Page 5 of King of Pain

But I’ve got a job to do.

The Vendettis are big on muscles, swagger, and bad behavior. They’re light on intelligence, though, and that’s how we’re getting out of here. By outsmarting them.

I’m not the brightest bulb. In fact, in my family, I’m probably the least of everything. But I can outsmart these three bozos.

Not sure when I decided that Kate was coming with me. Maybe it’s the way she looks in the semi dark, tending my wounds. Or maybe I knew the second I looked into those big brown eyes. Yeah. I think it might have been then. So scared. So fragile…

I don’t normally get sentimental about the ladies, but her hands feel like silk and every part of her is pretty, from her pinkyfinger to her slender shoulders, right down to her gorgeous little feet and sweet toes.

So yeah. First, I’m going to have to get Guerriero out of the way. Then, when Vincent comes for Kate…

It’s about as good a plan as I can come up with.

And honestly, it’s not half bad. It would be better if I wasn’t injured. Vincent and Vigo are massive, but Guerriero…

That guy looks like the fucking Hulk.

Jumping up on the bench right by the door, I wait as Guerriero calls again, lets out a rumble and starts stomping toward the changing room. Looks like the Hulk, moves like a rhino.

I wait until he appears in the door and then I bring the pool skimmer pole down right on his head.

It’s not that thick and the fucking thing bends around his skull as he roars, taking a swipe and sending me flying across the room. I hit the other wall hard, the pain shooting through me.

Okay. Maybe my plan sucked.

But I’m committed now. I’ve still got the skimmer pole in my hand, and I make a quick jab, getting him right in the solar plexus.

He doubles over and I don’t hesitate, thrusting the pole between his legs and right up into his ball sack.

Fucker goes down like a brick house.

Using the string, I hogtie that Hulk, wrapping him tight. Then, grabbing a dirty towel, I stuff that shit in his mouth. “Love,” I call to Kate. “I’m going to need some of that tape.”

“Why?” she pokes her head in. “Oh. Be right back.”

Her flip flops clip-clap across the house and she returns with a roll of medical tape and small set of scissors.

I take the roll and wrap it several times around his head to hold the towel in place.

He must be recovering because now his eyes are promising death as he glares back up at me while I tape.

“Sorry, Gorilla,” I pat him on the shoulder. “But I don’t fancy staying.”

Then I rise, pulling Kate into the other room. “Listen, love, when Vincent returns it’s the same drill.”

“We could just leave now.”

I try the knob. “Locked. We could break a window, but I don’t know if it’s alarmed or not.”

She nods, nipping at her lip. “I’m just worried about you.”

“Thanks, love. But I’ll be fine, and Vincent is the ticket out because he should have the keys…”

She nods, squeezing my hand. “Good idea.”

“We have two choices once we’re out the door. Head to the gate or go over the wall. The gate is risky, the wall difficult.”

“The wall,” she answers, squaring her shoulders.

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