DESI
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Yorick had led us into a den on the fifth or sixth floor of this rundown hotel. The only light came from the windows, but it was enough to see the oversized dagger in Yorick’s grip.
I didn’t have time to wonder where my gun had gone. I had to get that knife.
“Desi…” Scout’s soft, scared voice brought me back to the room.
“Get behind me.” I pushed her back, keeping my eyes locked on the old man I’d come to kill.
“Aw, so cute.” Yorick laughed. “See, that’s where you fucked up, Amato. You shouldn’t bring distractions to your job. That’s how innocent casualties happen.”
I took a deep breath and steeled myself, taking a step forward. “Your time’s up, Yorick. You know that.”
“Ha! Because of the boy with the red hair? What was his name? Robert. It was an accident! Like it hasn’t happened to everyone. It was just a random kid!”
“His name was Robert Vannucci.”
“No, Robert Vannucci sells insurance. This kid was just a—”
“Junior.”
His head tilted to the ceiling and he sighed deeply. “Fuck me. That’s why they’re upset? I killed Vannucci’s son? Let me call him. I’ll pay him for his loss.” He took a step forward and tried to go around me, but I blocked him.
“He doesn’t want a phone call. He doesn’t want a check either. He wants you dead. You shot that boy and left him in the alley to be found in the morning by some drunks. That doesn’t sit right with his family, Yorick.”
“I didn’t know it was his kid!”
“I’m not doing this all night.” I slid my hand into the inside of my suit jacket and paused. There was nothing in there to remove, but he didn’t know that. “Can we stop running now?”
“I’m not going down without a fight, Amato. You want me dead, work for it.” He stormed past me, and I grabbed his suit jacket.
Yorick swung back with the knife and sliced through the air. “I suggest you don’t fucking touch me unless you want to get cut.”
Keeping my eyes on the knife, I ducked again and shoved him back as hard as I could. He stumbled back into some chairs and crashed to the floor. I leapt over the chairs and fell on top of him. I grabbed both of his wrists and pinned him to the carpet.
Despite his age, he was larger than me and stronger. But I was faster, and I counted on that. Forcing my weight down on him, I worked on prying his hand open. If I could just get the knife…
Suddenly, a blur moved to the left of me and my head jerked.
“Scout, no!” My attention was diverted just long enough for Yorick to take advantage and shove me off of him. Our roles were reversed in an instant, with him pinning me to the floor now.
“What did I tell you?” He laughed in my face. “Don’t bring what will distract you. I should tie her up and make her watch me carve you like a ham. Or should I do it the other way? You want to watch my cock sink into her ass over and over until I get bored and decide to put two bullets in your head?”
I fought against his hold and looked from side to side. The images Yorick described were gruesome, but I didn’t let that detract my focus from finding Scout. Where had she gone?
“It doesn’t matter.” I spat. He pushed on my chest, and he wasn’t even putting his full weight on me. If he did, he’d crush me. Panting, I shook my head and snarled. “You wouldn’t fucking dare.”
“Dare what?” He let go of my arm, instantly replacing his hand with his shoe, crushing my bones. He took the knife in his hand and slid it across my throat.
I winced as the blade went through my skin. It was barely a scratch but stung nonetheless.
“I know about you and your family. I know about all of you. The ones who only do business in the moonlight. Powerful families with so much money and influence they can’t be touched. We’ve all heard the stories of those who have tried to kill people like you.” Yorick shook his head and raised the blade. “I’m not that stupid.”
Black clouded my vision as he continued to force more and more of his weight down on me. I was going to pass out if I didn’t get him off me. Yorick bent down, his chest pressed tight to mine, and he whispered in my ear, “Vampire.”
