Page 103 of Gangster's Empire: Leeza & Havel

Leeza wanted to slap her again, but decided she was better off using her hands to check out the one area of their prison she hadn’t examined yet.

She approached the body cautiously, covering her nose and mouth with her hand to keep the stench at bay. Kneeling to get a better look, sorrow and pity threatened to overwhelm her. Despite decomposition setting in, it was clear the woman had looked like Leeza.

Long, shiny chestnut hair hung past her shoulders. Her skin, now mottled with discoloration looked like it had once been pale and unblemished. She was wearing an outfit similar to one Leeza had owned.

Leaning in closer, her face a foot from the dead woman’s, Leeza saw a tiny tear in one of the sleeve’s. The outfit didn’t just look like Leeza’s, it was hers. “Oh god,” she whispered, her eyes drifting down the mishappen body. “What did he do to you?”

From behind her, Anne said in a weak voice, “Who is she?”

Leeza stood. “One of Adam’s victims.”

Anne moved quickly away. “I don’t understand.” Her voice was bordering on hysterical. “Why did he put me down here with a dead person?”

“Because you’re no longer useful to him,” Leeza said flatly.

They were distracted by the rattling of the door knob. Dread filled Leeza as Adam walked into the room, a gun in his hand.

“Adam!” Anne exclaimed. “There must be a mistake. I’m not supposed to be down here.” She sounded relieved to see him, but she still edged around the table, putting it between them. “I don’t understand what’s going on.”

His gaze softened as he approached, his focus on Anne while his gun was pointed at Leeza. “You were wonderful today.” His tone was intimate. “You helped me get my wife back. I couldn’t be more grateful to you.”

Tension leaked out of Anne’s shoulders and a smile curved her lips. “I knew there had to be a mistake.”

“You don’t belong down here,” Adam agreed, rounding the table.

“Anne, get away from him!” Leeza said sharply, panic in her voice as she took a step toward them.

Adam cocked the gun and Leeza froze. He took Anne’s hand and pulled her to his side. He ran a gentle finger down her cheek, his attention divided between her and Leeza.

Leeza felt sick as she watched him manipulate the other woman.

“You’ve done everything I’ve asked,” he murmured, as if talking to a lover. “I am very grateful. I have one more favor to ask.”

“I don’t know,” Anne replied, her tone indecisive. “I don’t like this, Adam.”

“It’s almost over,” he crooned.

“What do you need from me?”

He leaned closer, his lips against the side of her head, his hand dropping from her cheek to her throat, encircling it. “I need you to die.”

The gasp barely left her lips before he tightened his grip. Anne’s eyes bulged as she realized what he was doing and she tried to hit him, but he ignored her weak attempts, shoving her backwards into the table while continuing to strangle her.

“Stop it!” Leeza screamed, rushing toward him.

Before Leeza could reach them, Adam squeezed off a shot. It went past Leeza, shattering the mirror behind her.

Ears ringing, Leeza watched in horror as Anne’s struggles grew weaker and weaker.

“Please stop!” Leeza begged him, but he ignored her.

His face twisted in perverted glee as he watched the life leave his latest victim.

“I’ll do whatever you want. She won’t tell anyone, I promise.” Anne was an idiot who deserved jail time, but she didn’t deserve to die.

Without lifting his gaze, he said, “If I let her leave, Havel will get the truth out of her. It’s better this way.”

“Stop!” Leeza screamed as Anne’s eyes blanked and her body went limp.

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