A shriek sounds behind us as the room is temporarily illuminated by more gunfire, just as another assailant steps into our path.
Under Mia’s phone light, I get a better picture of what we’re dealing with.
Dark clothes, concealed face. Nearly identical to the goons we took out that night at the dock.
BANG.
The man drops as Teo absorbs the impact of his shot. “Fucking Cartel.”
I waste no time leaping over the body to ram open the doors that lay just behind him.
The sterile corridors of theCandelabra’sbackstage are lit in the eerie green of the illuminated exit sign above the back door. And the sliver of light that quickly narrows as it closes.
“Someone’s just left,” Mia breathes in my right ear before careening forward. Only to stumble on something that grunts on impact.
“Martino!” I yell at the sight of the giant man curled up on the floor.
Martino groans again. “T-they took her.”
“WHERE.”
“B-behind you.”
Thump.
Mia gasps as her eyes roll back into her head, her body crumbling to the floor.
Teo and I turn just in time to see a beast of a man lunge toward us next.
We scatter, causing his fist to pound into the wall behind where my head had just been moments before. The brickwork cracks on impact.
“Who the fuck are you, ugly?” Teo jeers as he tries to split his attention.
He isn’t wrong—the man’s arms are abnormally large for the size of his body, which already rivals Martino’s stature. And the dark balaclava over his face does nothing to hide the gruesome scars that run all over his skin.
I crack my neck. The beast is blocking the hallway to the back exit.
Every second I’m delayed is just opening the window for Cas’ abductors.
I launch myself at him, feigning a left hook, but kicking out at his knees at the last second. I’m betting that someone with such impressive upper body strength might have missed leg day.
To my dismay, the beast only wobbles. But Teo coordinates his own attack, slamming his foot into the beast’s chest and toppling him over.
“Let’s go!” I yell as I try to leap over his body.
But an arm snatches at my leg at the last second.
I grunt as I fall to my knees, trying to shake off the beast’s grip. But shy of dislocating my own leg, there’s no way out.
I change tactics, flipping over and kicking out with my free leg, planting my heel directly in his face.
He grunts in pain, but his grip doesn’t waver.
“Vitale! Find her!” I yell out as my foot smashes through his teeth.
Teo doesn’t need to be told twice. He leaps over where we’re scrambling on the floor and flies out the door.
I curse with the effort of my next kick to the beast's skull. Finally, finally, his grip loosens and I don’t waste the opportunity to free myself.
