Page 168 of Desperate Actions

The world tilts, my vision bursting into black and red stars.

I barely feel my knees hit the pavement.

But I hear Andrea’s scream. “You fuck! Don’t you dare hit her!”

Another scuffle. A cry of pain. I don’t know if it’s her or me.

The voices are blurring, the pounding in my head too loud.

A different voice cuts through the chaos.Santos.

“Stick to the fucking plan. Don’t touch the prisoners unless I give the order!” he snarls, his voice filled with annoyance,not concern.

That last bit is important because if I thought he cared at all for my well-being I might be able to reason with him.

But I can see he doesn’t care. Not one fucking bit.

I’m yanked up before I can get my bearings, my feet dragged over the pavement like I’m nothing but dead weight.

“Stop,” I gasp, struggling. “Let me—just let me find my feet!”

They don’t.

They don’t care either.

The heavy factory doors groan as they’re wrenched open, darkness swallowing us whole.

And then I see Andrea.

Blood smears her face.

It drips from her nose, coating her lips, staining her chin.

Jesus. Fuck.

“Oh, God.” Her voice shakes, full of tears. “Aella, are you okay?”

I know I must look worse than she does.

But I can’t let her see my fear.

I straighten. My spine locks.

And I give her the truth.

“Don’t be sorry, Andrea. And don’t cry. Sammy is coming.”

Santos laughs.

The sound twists through the air, ugly and taunting.

“You think your fucking Captain America husband is gonna save your fat ass?”

His words are meant to humiliate me.

He thinks he knows Sammy, but he doesn’t know.

He can’t possibly understand who and what Sammy Ramriez is.

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