Page 79 of Ferocious Nightmare

Twenty-Three

Dante screechedout of the parking lot, then drove like a mad man, barking out orders on the phone at the same time he drove through downtown Vegas traffic.

"What the hell happened?" I demanded when he threw his phone into the cup holder, turning onto the freeway.

"Shit's fucked up," was all he would answer as we flew down the freeway at neck breaking speeds, then took an exit towards the seedier part of town.

We drove down a tent-lined street that was teeming with people, and my hand automatically reached for the lock. Loud music played, trash blew across the two lanes, and a small crowd gathered around two men arguing.

One of them was in a wheel chair.

The sun was slowing descending, and the incoming darkness sat on my chest like an oppressive weight.

The people on the streets stared at us as we passed the fighting men, the guy in the wheelchair was dragged out and slammed onto the ground.

My throat knotted and I gripped my seat, swiveling to watch as three men jumped on top of him. “Dante.”

“Just leave it be, Aster.”

Fists flew, but the man on the ground rolled over on top of one of them.

The car slowed, and I turned back around, letting it go. We pulled up to a small, brown-bricked house, surrounded by a chain link fence and barbed wire.

Dante didn't hesitate to park out front, and he jerked his head towards several of the men standing outside the gate.

As we made our way through the fence, two dogs raced towards us, barking furiously. Yelping, I jumped behind Dante, my hand going to my pocket to retrieve my knife.

"Colbi! Karma! Get down." Dante's commanding voice boomed through the night, and suddenly the intimidating creatures became whimpering beta dogs, their tails wagging and making begging noises.

Gripping my hand, Dante led me past the dogs, then up the stairs where a group of men crowded around the front door. I recognized some of the men from the house, and they shifted uncomfortably as we approached. Benny appeared from among them, and his eyes caught on me.

Not Dante.

Me.

He obviously didn’t trust me. I held his stare as we walked up the stairs, and Benny stepped in front, legs wide and arms crossed.

Poor thing. The skinny creature thought he could block our entrance.

“Benny,” Dante let go of my hand to reach for the gun at his back. "Get out of my way."

Another guy stepped up next to him and, emboldened, Benny shook his head. "The boss says that no one goes in or out." The new guy was short but muscular, with a green goatee and matching mohawk stripe.

"I'm not anyone," Dante growled out.

"How do I know I can trust you?"

“What the hell happened?” I asked. Dante hadn't pulled out his gun, but his thumb tensed on the handle.

“Obviously, someone betrayed us, and I think that someone was Dante,” green mohawk said.

“Or the girl," Benny jerked his head at me.

“Why would I betray the Kings?” I asked.

“Because,” Benny answered. “You’re Mexican.”

“And you’re a dick, doesn’t mean you know how to fuck.”

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