Page 135 of Wicked Rivals

I spun my head and glared at him, raised a finger to my lips before he could complain, then pointed to my eyes and an ear.

We had to be alert and listen for every little sound. I couldn’t have him running blindly into the unknown danger waiting at the bottom for us.

When he gave me a second solemn nod, I knew he understood what I’d meant.

Other than my heart pounding against my ribcage, the pulse rushing into my ears, only dead silence came from the stairwell and the basement. The closer we got to the bottom, the easier it was to see a soft glow bending around the corner of the landing.

The last stair tread buckled in the center under my weight and squeaked.

I stopped, listened, held my gun in the low-ready position.

A light flicked on.

The instant glare from the lightbulb dangling from the ceiling blinded me for a second.

My eyes adjusted… and my heart stopped.

Enzo’s teacher stood at the far side of the basement, beaming with a manic smile. He gripped Val by the throat with one hand. With his other hand, he pressed a gun barrel against her temple.

Beside them, a section of broken concrete exposed the earth beneath it. There was a hand-shoveled hole large enough for two bodies.

“Well,” the dead fucking man walking said, “you surprised me. You got here faster than I anticipated. Still not fast enough to save her. I wanted her to bleed out, but shooting her in the head also works for me.”

I took one step forward.

Blood covered Val’s right side. She’d lost too much and struggled to keep her eyes open… she would pass out soon.

I. Will. Kill. That. Motherfucker.

But until I could get her away from this sociopathic son of a bitch, I had to keep her calm. I forced my rage back and kept my demeanor as low key as possible. For her sake.

“Val, baby, how are you holding up?”

She blinked and pulled against the chains holding her there.

The man shifted, placing Val between himself and me.

“Oh, no you don’t, Prince Charming. You stay right where you are. And tell this bitch not to fight me,” he said.

He pushed his pistol harder against her temple, making an indentation on the side of her face.

Val winced.

I clenched my jaw, gnashing my back teeth.

My father had often said to my brother and me that a man who was talking was a man who wasn’t taking any action. I had to keep this man talking.

“What the fuck do you want, Cozza?” I asked.

“Same as you. A warm home, loving family, obedient wife. But you took mine from me.”

“I don't even know you.”

His crazed eyes reflected the brightness of the lightbulb.

“You should. You know my name, it seems. I’m a fair man, so I’ll give you a hint. I'm the man your fiancée really loves.”

I jerked my chin toward Val.

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