Page 37 of The Holy Ghost
I watchedhelplessly as he stormed over to her and backhanded her across theface, yelling, “If you don’t shut the fuck up, I’m going to letTony and Eddie do whatever thefuck they want to you, Robbie!” Then he turned my way. “As foryou…”
Tony and Eddiereleased me and left me to face Randy head-on. “As for me?” Therewas no way I was going to allow Randy to perpetuate Robbie’s rape.He’d have to kill me first.“As for me, what?”
Heglanced at his goons. “Tie her upagain.”
I fought, butI wasn’t strong enough against two men who, weren’t in shape, but weren’t slobs either. Once Iwas secured back into the chair, it was clear the lengths Randy waswilling to go to in order to salvage his pride. My body stilled ashe pulled a switchblade from his back pocket and flicked it open. Iforced my mind and body to calm down, doing my best to convincemyself that he couldn’t kill me just yet. He needed that tenmillion dollars in his hands first before he disposed of me. Theyguys would sure ask for proof of life before handing over thecash.
“And now youneed a weapon?” I spat, trying to control my nervousness. “You’re areal class act.”
He didn’t sayanything as he took the knifeand started slicing my hoodie to shreds. I didn’t dare breathe forfear he’d accidentally cut me, but there was still another kind offear. There was only one reason Randy would be cutting my clothingoff.
“Maybe you’regood for more than ten milliondollars,” he taunted. “Let’s see, huh?”
Robbie startedscreaming again, but everyone continued to ignore her. She wasn’t athreat with as injured as she was. She was just unfortunate to have me as a friend.
I held stillas his knife finally sliced up the middle of my t-shirt. It fell open and the guys couldclearly see my breasts encased in a light blue lace bra. It washumiliating, but I knew it was going to get much, muchworse.
Randy leanedover, and with a grin as wide as Texas, he said, “You’reentirely too pretty for yourown good.”
I finallyscreamed as the tip of his knife made its way down myface.
Chapter 19
Phoenix~
Thehouse looked like an old, abandonedfarmhouse. It was on the outskirts of Cedar Creek with desolateland limiting the intrusion of neighbors. The only thing thathinted at any kind of inhabitants were the trash cans overflowingwith garbage and recyclables.
The second wehit the city limits of Cedar Creek, Luca had made the call that wehad the money, and we were onour way. The stupid bastard had no idea we were already here.Frankie’s wedding rings had led us to this farmhouse, and I knew inmy heart, she was in that place.
“I’ll take theback, while you guys take the sides,” I instructed. The farmhousewas only one story, so thathelped. They simply nodded, and we all got out of the car andmade our way around the house.
Weseparated, and as I made myway towards the back, I heard faint screams. My heart dropped and Iknew there was no time to case the place. Ciro was at my side,asking, “Did you hear that?” I nodded, unable to speak.
“There has tobe a basement,” Luca said as he joined us in backyard.“Those screams are too faintto be coming from the main floor of the house.” He was right. Ifthe screams were weak from where I stood, Luca stood on the rightside of the house, and from where Ciro had stood on the left sideof the house, there had to be a common central place where thescreams were coming from. Since the house was a single story, therewas no upstairs, so there could only be a basement.
“What are we waitingfor?” Ciro demanded.
Luca’s voice was frozenin rage as he answered, “Another scream.” Rage was flooding myveins. “It’ll drown out our entry.”
Ignoring themboth, I tried the backdoor and, to my surprise, it wasunlocked. That’s how confidentthis asshole was. He hadn’t even bothered to lock the fuckingdoor.
We entered thehouse with me taking the lead, and we broke off in search of thebasement door. Ciro found it behind the kitchen pantry and wasready to go in,but Lucastopped him.
He stopped himbecause of me.
I wasshaking with uncontrolledrage.
I knew it.
I could feel it, andthey could see it.
However, wehad no idea what was down there. We could be walking down into aroom full of twenty men with guns pointing our way, or we could be walking down into aroom with just one man, but a man who had a gun to Frankie’shead.
Luca turned thoseblack eyes on me. “Get. It. Together. Phoenix,” he hissed.
I gave him atight nod to let himknow Iheard him. I understood him.
Hecracked open the door, and wecould hear a man speaking. “You’re lucky I want that ten milliondollars more than I want to kill you. Although, I have to say,you’re going to wish youweredead by thetime we’re done with you.”
