Chapter 7 #3
The asshole was more than an irritant. He’d reawakened the beast who’d just been fed. That wasn’t good for anyone, especially the son of a bitch daring to come against me. I backhanded him, pitching his body halfway across the room.
He wasn’t down for the count and I couldn’t plan on any reinforcements. I knew as well as anyone every room had been soundproofed, the space used for more than just fights three or four nights a week.
The stench of blood lingered in the stone walls.
While the beautiful card girl didn’t need to be told a third time to seek help, I hadn’t anticipated that the bastard would draw another weapon, a ten-inch jagged-edged knife. Who the fuck did he think he was, Crocodile Dundee?
He had the momentum coming off the wall, swinging his arm, the light catching the blade just before he raked it across my chest. I jumped back just enough the tip sliced through my shirt. Whether or not it had pierced my skin I’d know soon enough.
In my hurry to escape being carved like a pumpkin, I knocked the girl to the floor. She quickly scrambled while the assassin continued his attack. Even with her remaining in the room, I drew my weapon, bashing the side of his head in.
With a sharp cry, she threw her body toward the door, able to yank it open.
When another shriek escaped her luscious lips, it was a warning that might be the only reason we both remained alive.
Two more assholes appeared from the shadows. With one pointing his weapon at the girl, I had to react quickly.
Pop! Pop! Pop!
I grabbed her, dropping us both and rolling while the second newcomer tried to level his weapon in our direction. With her clawing at me, my accuracy was tested, the single shot I got off only hitting his shoulder.
“Damn it.”
At least he was affected by the precariousness of his position and the firepower, tumbling backwards into the hallway. That didn’t buy much time though.
I mentally willed her to stay on the floor while lunging toward the first guy, tossing him into the air by several feet.
The knife tumbled from his hand, skidding across the floor.
When he hit the wall with a savage thud, he wasn’t moving.
I yanked his weapon from his hand, spinning while crouching.
A bullet whizzed over my head, plunging into the wall.
With another two shots fired, I hit my mark, this time between the assailant’s eyes.
There was no time to revel in the glory of making the hit, prepared to finish off the last asshole when I heard two things.
The cock of a weapon a split second before being fired and a warrior’s cry.
Just as I spun around, a vision of the stunning beauty whizzed past me, a chair in her hands. She didn’t waste time, smashing it down on the man’s head. A brutal crack indicated she had more upper body strength than I’d given her credit for.
I threw myself in front of her, forcefully backing her away and covering her eyes. She wouldn’t like hearing that she’d killed a man, no matter the circumstances.
Her gasps were full of shock and perhaps a heavy dose of adrenaline. Hearing footsteps, I threw my arm out while keeping her body pinned against mine.
When a few of Sean’s men rushed into the room, they were shocked at the sight.
“What the fuck?” The one guy had been my liaison and the only soldier who knew anything about me. Rory shook his head, half laughing as he scratched his head.
“Take him,” another said.
“No,” Rory said. “He did us a favor. Check the exits and get the guests out of here.”
“You sure, boss?” the third asked.
“Yeah,” Rory said. “I’m sure. Check the pockets and the damn security system. I need to know how these motherfuckers got in here.”
“Yes, sir.” The other two eyed me as if I was the enemy.
I took a deep breath. “You could have a breach in your ranks, Rory.” Was it possible the assailants were Armenians? Maybe Russians.
Or perhaps something else altogether. Now I would think about Mikhail with every incident.
Without stripping their clothing and searching for a tattoo, either an AP for Armenian Power or the Armenian flag, I wouldn’t know for certain. Even then, certain clans didn’t require ink as a sign of respect.
Rory wasn’t thrilled I’d mentioned it. “We’ll look into it. What happened?”
The girl was silent, likely falling into shock. I had a feeling she was very new to the scene.
“Found the asshole accosting her. Maybe ready to use her to get to your boss.”
His nod was while he was staring at her.
I backed away, lifting her chin with a finger. She didn’t want to look me in the eyes. A perfectly acceptable reaction. “Are you alright?”
Her nod was deliberate, but only once.
When I turned toward him, I shook my head. He walked further into the room, crouching down by one of the fallen assailants. “Never seen him before.”
“He was here all night,” she croaked out, her voice little more than a cracked whisper.
“Goddamn it,” Rory hissed.
“That means you have more than one flaw in the system,” I told him while shoving my gun into my pocket.
His entire face was pinched. “Thanks for the assist.”
“You’re welcome.” That was the moment the girl grabbed her bag and fled the room.
Standing, he acted like he was going to run after her until I threw my arm out.
“The man was all over her. You have a new girl.” I was curious as to his reaction.
“Yeah, she is. A one-time-only thing. That’s why I need to talk to her.”
A chuckle rumbled in my chest.
“Why don’t you let me do that.” For whatever reason, I liked having her in my arms. Plus, I wanted to prove a point without him finding out. The night had turned very interesting.
What a fascinating young woman.
He cocked his head, grinning. “Fine by me.”
“Tell Sean I’ll give him a call tomorrow. Early.”
“Will do.”
With a heavy sigh, I left the room. This was supposed to be an easy night.
So much for wishful thinking.
I also realized I had a dilemma to handle, the kind that wasn’t typical for my day-to-day activities. As such, I’d need to be careful.
In determining how best to deal with the situation, I’d need to be conscientious that my appetite could turn into a full-blown obsession.