AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Clark hesitated. He turned slowly toward Brook and put his hand over hers. "What the hell..."
Brook's eyes flicked to the patio doors, as she rapidly calculated their chance for escape. Situated at an angle that reflected the rear of the kitchen, the doors held an image of the room. Her breath caught in her throat. In the glass, she clearly saw Benny, Jase, and Pete crouching near the foot of the servants' stairway.
Brook screamed and tore her hand from Clark’s. “They're here! Run!”"
Clark, taken by surprise, couldn’t seem to move.
"Get her!" Jase demanded, and Benny darted through the kitchen doorway. He snatched the back of Brook's blouse and jerked her backward, pulling her against his body. She struggled against him.
“No, no, no! Not again!” Brook sobbed.
Roughly, Benny corralled her arms and pinned them to her sides, squeezing her in a tight hug. "Brooklyn Bridge," he moaned, rubbing his face in her hair, next to her ear.
"Take your hands off her!" Clark finally responded and rushed toward his terrified wife. He tried to grab one of Benny’s arms, intending to free Brook, but Benny danced her around, keeping her between Clark and himself.
Jase sidled calmly into the room, followed by Pete, and pointed a gun at Clark. "Stop right there or you’re a dead man."
Clark held both his hands up, palms out. "Hold on, now." He backed away a few steps. "Just let her go, okay? Then we can talk."
Curious to hear what the hell this pretentious SOB had to say, Jase nodded at Benny, who nuzzled her neck and nibbled her ear before releasing Brook. She scooted close to Clark and he put his arm around her. She trembled against his side. “Oh god, oh god," she whimpered. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for an escape.
"Both of you, back up against that wall. Now." Jase gestured with the weapon. Pete, antsy, hovered near Jase, stepping from foot-to-foot in a nervous shuffle. Benny stood nearer to Brook, ready to regain possession of her if the opportunity presented itself.
Clark backed with Brook to the wall near the stairway. They pressed against the plaster between a large earthen flower vase on a low table and the stairs. Brook mumbled incoherently, clinging to her husband. Clark tried to comfort her. "Shhh, honey. It's gonna be okay. I can handle this."
Brook shook her head against his chest and tried to be invisible.
"What the hell do you want? Did D'Macio send you?" Clark used his boardroom tone to keep the fear from his voice.
"D'Macio?" A look of realization crossed Jase's face. "Well, fuck me." He chuckled softly. "Know who we got here, dudes? I think we got ourselves the boss man."
"Holy shit," Benny said, then paused for thought. He sauntered over to Clark and Brook, staying just out of the reach of Clark's arms. He licked his lips as his gaze fell on Brook. "This dude set you up, honey. D’you figure that out yet?" Benny snickered, and looked back at Jase for approval.
Brook refused to meet his eyes. She sobbed quietly, trying to squeeze between Clark and the wall.
“You fucker,” Clark growled. “Shut your fucking mouth.”
“What’s the matter, man? Don’t act like she don’t know what a dick you are. We over heard some of your conversation before she figured out we were in the house.” Jase sneered at Clark.
Clark paled. “You were paid to snatch cars, not my wife.” He reached behind him and pulled Brook close to his side. “Not my wife. You fucked up.”
“It wasn't my fuck-up, dude,” Jase said. “You're the one who sent your old lady out that day." He grinned. "And fucking told us where to find her! So, I’d say you’re the one who fucked up.”
Benny leaned in close to Clark. “Hey, man. I for one am glad you did. Brooklyn Bridge here,” he rubbed a finger down her cheek, “is one fine piece of ass.”
Brook cringed, turning her face away from Benny’s touch and Clark saw red. “You filthy bastard! Keep your fucking hands off my wife!” With quickness and athletic grace, surprising in his inebriated state, Clark pushed Brook toward the staircase, turned smoothly, and grabbed the heavy vase next to him. "Brook, run!" he yelled.
Brook fell to the floor and crawled toward the stairs as Clark swung the vase, crashing it into Benny's skull.
Chaos erupted.
Brook scrambled up the stairs on her hands and knees, staying low. Benny dropped to the floor and Jase squeezed off a shot at Clark, which missed, the slug burying itself in the wall. Hearing the shot, Brook cried out and looked back over her shoulder as she rushed upwards.
Gaining the top of the stairs, Brook lost her footing and bounced off the wall before falling face first onto the carpeting, skinning her cheek. She quickly recovered her feet and darted down the hallway.
Panting, Clark heaved the vase to shoulder height and drove it into Benny's head a second time, producing a bony crunch. He reared back to give Jase the same treatment, but Jase's aim was better this time. His shot Clark in the shoulder and Clark crumpled to the floor next to Benny. The vase thumped down beside him and rolled slowly away.
Brook ran like the devil was after her, passing several closed doorways before reaching the master bedroom where they kept the gun.
