Page 23 of The Associate

“Alright. I’m out, so I can be there in twenty.” There is a rustling sound, like he has just thrown on a jacket.

“Make it fifteen. I won’t be here when you arrive. Just go into the bar, ask for Amber, and tell her that you are there to keep her safe.” I end the call.

Now, what to do with you? I look up from where I am standing over Carlos’s body. There is a road coming back here. Glancing around, I decide it is easier to get my car and bring it around.

Quickly walking back to where my car is parked, I open the door and climb in. Turning the key in the ignition, it roars to life, and I drive back around the back of the building. Carlos is still lying there, unmoving.

This is not like me. I am never this spontaneous, I always plan it out.

Leaving the car running, I pop the trunk and pick Carlos off the ground. Throwing him in the back, I notice a pair of handcuffs near where his head has landed. Perfect. I pull his hands behind his back and place the cuffs around his wrists.

Now we are off on a little drive over to the tunnels, another favorite place of Carlos. They aren’t so much tunnels, but long, water-stained holes underground. They are man-made passages that lead into small rooms. Some are built off of unused waterways connecting to an open bunker.

No one but rival Underbellies knows about them and we all know who frequents them the most.

It isn’t long into the drive that Carlos wakes up from his forced nap. From the trunk, I can hear yelling. “Let me out of here!” He begins kicking the lid of the trunk. I’ll have to be careful when I open it up.

The tunnels aren’t too far off now. Another five minutes or so. This one ends tonight, I am going to be damn sure of it.

As I pull up outside the tunnels, I cut the engine and just stare out the front window.Bang, bang, bang.“Let me the fuck out of here!” I hear yelling from the trunk again. “You don’t know who you’re messing with!”

Oh, Carlos. I do know, butyoudon’t. He is probably just collateral damage in this whole mess, but I’m not about to take chances, and a message needs to be sent. I need to get him underneath without being heard. Even though the tunnels are far outside the town limits, there is still the occasional house around the area.

Taking in a deep breath, I open my door and step out, making my way to the back of the car. My keys jingle in my hand as I stand at the back, looking down at the shiny black paint.

First things first though. I reach into my pocket, pull out my knuckle dusters, and place them on my right hand. Ok, now I am ready.

I double tap the trunk unlock button on the keypad just as Carlos kicks up again. The trunk flies open, his eyes wide. “What the fuck!” he screeches. “Who are you?”

“Your worst nightmare.” With that comment I crack him in the jaw with my right fist. His body goes limp and quiet. “Thank fuck for that,” I whisper.

The door that leads to the tunnels is about two metres from where I parked, so I haul his unconscious ass out of the trunk and towards the door.

Grabbing hold of the handle, I yank open the heavy steel. A high-pitched squeal echoes around me, my head turning to the side to listen for any other noise.

All quiet. Good.

I make my way inside, spinning around to close the door behind me. A thunk sounds as his head hits the door jam. “Sorry not sorry pal,” I whisper as the door clicks into place.

The moment the door closes behind me, a whirring sound of electricity catches my attention: a low hum of a generator coming from the far end of the tunnels.

Someone has made these tunnels a little nicer and more habitable since the last time I was here. Back then they were just dug out rooms of dirt. Now, there is lighting in place, even in the dark I can tell that much. There has to be a light switch around here somewhere.

My steps echo as my shoes hit each metal stair of the short flight. I can feel Carlos begin to stir over my shoulder. I need to get him into the closest room, tie him up and then wait for him to wake up completely. Then I will have a little fun with him.

The moment I hit the bottom step, the lights flicker on.Motion sensors, nice. I continue walking down the small hallway further into the rooms. Whoever’s down here frequently has turned this place into a bunker. There is a white tiled room to my left, a singular chair in the centre, and a steel tray in the corner.Perfect.I am going to take my time.

I drop him to the ground with a thud. He lets out a groan. I drag him across the room, his body limp as I roughly place him in the chair. There are leather cuffs on the arms and the legs.

How does this night keep getting better? Securing his legs and arms, I sit amongst the shadows in the corner of the room, waiting for him to wake up.

While I wait, I pull my phone out of my pocket.Better give the boss an update.I scroll until I find Sal’s name in my phone and hit the green call button.

“Viper? Everything ok?” I hear the click of his office door closing. He sounds annoyed that I am calling him because he knows tonight is only meant to be a recon mission.

“Yeah, peachy. I have Carlos secured in the tunnels.” I hear his chair creak over the speaker. “They have been updated since we last saw them. It’s like a bunker down here now.”

Carlos’s head lifts up slightly before falling limp again. I must have got him good with that punch.

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