AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Do you think I’m afraid of you?” His voice was clipped and offended.
“I believe you have reasons to be. History’s proven you’ve yet to win a round with me. Is that why you brought reinforcement?” Tilting her head to the side in mock understanding, she whispered, “It’s okay. No reason to be ashamed.”
What the hell is she doing?
“I made you bleed when you were younger—”
“I left you unconscious.”
“I terrified you at that lame coffee shop—”
“I banged your head against the wall.”
Breathing hard, he said between gritted teeth, “I’ve just knocked you out—”
“Because someone else kicked my knee. Let’s face it. When it comes to me, you don’t stand a chance.”
It shouldn’t have surprised me, but my gasp broke free when he backslapped her face so hard, her head was thrown to the side. He closed his hand around her neck, the vein on his temple pulsing like crazy.
He cocked his free arm to throw another punch, and I was ready to jump on him—forgetting we should pretend we were tied—when the second door to the storage opened.
The man who’d kicked Mia walked inside, took it all in, and reprimanded Michael in annoyance. “That’s not what we came here for. Stop wasting time and pay your dues.”
“She needs to learn a lesson, Matias.”
“So do you. We’ve yet to find anything useful here, we still don’t know where she is, and the clock is ticking. Manuel’s almost done setting everything up, and the timer will start running soon.”
“It won’t take too long.” The purposeful way he said it while squeezing her throat sent chills down my spine. “He’ll thank me later for getting this nuisance out of the way.”
The man marched to Michael, pulled him up from over Mia, threw him against the wall, and pressed his arm on Michael’s neck. “That’s the problem with little shits like you. You never pay attention to what matters. You’re no closer to paying what you owe, and this little trip is proving to be a huge waste of time. Carlos Gomes says thanks to no one. If you wanna live another day, show us what they”—he tipped his head, indicating Mia—"have found, findher, and get us therightBryant.”
He pushed Michael against the wall another time for good measure and strode away to join the others.
“Pff, that was tough,” Mia goaded, not caring she was wheezing. I never wanted to keep someone’s mouth shut so much. Michael was furious and stepped closer to her. “Na-ah-ah. Remember what yourbosssaid.”
“I could end you right now,” Michael threatened her.
“But you won’t. Because you’re not the one calling the shots, are you?” His eyes twitched, confirming her theory. “This must be killing you. You have me here, at your mercy, but you’re too unimportant to make a decision.” Her laughter mixed with coughing. “Do you think they know I kicked your ass when I was just a kid?”
He fisted his hands, but his fear spoke louder.
Michael turned on his heel and left the room to go to the storage. I thought I’d be relieved that they’d left. They left both doors open, but for some odd reason, it felt safer when Mia and I were alone inside the closed room. It felt like a safe cocoon, whereas at that moment it felt like they were taunting us with the illusion of freedom.
Mia began to repeat their words in a quiet voice, trying to make sense of whatever they meant.
“Why do they want, Zach?”
“What?”
“The Matias guy said to Michael to get ‘the right Bryant.’ What does that mean? And who isher?” She was talking to herself more than to me, but I needed to occupy myself.
“Danny’s ex?”
“Matias could reach her himself,” she mumbled. “Who are the women we know?”
She was lost in her thoughts, and I felt helpless. I missed Ben. I missed my baby. I was coming to the conclusion they’d miss me as well, because there was no way we could get out of there alive.
“Set the timer. Set the timer. Set the timer.”
