Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56782 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 284(@200wpm)___ 227(@250wpm)___ 189(@300wpm)
“New around here are you?”
“Yeah,” Leena said, with a hint of defiance in her tone.
“Have a place to sleep?”
She shook her head, glancing about.
“Come with me. I have space by a grate so we’ll be able to have some of the warm air and your dog can help keep an eye out.” She beckoned with knotty fingers.
“Thank you.”
She got her cart and they headed off. Leena flexed her fingers on the leash and kept pace, aware that Argo picked up on her unease.
What am I doing out here? I’m not an undercover, hell, I’m not even any sort of law enforcement.
She was a woman who wasn’t about to let a good man get killed because there was a mole in his department. And no, she wasn’t stupid to assume she would have done this for anyone, this was strictly because it was John who was in trouble and somewhere along the lines of spending all that time with him, serious feelings had developed for him.
Love? She couldn’t say for sure but if not then damn close to it.
Why else would I be sleeping on the streets at night for a chance to see what’s going on around the area if not for love?
The woman barking at another snapped her from her thoughts and she saw two people scrambling away.
“My area,” she growled, brandishing a stick. “You go get your own.” She shuffled along, making a big production of parking her cart then pulling out some items to get comfortable with. “You can sit by me here. At least we won’t freeze.”
After the woman got situated, Leena lowered herself to the part of the grate available. Argo got between her and the street. The heat was nice and she nearly groaned in relief. “Thank you.”
“You look a bit out of your league here, hon. You’re going to have to get sharper if you plan on surviving it out here. Have any blankets?”
“I do. Two of them from the shelter I was at last time.” Leena opened her bag and withdrew the folded blankets.
“Good, don’t lose those. You may try to find an old sleeping bag like I have.” She wrapped up in the item and hunkered down. “Your dog will bark right?”
“He won’t let anyone near us tonight.”
“Nice to know. The cold nights a lot of people try to get on a grate. Doesn’t necessarily allow for a good night of sleep.”
The Mercedes rolled by again and Leena watched it as they moved by. “What’s that car doing down here? A bit out of place isn’t it?”
“Stay away from that one. And any guy you see come out of it. They’ll fuck you then you’ll never be seen again.” The woman farted and rolled over. “I’ve seen it happen. They take you in, drive you into a warehouse and no one ever comes out again. Just trucks and vans. The Fyodorov family isn’t one to mess with.”
“Noted. Stay away from them. What is their building so I can make sure to avoid it?”
“This entire area is crawling with their people. Majority of the time the two buildings they use are down the street three blocks. Usually have two guys leaning outside on the wall smoking. Sleep.”
Wrapped up in her blankets with Argo and the heat she wasn’t too cold. Ducking her head beneath the barrier to protect her from the wind, she withdrew the phone and sent a text to Davis assuring him she was safe. Then she slid it back in her coat. Curling up, she wrinkled her nose at the smell of the ground and backed Argo up so he had a portion of her spot on the grate as well, plus she got more of his heat. With a whispered word of him being on guard, she closed her eyes.
* * *
αβ
* * *
His body screamed in agony. John blinked away the blood that dripped down into his eyes from the cuts above them. Shoulders cried out for mercy as he hung by his wrists, toes not even touching the floor. Time again, had ceased to have any meaning for him.
He retained his sanity by focusing on memories of Leena and the time he’d spent at her house. Her smile, her touch, her love.
Through the silence the hum of a motor kicked on and his body jerked in response. More jumper cables for electric shock. They had it hooked up to a generator. Didn’t want to run out of juice the man had said.
The lights flickered and he lifted his lids to see two men strolling over the floor in his direction. He didn’t recognize them but there wasn’t any doubt who they worked for. Fyodorov family had a look one didn’t easily forget.
“Why would you try to infiltrate our organization and bring us down? We welcomed you in treated you like family?”