AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Instead I made my way back, to where the last of the poker players were already stumbling out the rear door of the bar.
My associates eventually came into view. Other than Dawson slowly rubbing his jaw, they looked no less worse for wear.
“Didn’t get him?”
The question was rhetorical. I curled my lip in answer.
“You’re losing your touch, Santo.”
Some of the people inside the bar had filed into the parking lot, and made their way to the back. As they stood there watching us, a few of them were pulling out their phones.
“Might be time to go,” Lazlo reasoned.
I nodded my agreement, and that’s when I saw him. He was in the crowd, head tilted, looking worried.
“Hang on a second…”
The man was missing the mirrored sunglasses, but everything else was there. The blond beard. The hooked nose. Even the oversized teeth, which I’d noticed when he’d smiled at the red-haired girl the first time around.
I grinned, clapping Dawson on the shoulder as I changed direction.
“Maybe the night wasn’t a total waste.”
Twenty-Four
BRYNNE
“I’m going to need the two of you to come outside.”
The words hadn’t left Santiago’s lips and the others were already up. As I jumped up alongside them he shook his head.
“Brynne, this isn’t—”
“Negotiable,” I finished for him in my sternest voice. A bit more softly, I added: “I’m coming too.”
His brown eyes narrowed. I saw the briefest flicker of an argument in them, but it died just as quick. Eventually the big Green Beret only sighed. “Fine.”
He led us outside, where the midnight air smelled like asphalt and everything was still and quiet. His car was parked in the alley between two buildings. Silently I noted it had never been parked there before.
There was the jangle of keys, followed by a click as Santiago popped the hood. As soon as he did, my hand went over my mouth.
“Aww, shit,” said Cody.
Lying on his side, bound by zip-ties, was a bloodied, sweat-covered man. He was breathing heavily through his nose, his eyes darting wildly back and forth between us.
“Again?” Silas groaned.
Even with duct tape covering his bearded mouth I recognized who he was. I just couldn’t believe he was here.
“Oh man,” said Cody. “I’m not digging the hole this time!”
His protest sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. It also made the prisoner’s eyes go wide.
“The last time you did this we had to dig all night!” Cody went on. “No fucking way. Not happening. I’ll drive out there with you, but this time I’m not the one who—”
“He knows something,” Santiago said, interrupting his friend.
I stared down at the man in the trunk, who had begun whimpering loudly. He was trying to say something through the duct tape. The guys weren’t moving, however.
