Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 129980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 650(@200wpm)___ 520(@250wpm)___ 433(@300wpm)
Despite the vicious, brutal memories locked in the grains and carvings of wood screaming at him, he was able to find the lock and open it with the same ease as he’d opened the previous one. After they went through, the door closed automatically behind them.
The tunnel was cold and drafty, the walls dirt and rock with only the occasional two-by-four to hold chicken wire that had been strung to keep the dirt from crumbling. The tunnel was a disaster waiting to happen. One good earthquake could easily collapse the roof, which was leaking and had roots hanging down like poisonous webs.
Maestro exchanged a look with Keys. They’d spent their childhood in just such an environment. Damp. Cold. Miserable. No clothes to help with warmth. Injuries were untreated until Steele, a very little boy, had shown signs of his tremendous talent and ability to soak up the knowledge in medical books they found in the mansion’s library. Even then, they didn’t have supplies unless they managed to crawl through the vents and steal them. These women had no chance of crawling through vents.
“How many guards?” Maestro whispered to Cecily.
“There were three that I observed when we were brought in. One at the door to the room we’re locked in. One in the tunnel just down from the room. Not leading up here but leading to the outside entrance. And at least one guard is at the outside entrance. He seems to stay in the tunnel for shelter. At least, I caught glimpses of a couple of chairs just inside when we were being brought in.”
Cecily was extraordinary. She had to have been scared. She was intelligent enough to know what was going to happen to her, but she kept her wits about her and observed as much as she could.
“Nice job, Cecily,” Maestro praised. “The information you’re giving to us will help.”
“We’re getting close. The first guard stationed in the tunnel might be able to see us.”
“We’ve got you two, and they’ll believe we’re bringing you back.”
Kill the lights in forty-five seconds. Maestro sent the instructions to Code. “Both of you keep your heads down. We can’t afford the guard at the entrance to the tunnel to hear gunshots.”
At least one guard just inside tunnel entrance. Come in from that side but be cautious. My source only saw the one when she was coming in.
Maestro took the lead. He was the best at throwing knives. Keys was good, but they would be without lights, and the first guard would have to go down while Maestro was moving on the second one.
As they rounded the bend, Maestro saw that two men were in the center of the corridor talking together. He quickened his pace, noting the position of each as he palmed his throwing knives. The lights flickered and went out. Instantly, without hesitation, he threw the knives, one after the other, the clear vision of his targets embedded in his brain. He sprinted forward, Keys with him as they reached the men, ensuring they were dead or dying, at least unable to draw a weapon. Fortune had favored Maestro in that the two men were facing each other, which made the artery he needed to sever an easy target. On the other hand, it was dark, and reaching the bodies before one of them had time to fire off a round if he was still able wasn’t easy.
When he reached them, both men were slumped in the dirt. One was gasping for air and trying to stem the blood pouring between his fingers. The other stared up at Maestro with shock in his eyes. Keys removed their weapons, just to be safe. Maestro drew a third knife that had been resting in a scabbard between his shoulder blades. He drove it into the back of each of their skulls, severing the spinal cord.
“We need those women ready for transport to a medical facility, Cecily,” he said as he and Keys dragged the bodies away from the door.
Lights, he ordered.
Code complied almost instantaneously.
Guard at entrance down. Bring them out, Steele said. Player is shadowing Billows. He’s on the move, heading this way. Savage and Destroyer are inside the building.
“We’ve run out of time, ladies,” Maestro said, making a show of looking at his watch. “Billows is on his way to the club. Does he always check in first thing?”
Cecily indicated the door. “Open it fast. It has one of those locks. And yes, he’s the worst. You never know what you’re going to get with him. He’s been known to whip a woman nearly to death when he’s crossed.”
Maestro unlocked the door, allowing Cecily to rush inside, calling out to the women to hurry, that they were being rescued but they had to go now. The other women and girls were in various states of physical distress and injury. They helped one another out the door to stand in a semicircle around Maestro. The room was horrific—no toilets, no shower, just the way he’d been raised. The stench told him there were a couple of women with infected wounds. That was another thing he was well versed in.