Page 53 of The Last Call
I grab one of the bats propped against the wall and shove open the door. His worried gaze meets mine and shock traps him in place while I stride toward him. Already winding up a huge swing as I walk. A glorious crack of wood against skull and then nose to concrete as he topples from the force. Seeping blood slowly dying his white blond hair to red.
He lays motionless on his side. But I’m not ready for him to be unconscious yet. I kick him hard enough to flip him onto his back but not enough to hurt him. That’s what my slugger is for. A gurgling moan bubbles in his throat as he clutches his brutalized head.
Good. He’s awake.
I get close enough for him to hear me but not soil my loafers. I don’t want to have to take time to change into clean shoes before I get back to my lion. “Game’s over dumb ass. You lost.”
A garbled attempt at begging is the only answer I receive. Gesturing to Carlos and Zach, they hustle to do my bidding. Lifting the asshole onto the torture table that I hope is fucking freezing against his bare arms and mangled scalp. They don’t even have to strap him down he’s so damn out of it.
The metal vibrates like the chiming of bells from me tapping the tip of the bat on the beveled edge. Giving dumb pussy ass Ryan a little taste of what’s to come. Of the pain he’s going to endure. Of the suffering I’m going to love doling out to him. His mutilated head attempts to twist side to side. Which is kind of difficult with ripped skin and a few pieces of bone missing. Fuck if I’m not relishing his well-deserved agony.
His scream echoes across the concrete as I break his right hand first. No more pitching.
Then his left. No more catching.
Then each foot. No more running or sliding home.
Lifting my arms above my head, I use every ounce of strength to crash the sweet spot down onto his crotch. My hands ache from the reverberation of the impact, and his body flops in spasm a few times before white sticky vomit spews out of his mouth.
Well fucking look at that I gave him a seizure. He’s out, and I’m gratified. Privileged to retaliate in Sydney’s behalf. Honored to beat the hell out of him when she couldn’t. Now he can lay there and suffer until he dies. Just like he deserves.
Carlos gives me an approving nod. “Damn boss. That was quick and brutal.”
The guys admire my work. Making sure to avoid the chunks and ooze while they circle around his limp body. Probably a little jealous they weren’t the ones to inflict the abuse. Hell, the way I’m feeling I might kidnap some more of the men from her past life, and then I’ll let them have their fun. “Call me if he comes to and I’ll come back and finish the job. Otherwise, you know what to do.”
I pause in my quick steps down the corridor when I catch sight of Ryan’s league photo on the screen in the empty waiting room. The announcer conveying a troubled tone regarding the baseball star’s sudden disappearance. Ensuring that viewers understand the gravity of the situation with his car inexplicably abandoned on a country road with his cell phone and wallet still inside. Obviously, not robbery. Detectives are thoroughly investigating every angle to determine how, why, and when he went missing. Yeah, good luck with that boys.
The satisfaction from ending Syd’s tormentor evaporates instantly from Nonna shaking her head furiously at a confused man outside of the lion’s room. I draw my weapon, and point it at his face until I’m up on him and press the barrel into his forehead. The black case in his shaking hands clatters to the floor, and his arms fly up in immediate surrender. Good. This motherfucker knows who the fuck I am and how quickly he’s going to die if he doesn’t explain himself very, very soon.
“Boss! It’s the jeweler you wanted me to call.”
Phillip’s deep voice rises above all the gasps and shuffling of feet from the other people in the hallway retreating out of the line of fire. Well fuck. Why didn’t someone say so? Damn tired of being the only fucking person protecting my woman, I shove my gun back into its spot again and swipe the metal box from the tile. Assuming the rings I want to inspect are inside. Old man’s on our heels, all red faced and flustered, while I escort Nonna through the door. Not sure why he’s still upset, everything’s fine now.
“M-Mr. Sabatini, if you’ll allow me please, I’ll unlock the case and show you the selection you’ve requested.”
He seems calm when I hand the thick container to him although it takes him three tries to type in the code and unlatch the clasp. Well worth tolerating his ineptitude once he reveals the sparkling rocks inside. They’re all massive and luxurious and perfect for the woman amazing enough to be my wife. I tug a square diamond out of a slit in the black velvet and hold it up to the light. Spreading tiny rainbows across the white walls from the glistening stone.
“An excellent choice. It’s an extremely rare colorless solitaire with almost flawless clarity. A little less than thirteen carats in a cushion cut flanked with two carats hugging each side.”
Rare like my lion. “It’s her size?”
“Yes sir. We matched the ring your assistant provided.”
Perfect. I nod toward Phillip waiting in the doorway. “He’ll pay you.”
Relieved from my dismissal, the jeweler gathers up his stuff and eagerly follows my captain. While I’m eager too. I slide the platinum band on lion’s delicate finger and smile from her sheer beauty as well as Nonna’s admiration of my choice. Of my woman and of her new ring. My grandmother’s brown eyes shiny with happy tears. Murmuring as she pats my back and praises me over what a good boy I am. Although I’m neither good nor a boy, I appreciate her approval just the same. Comforted when she sits next to me so we can keep vigil together.
Yet now I’m fucking aggravated again. Her pale lips look dry. Chapped from the damn plastic hose constantly forcing them apart. Her skin too cold to the touch. A tinge of blue in her fingertips. Her long hair tangled around one of the wires leading to her heart monitor. Fucking hell. No one allows my lion to suffer. Including me. I yank out my phone and pound the keyboard to order Phillip to get someone the fuck in here for her.
I lift the cover to tuck her arm underneath and slide the hem up to her throat. Plenty of time for someone to get their ass in here.
“Yes, Mr. Sabatini.”
I’d shoot a man for talking to me with that condescending tone. She’s damn lucky Nonna is here or she would expand her vocabulary of swear words from my usual tirade. Instead I slowly rise up to my full height—all six, six of me—and turn with my gaze already burning into her. Now my lion would stand her ground but this rude chick stumbles backward with every stride I make toward her. Closing the space between Syd’s bed and the door, now glued shut with the woman’s back pressed against the wood. I stare down at her. Relishing her fidgeting in terror. “I need blankets and some chap stick for my fiancée. Do you think you could manage to get me some?”
“Of course. Not a problem.”
Yeah, I didn’t think it would be.
