Page 41 of Redeem
My finger itches to pull the trigger. To stop fucking around with small talk.
A loud bang comes from behind us as Madden smashes his bat into a window.
"Yeah, we have," Emilio says, stepping forward to stand next to me.
There are three more guards behind Maximo. That’s a count of five.Easy.
"You're not touching her." Emilio growls, pulling out his gun. The guards jump into action, aiming straight at us.
Maximo grins, motioning for his guys to lower their weapons and they do. "You'll marry her, then. That’s no different than what you have already told me. I have no idea why you needed to bring me here to this hole," he snaps. "Send me the wedding arrangements. Now, let's go."
Maximo turns his back and starts walking toward the entry to the park, with his guards following.
"I said you're not touching her, because you’ll be dead," Emilio yells into the otherwise quiet night.
Maximo stops, whirling around. He goes to open his mouth, but I don't give him a chance. My bullet flies through the air; he moves, and it hits him in the arm. He falls to the ground and all hell breaks loose.
Keegan runs with Isabella, disappearing into the fun house and out of sight. Thank fuck. I could do without that distraction.
Too late. Something hard runs into me, bringing me to the ground. I fall onto my back with a groan. One of his men pins me to the ground getting in two punches before I have a chance to react. I block his fist, slamming a right hook into his nose. A sickening crack rips through the night, and I don't stop, laying in hit after hit until my knuckles are raw and he slumps on top of me. I push him off, unloading a bullet into his skull to make sure he's dead.
One down, however many to go. Madden jumps off the fun house, swinging his bat around like a madman. He takes down two more in seconds. Fuck, he's good. When he pulls out his knives, I look away. That guy takes this shit to a whole other level of scary that’s a little too much for even me.
Another gun shot rings through the park, and another guard goes down. Emilio runs past me, trying to get to his father. The last guard protects him by popping off. Bullets fly around and Emilio groans, clutching his arm. Shit.
Maximo uses the distraction to run for the fun house and disappears inside.
CHAPTER29
ADDIE / ISABELLA
My reflection stares back at me everywhere I turn, and I'm about to lose my shit. I've been walking around for what feels like hours, but has only been maybe ten minutes, trying to find Keegan. I lost him not long after we slipped inside.
I have no idea how to get out of here. Every room I walk into, it's the same picture looking back at me. I'm about ready to start breaking all of these damn mirrors. Some are already broken, the glass stuck to the wall in a million pieces. I'm going around and around like a fucking merry-go-round.
I've never been to an amusement park before, and that's one thing I'm grateful for, because this place creeps me out. How did anyone find this fun? Well, apart from Madden, but that doesn't surprise me.
"Oh, Isabella, I know you're in here." Maximo’s voice sends shivers down my spine.
I whirl around, expecting to find Maximo standing there, but again, I'm staring at my own reflection.
"Fuck," Keegan says from somewhere.
I try to follow his voice, placing my hands on the mirror until I feel a crack and step through to an identical room with no one but me inside. I keep moving from room to room, hoping to find Keegan.
"I can't wait to claim you as mine. Your cunt will taste so sweet." Maximo’s voice sounds closer, as if he's right behind me.
I won't let him touch me. I reach down, pulling up my skinny jeans to release the gun strapped to my ankle. Placing it in front of me, I wait, huddled in the corner, gun aimed at the opposite wall.
My reflection stares back at me, sweat forms on my forehead, and my hair sticks to it. A slight creak in the floor comes from behind me, and before I can turn around, a hand comes down, knocking the gun out of my hand. It flies across the floor, hitting the mirror opposite me.
He spins me around until I'm face-to-face with Maximo. His beady eyes stare right through me as he pushes me until my back hits the mirror. It cracks under my weight. I scream and he grips my neck, cutting off breath.
He licks his lips, pushing farther into me. I feel the budge in his pants running along my leg. Vomit threatens to explode from my mouth, and I wish it would. Anything to get him off me.
"I heard you begged Adrian to take your virginity. I wonder if you'll do the same for me?" he says, releasing my neck slightly, and I draw in several deep breaths.
He leans back ever so slightly and starts unbuttoning my loose-fitting shirt. I see movement behind Maximo, but he doesn't notice Emilio stalking in behind him. He's too distracted with getting inside my top.
