when finally my phone rang.
“CHARLIE?!” I yelled into it, my breath spastic.
“Hey, sorry it took so long. I got somethin’ for ya—new loft under that Piccini guy. It’s downtown.” He spent the next few minutes getting me the address and verifying the money I’d be giving him. People were all the same, good or bad they were just looking to get paid. I raced over to the other side of town, parking out back of a swanky loft building that seemed more than perfect for him. I felt my heart beat a little faster when I recognized the plates on the back of an SUV parked a few spots away. This had to be it. I pulled my gun from the glove box, making sure my silencer was secure. The idea of killing for her wasn’t even remotely questionable for me. I’d plow down every fucking body that stood between me and getting her out of here.
Getting inside the security door in back was easier than it should’ve been, but I was a little bothered by going into this blind. I had no idea how many guys were upstairs, but that wasn’t going to stop me. When I reached the right floor I peered through the narrow glass window, noting the single guard that stood outside of a door about halfway down the hall. It’d be difficult to get that far without him noticing, which meant I’d have to take him head on and hope that we could keep it quiet. Brie’s eyes kept flashing in my head, along with her laugh, her inexplicable ability to piss me off, and the way she trusted me. She deserved so much more than this.
I pushed the door open slowly, amazed that the large steel door could be so silent. I held the handle as it shut, careful to keep the noise at a minimum. I made it about five feet towards him before he looked up, a smirk on his face as he suddenly started to move towards me. I moved quickly and silently, my hand gripping my knife before I was within a foot of him. He went to grab his gun but I was too quick. I was digging my knife into his gut, my hand pushing against his mouth as I lowered him carefully to the floor. I twisted my knife, dragging it up until the blood that pooled beneath him moved towards my feet. He had stopped struggling; his body limp when I moved my hand. I knew I’d have to come back and move him but getting to Brie came first. I could hear his voice inside, I could tell he was talking to her. I half considered throwing my body through the door but on a second scan of it realized it was a little too heavy duty for that. I went back to the guards body and began searching his pockets, knowing Genovese would’ve given him a “just in case” key. I was rewarded with a silver key stuck inside his shirt pocket.
I wish I could say that I could clearly remember everything that played out within the next few minutes. I barely registered my own movements as I found myself burying my knife into what I figured to be the heart of an unexpected second guard. We had struggled, and caught Genovese’s attention. I could see Gabriella, and I was too distracted. My knife went flying and suddenly I was on the floor and losing my ability to breathe quickly. Everything was going in and out, but I remember seeing Gabriella looking at me. Was she moving closer? No Brie, run while you have the chance. He was talking to me but the words sounded like I was listening while my head was underwater. He was screaming, and suddenly she was on the floor. The pressure was gone, I could breathe again. Was he bleeding? My gun, where is my gun. I reached back slowly, my fingers wrapping around the cold metal that waited patiently tucked into my jeans. I pulled it out quickly and aimed, taking a quick shot for his stomach. I didn’t want him dead yet, I just wanted her to be safe.
I watched as he collapsed onto his stomach, his hand blindly clutching at his fresh wound. I eyed Brie, and she knew to move away from him. I used my foot to flip him onto his back, smirking at the hideous groan that came out of him.
“Now, old man. As I
“CHARLIE?!” I yelled into it, my breath spastic.
“Hey, sorry it took so long. I got somethin’ for ya—new loft under that Piccini guy. It’s downtown.” He spent the next few minutes getting me the address and verifying the money I’d be giving him. People were all the same, good or bad they were just looking to get paid. I raced over to the other side of town, parking out back of a swanky loft building that seemed more than perfect for him. I felt my heart beat a little faster when I recognized the plates on the back of an SUV parked a few spots away. This had to be it. I pulled my gun from the glove box, making sure my silencer was secure. The idea of killing for her wasn’t even remotely questionable for me. I’d plow down every fucking body that stood between me and getting her out of here.
Getting inside the security door in back was easier than it should’ve been, but I was a little bothered by going into this blind. I had no idea how many guys were upstairs, but that wasn’t going to stop me. When I reached the right floor I peered through the narrow glass window, noting the single guard that stood outside of a door about halfway down the hall. It’d be difficult to get that far without him noticing, which meant I’d have to take him head on and hope that we could keep it quiet. Brie’s eyes kept flashing in my head, along with her laugh, her inexplicable ability to piss me off, and the way she trusted me. She deserved so much more than this.
I pushed the door open slowly, amazed that the large steel door could be so silent. I held the handle as it shut, careful to keep the noise at a minimum. I made it about five feet towards him before he looked up, a smirk on his face as he suddenly started to move towards me. I moved quickly and silently, my hand gripping my knife before I was within a foot of him. He went to grab his gun but I was too quick. I was digging my knife into his gut, my hand pushing against his mouth as I lowered him carefully to the floor. I twisted my knife, dragging it up until the blood that pooled beneath him moved towards my feet. He had stopped struggling; his body limp when I moved my hand. I knew I’d have to come back and move him but getting to Brie came first. I could hear his voice inside, I could tell he was talking to her. I half considered throwing my body through the door but on a second scan of it realized it was a little too heavy duty for that. I went back to the guards body and began searching his pockets, knowing Genovese would’ve given him a “just in case” key. I was rewarded with a silver key stuck inside his shirt pocket.
I wish I could say that I could clearly remember everything that played out within the next few minutes. I barely registered my own movements as I found myself burying my knife into what I figured to be the heart of an unexpected second guard. We had struggled, and caught Genovese’s attention. I could see Gabriella, and I was too distracted. My knife went flying and suddenly I was on the floor and losing my ability to breathe quickly. Everything was going in and out, but I remember seeing Gabriella looking at me. Was she moving closer? No Brie, run while you have the chance. He was talking to me but the words sounded like I was listening while my head was underwater. He was screaming, and suddenly she was on the floor. The pressure was gone, I could breathe again. Was he bleeding? My gun, where is my gun. I reached back slowly, my fingers wrapping around the cold metal that waited patiently tucked into my jeans. I pulled it out quickly and aimed, taking a quick shot for his stomach. I didn’t want him dead yet, I just wanted her to be safe.
I watched as he collapsed onto his stomach, his hand blindly clutching at his fresh wound. I eyed Brie, and she knew to move away from him. I used my foot to flip him onto his back, smirking at the hideous groan that came out of him.
“Now, old man. As I
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