Page 66 of Ferocious Nightmare

She tapped on her iPad. “In an hour.”

“Good. When he gets here, take him to the conference room, but make him wait until I return."

“Yes, sir.” She didn’t even look down at the coffee. Or look flustered that he was being a real ass. “But won't he— “

“Just do as I say,” Nero turned away, waving her off, "And clean that shit up."

I didn’t hear a response, but imagined she was flicking him off behind his back. I grinned as he leaned over, entering the code to call the elevator.

While we stood, waiting for the doors to open, I firmly pulled my wrist from his grip. “I’m not an animal. I don't need to be kept on a leash.” As soon as the doors dinged open, I stepped inside. Once Nero and his guards entered, I moved into the doorway, blocking off Coulter.

“You can meet us downstairs," I said coolly, though I gave him a teasing smile and a wink. "There isn't enough room in here for both you and Nero's ego."

Nero chuckled behind me while Coulter pretended to be offended. I held his gaze as the doors closed between us, intense emotion burning between us as we both played our role in this dangerous game.

Nero pretty much forgot me as we sat in the back of the Mercedes, only occasionally glancing at me as we made our way to the warehouse. Even though he barked into his phone almost the whole drive there, he kept running his hand nervously through his hair until it was sticking out in all directions.

Benny was also in the car with us, and he stared at me with an untrusting expression the whole time.

My own stomach churned with anxiety. I knew this was our come-to-Jesus moment, when we were counting on the Mendoza cartel to play their part. As we pulled up, I held my breath, my eyes glued to the windows, feeling the mountains in the distance looming over me.

As soon as we stopped, Nero jumped out and, when I tried to climb out behind him, he shoved me back into the car. "Stay here."

I waited a few moments until he'd walked off, then opened the door, standing beside it to watch them carefully.

We'd told the cartel which place to hit, and to steal the drugs, but they'd insisted on doing it on their schedule and in their own way. We had no idea what was in store for us.

We waited several more minutes as more of Nero’s men arrived, until there were about forty or so, all prepped with guns and other weapons, waiting for Nero's command to move in.

So far, the property looked abandoned. Once an old precast concrete production company, now only a large, grey, stucco building. Enormous concrete doors framed the front entrance, with two black windows, like dark eyes watching all the King’s men.

There was no movement from inside the warehouse, only the barking of two German shepherds tied to a chain.

Nero and Coulter stood next to Dante, who was holding a strange looking pair of binoculars. Coulter didn't look at me, focused purely on their conversation. After a few minutes of debating, Nero waved his arm, yelling out a command. Everyone split up into three groups, with Nero and Coulter at the head of one team.

I rubbed the back of my neck, my spine tingling with anxiety as Nero forged the path forward towards the main entrance. He talked loudly to the group, with Coulter close on his heels.

My stomach churned, and I gripped the edge of the car door.

Something was off.

The cartel had stolen the drugs stashed here, and Nero was going to lose his shit when he found out.

Thatshit was about to hit the fan, but there was something more, something else.

Racing forward, I grabbed the discarded binoculars, scanning the building.

The groups of men converged in on the building, with the other two teams sweeping to the side entrances. Coulter headed towards the front door, and Nero began to slow down. After a few steps, Coulter had caught up with him.

I studied the doors, the windows, the walls. Looking for something. Anything.

Three more steps and Coulter was now in front of Nero. His steps were confident and determined. He held his gun in front of him. Nero stopped to stare at the building, letting more men pass him.

There were black lines lining the whole building. At first, they looked like trash bags. I was suddenly hot, warmth rushing through my chest but my fingers tingled with awareness.

My heart pounded, filling my ears with its beat. A scream ripped from my throat. "Stop!"

Coulter faltered but Nero yelled at him to keep going.

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