Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 23400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23400 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 117(@200wpm)___ 94(@250wpm)___ 78(@300wpm)
It was.
Okay.
Swallowing, I kept the gun pointed in front of me and walked over to the stairs.
I didn’t know what I would do exactly, just that I wouldn’t sit down here and be a helpless damsel in distress.
I now knew that I loved Gabriel.
Therefore, nothing could happen to him.
However, I couldn’t go up there and be a distraction to him or get in Gabriel’s and his men’s way.
If I go up there. . .I go. . .blasting. I help, not cause more problems.
Another explosion rocked the foundation.
Oh my God!
Crumpled chunks of ceiling fell.
I closed my eyes, shook my head and selfishly wished he hadn’t left me down here alone.
Find your confidence. Damn it.
Then, the dungeon’s light shut off.
A pool of darkness swarmed around me.
I held in my scream.
I can’t stay in here. Somehow, I have to help.
Chapter 10
The Naughty List
Gabriel
My condo was a war zone.
A constant staccato of gunfire popped off in every direction. Savio and his people shot. And my men sprayed back. Bullets littered the carpet. Holes riddled the walls. The air had a thick, metallic taste as the scent of death and blood hung heavy in the air.
I crouched behind the bar in my living room, positioned next to Dog and waited for Savio to make his appearance.
I sneered. “Are you sure Savio is leading them inside?”
“I saw him myself on the cameras right before I signaled everyone to head out.” Dog fired off a couple of wild shots at Savio’s men, then ducked back. “I told everybody to not shoot Savio, figuring you’d want us to save him for a special occasion.”
“You know me well, Dog.”
He hit me with a grin. “Merry Christmas, boss.”
A bullet zipped past.
Frowning, I peeked out and got the shooter in the eye. He crashed back into the wall and fell to the floor.
A second later, there was a thunderous explosion that shook the ground.
Pandemonium spread.
Muffled screams and shouts of panic floated around.
The lights went out, plunging us into darkness.
Damn it.
Instantly, I thought of my love, Mariah, down in the sex dungeon, scared in the darkness and alone. Any other time, I would have dragged this battle out for fun, but not with her sitting in terror.
“Son of a bitch. Time to end this.” I stood up and cautiously moved towards the front of the condo.
“Very bad move on his part.” Dog followed. “Does Savio have any idea whose place he is bombing?”
“None at all. After I kill him, we’re going to bomb is whole fucking family.”
“Sounds like a very Merry Christmas for me. Thanks.”
“By the way, be at my house for Christmas evening.” I moved to the left and peered outside.
“Why?” Dog asked.
Tightening my grip on my Ak-47, I looked back at him. “Why what?”
“Why would I be here for Christmas evening?”
“Dinner.”
“You’re going to have a big dinner for Christmas?”
“Yeah. I want to give Dad and you presents.”
“What?” Dog chuckled. “Did you get shot in the head or something?”
“Shut up and be on the lookout for Savio.” Frowning, I crept around the corner and saw nothing, but flames and smoke. “Damn it. Perhaps, we will have dinner somewhere else.”
“Your father’s house?”
“No way. It will be hard enough to get him to dinner on Christmas.”
“What about my spot?”
“I’m not taking Mariah to your hooker-infested apartment. There’s probably condoms and panties all over the place.”
“Just in the bedroom.” Dog chuckled.
Someone shot in our direction.
We ducked together.
A man yelled, “Hey, Gabriel! Did you know that you are on Santa’s Naughty List this year?”
Must be Savio. You’ll die soon.
I kept my voice low. “He’s in the hallway.”
Dog whispered, “Near the painting to the dungeon?”
“Yeah. I doubt he will trigger the painting, but let’s get him away from there anyway.”
Savio roared, “You thought you could kill my father, and I would let you see this Christmas!?”
Yeah, buddy. Keep talking.
Stalking through the shadows, I kept my gun pointed forward and hurried toward the hall. Due to his messing up my place, I had hoped to spend days torturing him and savoring his screams. But now with Mariah in my life, there was greater pleasure to be had this week—her soft, warm body and the lovely sound of her moans.
Dog hurried after me.
“Woo hoo!” Savio chuckled. “Where are you, buddy? Did you run off?”
He really has no idea who he is going after.
I got to the edge of the hallway.
“Mr. Gabriel, where are you?” Savio and four men stepped into the moonlight spilling in from the back door.
There you go. Too bad I can’t make this last.
I aimed and fired.
Boom! Boom!
I got two of his men in their foreheads. They spun around and crashed to the floor.
Savio and the other two jumped back into the shadows.
Then, the worst thing could have happened.
A beep sounded.
No. Is that the painting?
The whirring gears of the wall began, telling me that it was opening the secret passage.