Page 22 of Saving Mr. Norcross
The big guy bristled. “Shut up,stronzo.” He took a menacing step forward.
“No killing,” the shorter one said in Italian. “The boss will be pissed.” He had an ugly face with a large nose.
The big guy grunted.
“Look, Rhys, tough guys,” Vander said. “Who like to beat people up…if they’re chained up and can’t hurt them.” He met the big guy’s gaze. “Vigliacco.”
The guy growled. Yeah, he didn’t like being reminded that he was a coward.
“Unchain me, then we’ll fight,” Vander murmured.
He saw the flicker of fear in the man’s eyes.
Vander smiled.
Now anger ignited in the thug’s gaze. He strode forward, pulled his arm back, then slammed a punch into Vander’s gut.
He controlled his response and absorbed the blow. “All you got?”
The man landed several more blows.
The short guy growled. “Rocco, be care?—”
Vander moved. He whipped his legs up and wrapped them around the thug’s neck. The man tried to grab Vander, fighting to pull him loose.
They should’ve chained his legs.
He rammed his knee in Rocco’s face and broke his nose with a crunch of cartilage and bone. He let out a strangled roar. Blood flowed over his mouth and chin. Then Vander jerked his legs, and the guy lost his footing. He fell to his knees and Vandertightened his grip, putting pressure on his throat. Rocco was hanging, his air restricted. He groaned and gasped for air.
The other man cursed.
A second later, Vander felt something hit his side, a second before the stun ran through his body.
Fuck. He rode through the pain, body shaking. His legs dropped, and Navarro’s thug tumbled to the floor. The stun stopped.
“Get up,” the shorter man barked, kicking Rocco none too gently in the side.
The big guy shakily pushed to his feet, swiping blood from his face. He glared at Vander. Then he aimed a sloppy punch at Vander’s face. Vander jerked his head to the side and Rocco grazed his jaw.
It wasn’t a direct blow, but it was still powerful enough to hurt.
“Enough, Rocco. The boss is going to be pissed. We’re not supposed to be down here. Now, get out.” He gave Rocco a shove.
Vander assessed the pain throbbing up the side of his head. He moved his jaw, thankfully it wasn’t broken, then turned his head to the side and spat out blood.
The two thugs shuffled out, slamming the door behind them.
“You okay?” Rhys asked.
“Fine.”
“Did you have to enrage the guy?”
“He got what he deserved.”
Rhys made a sound. “He could’ve knocked your teeth out.”
Vander tested his jaw again, moving it from side to side. “Nothing’s broken. And yes, I did have to attack him.” He tugged on the chain and the weak link loosened even more. “His added weight bent the chain link.”
