Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74226 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 247(@300wpm)
“It’s locked,” he whispers. “I’m going to kick it in,” he warns a moment before lifting his leg and kicking inches away from the doorknob.
The wood gives away with ease, opening up into what looks like a storage room.
“I can’t believe they didn’t expect us to find this tunnel. This is too easy,” Quinton points out.
“I agree. Someone must have warned them by now that we were coming. Where is the welcoming committee?” I question.
“Might be behind door number two,” my father points to the only exit the small building has.
“Or they are not here at all,” Xander shares his thoughts. “Either way, let’s move forward.”
My father nods and moves to the next door. Not even checking if it’s unlocked, he kicks it open like he did with the last one.
I fully expect the door to lead to the outside. But instead of the afternoon sun, another larger room greets us. Inside, we finally meet the welcome committee.
The first person I see is Rebecca, standing in the center of the small group. Her son, William beside her. Some of her guards surround her, but then there are a few men I don’t recognize. And those don’t fit in here at all. Dressed in black with tattoos peeking out on their hands and necks. They look more like thugs.
“That’s Dimitri Novicov. Russian mob,” Xander grits through his teeth, explaining who they are.
We’re all holding guns and pointing them at each other but luckily, no one shoots right away.
“Xander, old friend,” Dimitri greets in a thick Russian accent. “Glad you could make it. I’ve been meaning to talk to you about the situation we have on our hands. See, these lovely people here are providing us with young girls for our auctions, so I would really appreciate it if you would not interfere with that.”
“They have one of my own, so you bet your fucking ass I’m interfering with that,” Xander spits.
“Luna is unharmed and will be returned to you in exchange for Ren, as promised,” Rebecca speaks.
“My daughter didn’t leave here unharmed and for that, you will pay.” Xander raises his gun higher, pointing directly at Rebecca’s head. She gulps, her eyes go wide with fear, and I can see her hands shaking from over here. Her son, William, still looking smug as ever. He has no idea who he is dealing with.
I enjoy seeing her frightened, but I also don’t want Xander to kill her. I should be the one doing that and no one else.
“I’m sure we can figure someone out that would satisfy you,” Dimitri says, voice quivering in fear. “We just got some new young girls in, only fifteen and untouched. You can have one as a retribution.”
Xander takes a threatening step toward them. “I want Luna and Ren coming back home with us unharmed, and I want her dead for what she did to my daughter. Agree to my terms or we start shooting.”
While Rebecca looks like she’s about to throw up, Dimitri simply smiles before he says, “You are outnumbered.” His words barely leave his mouth before Xander’s men start piling in behind us.
“Are you sure about that?” Now it’s Xander’s turn to smile.
Dimitri rubs his chin with his free hand, like he is seriously thinking about the offer. Then he looks up at Rebecca mouthing the word Sorry. Shock takes over Rebecca’s face as she shakes her head profusely. She opens her mouth to say something, but it’s too late. Dimitri lifts his gun to her head and pulls the trigger.
One moment, her eyes plead with him not to kill her, the next they go blank. Her lifeless body crumbles to the floor like a doll. And just like that, she’s finally gone.
William stands in shock, starting at his mother’s dead body like he can’t believe she is gone. His shock quickly turns to anger. Anger directed not at Dimitri, but me. His unhinged gaze finds mine as he lifts his gun toward me. Unlucky for him, I’m faster. I raise my gun and before he has the chance to pull his trigger, I fire my gun.
The bullet hits him in the center of his chest. Blood quickly pulsing out of his wound, soaking his white shirt crimson. He falls onto his knees, still trying to lift his gun higher, but the strength has already left his body. He falls forward, landing on the ground, only a few feet from his mother.
At least I got to kill one of them.
“Go get the girl,” Dimitri orders his men, completely unphased with what just happened. “And lower your guns. We’re all civil here.”
Dimitri’s guys lower their guns right away but Rebecca’s men stand frozen in shock, staring at their fallen leaders, like lost puppies.
“I said lower your fucking guns,” Dimitri snarls, drawing them out of their frightened trance.