Page 46 of Vengeful Lies

With their boss out of the way, the two remaining men in the room headed over to the small table they’d set up and sat down, picking up the card game they’d abandoned when their boss showed up. While he’d been left alone before John arrived, ever since the man had made sure he had at least two guards in the room at all times. Seemed John wasn't big on trust and did realize how great a threat he was even if the men he’d hired didn't.

Before it annoyed him, hampered his ability to act while being constantly watched, but now he was grateful for their presence.

For his new plan, he needed them close by.

One shot.

That was all he was going to have.

If he didn't get it right the first time, there would be no do-overs. If he wanted to live and figure out what came next for him and Gabriella, he had to get this right. If he wanted to ensure that his daughter didn't lose the only parent she had left, he had to succeed.

With the pressure weighing heavily against him, Cade focused. This was the most important mission of his life.

There was literally zero room for error.

Dragging in a deep breath he got himself in the zone. He had a plan, all he had to do was follow it through step by step and he should make it out alive.

Knowing he could have his little girl and Gabriella in his arms in just a few hours was all the motivation he needed.

Gagging, he fought against his body’s natural instincts to not throw up and instead expelled everything he had in his stomach. At the same time, he ordered his body to jerk uncontrollably like he was having a seizure, one that sent him and the chair he was still chained to crashing to the floor.

He barely felt the pain as his already battered body hit the hard concrete because the two men were hurrying over.

“What's wrong with him?” one asked.

“Looks like he’s having a seizure. Could be because of the wound? How long does it take for infection to get in?”

“No clue. What even are the symptoms of infection? I didn't think they were seizures.”

“Does it matter? Something’s wrong with him.”

“Maybe we should just let nature take its course. We’re supposed to kill him anyway in an hour if we don’t hear from the boss.”

“You want to risk not following orders to a T?” the other asked incredulously. “He said kill him in an hour if we don’t hear from him. It’s been like thirty minutes. If we do hear from the boss, he might not want him dead at all. We should try to help him.”

“Fine,” the other said with a long-suffering sigh. “Unchain him from the chair.”

Success.

Exactly what he’d been after.

“Leave the other chains on. Boss said he’s dangerous,” the man who’d advocated for him said.

That was fine. He could work with that. It should still be easy enough to take these two out even if his wrists were chained together.

Knowing he’d have to take them both out almost simultaneously, Cade waited until he felt himself slump away from the chair, then the two men laid him out flat on theconcrete. Keeping his body limp and unresponsive, when he felt them both close by, he sprang into action.

Hooking his legs around the neck of one of them, he used the cuffs binding his wrists to his advantage and swung his bound hands up and around the other man’s head. Using his legs to snap the neck of one man, he squeezed tight around the other’s neck.

The first was dead before he realized what was happening, the second took a little longer, but soon his attempts at fighting back died down and then stopped altogether.

Sighing in relief, he let go of both dead bodies and quickly shifted so he was on his knees. Finding the keyring with the keys he needed to unlock himself, Cade freed himself from the last of his chains and shoved to his feet.

A wave of light-headedness reminded him that he wasn't in optimum condition. Not that it mattered. He had to get out of there quickly before the remaining guards came to check on their friends.

Claiming both weapons, he ignored the burning pain in his thigh and took the stairs two at a time to reach the top.

Only just as he was swinging the door open, he came face to face with the barrel of a weapon.

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