Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 135792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 135792 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 679(@200wpm)___ 543(@250wpm)___ 453(@300wpm)
After making sure that his switchblade was in his jeans pocket, he stood by the sheet metal fence and peeked past it, down the sandy road cutting through the site illuminated with a single lamp. Bright as a searchlight, it revealed Knox facing Vlad with his hands balled into fists. Moths and other insects spun around them in chaotic patterns, as if guided by the anger radiating off both men, and as Vlad’s hulking form leaned toward Knox, Liv’s blood simmered with the need to rush over and mediate.
But Knox was a proud guy, and Liv didn’t want to piss him off by intervening, especially so soon after injuring his ego by sleeping with Amanda. So he clenched his teeth and watched, steadying his breath to stay calm while invisible storm clouds gathered around the site.
“I said I want my money!” Knox roared.
Fuck. He should not be getting so worked up.
“You will get your money once you stop fucking up,” Vlad rumbled in a melodic Eastern-European accent. “The cement mixer was in good working order before you showed up today. Your money will pay for repair, and that’s final.”
“Like fuck it was! Your son wrecked it when he worked here during the day. How many times did I tell you he’s sloppy?” Knox said with a snarl, stepping closer to Vlad despite the guy having a good six inches on him.
Vlad took on the challenge and stood chest to chest with Knox. “My son? He knew how to operate a cement mixer before he could read!”
Knox wrapped his arms on his chest. “Well, he still can’t fucking read, so maybe he can’t operate the machinery either!”
A blade glinted in the stark light, and Liv’s feet moved before he could think.
Chapter 2
Knox
Knox had been eying the machete since Vlad grabbed it, but never had he considered that the fucker would actually swing it. The blade had always been just an empty threat, a way for Vlad to look more menacing.
Not anymore.
He jumped a step back with a yelp, all too aware of the foundation pit opening up behind him, thirteen feet deep and filled with reinforced concrete.
Too late. The machete slashed through his forearm, making blood gush down his palm.
“Motherfucker!” tore from his lips as he went for Vlad’s machete-wielding hand, but the bastard’s fist flew at his face so fast he couldn’t escape it. The impact made him taste blood, and his head rattled as if his brain turned into a ball and bounced off the inside of his skull. Too bad Vlad was the one scoring all the points in this fucked-up game of pinball.
Momentum made him spin, which brought his foot dangerously close to the edge of the pit. Steel bars reached toward the moon like the teeth of a snake waiting for its next victim to fall into the trap. When the ground crumbled under Knox’s heel, it was a soundless alarm that made him duck and dash away from the foundations despite his world still spinning from the punch.
“Hey! Vlad! Fuck off!” Liv’s voice ripped through the air, taking half of Vlad’s attention off Knox.
“I’ve got this!” Knox yelled with blood in his mouth, though Liv’s presence reassured him, because Vlad was out of control.
“This is none of your fucking business, Liver!” Vlad snarled, slashing the machete through the air in front of him.
A scream pushed at Knox’s mouth when the steroid-pumped arm swung the blade, but Liv pulled in his stomach and got to his toes, narrowly avoiding its tip in a move reminiscent of a dance. The fucker could even make his fight against this gorilla look effortless and cool.
No wonder Amanda had chosen him.
“Calm the fuck down, Vlad. You don’t want to do this,” Liv said, showing his palms in an offer of peace. The lamp shone from above, casting a shadow on the bottom part of his face yet keeping his brown eyes in focus. They were wide open, scanning every movement Vlad made, just like they scanned the asphalt when Liv drove fast, racing down empty roads and making Knox feel more alive than ever.
“I fucking do, and you’re in my way, asshole! Unless you want more blood spilled, you better take that rabid dog home!” Vlad pointed at Knox with his machete.
Knox pushed past Liv, ready to throw punches. “Not without my money!”
In the white light from above, Vlad’s eyes turned a spooky black, as if he were transforming into something not quite human, but as he raised the machete and then shoved it down, ready to split Knox’s skull, Liv pulled Knox back by his T-shirt so hard he ended up falling into the dirt.
Vlad must have put his weight into the stab, because he lost balance and ended up supporting his front on the damn weapon. Liv kicked it away and shoved at the fucker hard.