his calf a few hours ago to make him look more like Achille, andthe burn scars on his face prevented anyone from seeing who he really was anyway. I grabbed his arm, and he let out a muffled cry. The fabric stuffed into his mouth stopped him from spewing anything in Russian that would give him away and ruin my plan.
Niccolo’s jaw ticked with tension.
“Stick to the plan,” I reminded him. I didn’t need him to protect me. I could handle these weaklings and a few enraged chimps.
He nodded. I dragged the prisoner forward just when Corvin did the same with the small boy, who stumbled and fell as he couldn’t keep up with him. The second man followed closely. I didn’t mind.
Corvin tugged hard at the leash. “Get up!”
The boy struggled to his feet, then stumbled after Corvin, who was practically choking him with the collar to get him to move faster. Corvin definitely was his uncle’s blood. I’d enjoy his screams. The second man gave me a triumphant smile as he thought they’d won this round.
I bared my teeth, causing his smile to drop.
When we finally arrived in the middle, I narrowed my eyes on Corvin. His widened eyes were directed at the bone crown on my head. “You always struck me as a man who likes to torture little kids to feel powerful.”
“Careful,” Corvin snarled, dragging Luciano to his side. The child’s face was turning increasingly red.
I shoved the prisoner to the ground. “Here’s your uncle. I’m not sure he’s worth the bother.”
“Check if it’s him,” Corvin told the other man, his hold on the leash tightening further. I could hear a familiar deep grunt coming from the transporter. Corvin looked around but obviously couldn’t place the noise. His bad.
I trained my ears on the noises coming from the back to know when I’d have to be quick.
The older man stepped toward the Russian prisoner curled up on the ground, while Corvin’s eyes were once again drawn to the bone crown on top of my head. “You like it? Your uncle contributed to it. I’d really love to add your fingers too.”
His expression fell with horror, then it hardened.
The older man bent over the prisoner on the ground, gripping the cloth in his mouth. Low grunts and pants came from behind me. Not much time now.
Corvin stiffened as he looked behind me toward the transporter. “What is in there?” The older man ripped the cloth out of the mouth of my Bratva prisoner, and a string of Russian curses fell from the guy’s lips.
“Your uncle’s sanity,” I said with a wide grin.
I reached for my crown and jerked the bone knife hidden among the other bones free, then kicked the older man’s head as hard as I could and hurled the knife at Corvin’s shoulder. His face lit up with agony, his eyes going wide, and he released the leash. I stormed forward, tugged my fur coat off, and thrust it over the boy so he wouldn’t witness more before I ripped the knife from Corvin’s shoulder. It was my favorite weapon, so I wouldn’t give it up.
High-pitched shrieks and guttural grunts ripped through the night. That was an angry male chimp. No time to lose.
Corvin let out a gasp, his shock-widened eyes focusing on something behind me.
I didn’t look back. It wouldn’t do me any favors. I knew exactly what an enraged chimp out for blood looked like. I picked up the boy wrapped in the coat, then sliced my blade along the hollows of Corvin’s knees, making his legs buckle. He fell forward and landed on his palms, but his terror-stricken face was directed at the chimp.
I began walking toward the car that had taken Corvin and his men here. I wouldn’t have the time to run to my own car withoutcrossing the chimps, and that wouldn’t be a good idea. But if I started running, I’d turn into the prey.
The shrieks and howls escalated, followed by an agonized scream from Corvin. The driver of the black limousine hit the gas. My heart stopped. Fuck. I needed a place to hide from the chimps. A shot rang out, ripping a hole into the front window of the car, and it jerked to a stop. I quickened my steps but didn’t start running so as not to attract the attention of the chimps. I only heard the deep male chimp’s grunts and Corvin’s pained screams, followed by the sound of ripping flesh and breaking bones. The boy in my hold didn’t move. He might as well not have been there at all.
When I reached the car, I ripped open the back door and put the boy down on the back seat, then closed the door before I opened the driver’s door. A clean head shot had killed the driver. He hung limply in the seat, blood trickling down one side of his face. I dragged him out and tossed him to the ground, then took the position behind the steering wheel. Sirens sounded in the distance. The chimps’ screams escalated as if spurred on by the other sound.
When the door was closed, I risked a look at the scene before me. The enraged male chimp sank his long, razor-sharp teeth into Corvin’s body, ripping flesh out. Corvin wasn’t moving anymore. Considering the state of his body—he was missing an arm, part of his face, and several big chunks in his torso and pelvis—I wasn’t surprised. The older man woke up at that moment and let out a scream in shock. His last mistake. The male chimp jumped on him, baring his canines, and ripped his arm off. These animals made it look so very easy, but it was close to impossible for a human to rip off a damn finger. I had tried multiple times.
I put the car in reverse and hit the gas.
The female chimp emerged from the truck and rushed toward her partner. Together, they turned their attention to the Russian prisoner. I steered the car away from the scene and Terminal 24. In the distance, the roof lights of police cars lit up the harbor area. Sasha rushed out and closed the back door of the transporter then rushed back to the driver’s side. He and Niccolo drove ahead, and I followed closely. We needed to be gone before the police arrived at the scene. It would be a hassle to bribe and blackmail all the necessary people. I didn’t have time for that shit tonight.
I picked up my phone and called Amelia. She’d be waiting for news from me. She picked up after the first ring. “Nestore?” Her voice shook with fear. It stirred something in my chest that I never felt with anyone else—the desire to protect her at all costs.
“I have the boy. We’re coming home now.”
