Total pages in book: 247
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 248926 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1245(@200wpm)___ 996(@250wpm)___ 830(@300wpm)
But. . .why?
A woman screamed from inside, yelling something in Italian.
I shivered.
Come on. Move. . .
Glass shattered.
Drenched in sweat, Kazimir rushed past me. “Get Blue out of here!”
I had no idea who he was talking to, until David wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close to him.
“Blue?”
Why did she hump him?
David snapped his fingers in front of me. “Did Lunita hurt you, Blue?”
I shivered against him. “No.”
“Are you sure?”
Candy?
“Blue? Can you hear me?”
I nodded. “S-she killed that man and. . .”
“Yes.” He tightened his hold on me. “I know.”
“I. . .messed up, David.” I shivered against him. “I froze.”
“You did not mess up.”
“She killed him.”
From the room, Lunita screamed, “No! No!”
Kazimir yelled back, “Put the knife down and get away from her!”
Lunita giggled. “Never! Never! Ever!”
“Do not kill her, Lunita. It would hurt Emily. Think about that.”
“You hurt Emily!”
“Listen to me.” Kazimir lowered his voice. “Lunita, please do not—”
A large thump sounded like something fell to the ground.
I shook my head.
She killed her.
Then, her delirious laugh rose in the air. “Ah ha! Joke’s on you! Paolo stays!”
More noise came next like maybe she was running through the room and he was racing after her and knocking things away.
I messed up.
“Get away!” Lunita rushed out of the room. Blood dripped down her face. She held long bloody blonde strands of hair in her hand and hurried past us.
David moved us to the side.
I tried to leave his arms to go after her. When I turned, I stopped.
Lunita saw what I did and stopped too.
Maxwell stood in the center of the hallway with his arms crossed over his chest, and disappointment covering his face.
Instantly, she shifted to slowly walking backward.
That was when Kazimir left the room. His black shirt was slashed open. Lunita had definitely swiped the knife at him. But, I didn’t see any blood.
“Get over here.” Kazimir rushed for her.
She tried to dodge him.
He grabbed her.
Lunita wrestle against Kazimir, but she couldn’t get free of him.
Still further back, Maxwell lowered his arms. “Did she kill the couple?”
David nodded.
“Fuck, man.” Maxwell walked forward. “I told you. I fucking told you.”
As Maxwell came closer, Lunita froze against Kazimir and then crouched down a little as if trying to hide.
Is she afraid of Maxwell?
Right when I thought Maxwell was going to help Kazimir out with Lunita, he continued past them.
Kazimir glared. “Where are you going?”
Maxwell pulled out a small pocketknife. “You know what I have to do.”
Kazimir scowled. “Draw your smiley faces later.”
“Motherfucker, you hold her and keep silent.”
Kazimir glared. “What did you say to me?!”
“I said, ‘Shut. The. Fuck. Up!” Maxwell headed past David and me. “I have shit to do, and we need to wait anyway.”
Kazimir called after him, “Wait for what?”
“The Butcher is coming, motherfucker!” Maxwell disappeared into the room.
“Jean-Pierre?” Kazimir groaned. “Why did you call him?!”
I turned back to see Lunita pouting and looking down at the floor. I almost felt bad for her. She looked like a naughty kid that was about to get a whipping.
What will happen now?
Emily didn’t want Paolo to leave, but I knew she wouldn’t have wanted innocent people to die either. That was why I followed the Mouse to Italy. She had brought compassion to the Brotherhood. She loved to protect the people that couldn’t defend themselves. She cared about all of us, more than my family ever did.
The Mouse would have never killed the couple.
Sighing, David released me. “Let me take you to your room.”
“I should stay and help.”
“This is their show.” David gave me a worried look. “And you need time to calm down.”
“I am. . .calm.”
“You are not.” He took my hand and squeezed it. “Let us go. They have her now.”
But what will happen to Lunita/Emily? When will she come back. . .and. . .what will they tell her?
Chapter 30
Work-husband
Kazimir
I pushed too hard.
I was a man who thought guilt had not been built in my DNA and that I had been born without a soul.
In the past, I had taken pride in these two facts.
Was that not how I rose so quickly to power?
I had the ability to do things that others wouldn’t—kill and bomb, terrorize and take. I had no conscience nor compassion. Just violence and might.
But today. . .guilt shackled my ankles and made it hard for me to walk.
Maxwell ordered me to come into the dead couple’s room and sit down.
Helpless, I obeyed, my legs felt like they were shackled with boulders. Lost and full of terror. Sad and drowning in despair. I dragged Lunita with me, needing something to anchor my soul.
Never had I felt so vulnerable and utterly alone.
We entered the room and went to a black leather couch. I lowered to it. Lunita sat down next to me, tucking her left foot under her butt and placing her right foot on the couch, so that her right knee rose up to her shoulder. The leather squeaked with the positioning.