Chapter 57 Kyle Hits His Knees Again
“You’ve gone to a lot of trouble.”
Ryan glanced at the men beside the desk.
“Iron Fist and the Ghoul? The names are scarier than the men.”
Grant bristled.
“I’ll crush your skull.”
“Keep talking,” Travis added. “Let’s see how brave you are in a minute.”
Ryan ignored them. He approached the desk and rested his hands on it.
“Did Kyle give you my message?”
Vince grinned without humor.
“One of us lives. Me or the client.”
“And you chose not to listen.”
“I found a better answer.”
“Which is?”
“You die. No more problem.”
Ryan smiled.
“So that explains the reception.”
“This is my building. I was on the streets before you were born. You think I’m afraid of you?”
“I think you were offered a chance to stay alive.”
Vince had heard enough.
“Kill him.”
Both men moved.
Grant swung a metal-covered fist at Ryan’s head. Travis drew two hooked knives and drove one toward his abdomen.
Ryan’s gaze hardened at the barbed blade.
The men were not interested in a quick, clean fight.
He slipped past Grant’s punch and drove an elbow into the back of his neck.
The crack was sharp. Grant dropped.
Travis reversed his missed thrust and stabbed again.
Ryan caught his wrist. The hand stopped, then began moving against Travis’s will.
Ryan turned the arm smoothly and drove the knife into its owner’s throat.
Travis fell as Ryan released him.
Vince reached for the handgun beside his chair.
Ryan was already moving.
The shot cracked through the office as he slipped out of its line. His arm flashed, sending a knife across the desk.
It struck Vince in the throat.
The gun hit the floor. Vince collapsed, clutching his neck, disbelief turning to terror.
He’d had three days. Three days to choose a different outcome.
Now it was too late.
Ryan turned toward the door.
Kyle dropped to his knees before he had taken a step.
Three nights earlier, he’d seen Ryan’s strength. Today he’d seen what happened when the man stopped holding back.
Iron Fist and the Ghoul hadn’t lasted an exchange. A gun hadn’t saved Vince.
“I told him,” Kyle blurted. “I told him to deal with Jason Wallace. He wouldn’t listen. I couldn’t make him.”
Sweat soaked his back.
“I didn’t want any of this. I was following his orders. Spare me, and I can take care of the problems here.”
Ryan regarded him with a faint smile. Once again, Kyle had gone straight to the one thing he could offer.
“You can?”
“Yes. Leave it to me.”
“Vince is dead. Jason isn’t.”
Kyle swallowed.
“Give the word, and I’ll deal with him.”