Her eyes caught on a glint coming out of the shadows.A young guy, about twenty, appeared.He had a matching scar to Drew’s, but his looked newer, like the skin wasn’t fully thickened yet.He walked over to her quickly, coming up behind her.She felt cool steel press into her hands just in time to hide it and tuck it up into her sleeve, when Max and the others entered the room.They were too embroiled in their own conversation to notice what had passed between her and the guy.
She looked at the man, thanking him with her eyes.His own looked dead, like there was no spark left.He gave her a small nod and disappeared back into the shadows.
Now all she had to do was wait.
Chapter Eleven
Drew
The text stabbed him through the heart.The look in Alana’s beautiful eyes, the blood caking her forehead.Attached was the message:You know where to meet us.Come now.I’m not a patient man.He dropped everything he was doing, pocketing his gun and hailing a cab.The driver must have thought he was insane, sweating and yelling at him to drive faster.
He practically threw money at the driver, a couple of hundreds to hopefully make up for his shitty behavior.He ran as fast as his feet would carry him into the bar, slamming through the door.
His eyes found Alana.She was tied to a chair.She mouthed his name, and the mere sight was enough to have his blood boiling.
“I’m okay,” she mouthed.“I promise.”
He gave her a small nod and tried his best to put his mask back on.The best chance they’d have of getting out of here was taking Max by surprise.
The man himself grinned up at him.He sat next to Alana.Too close.He was far too close.“Right on time.Take a seat.”
When Drew didn’t move, he said in a firmer voice, “Take a seat or I’ll take her life.”
Max was adept at that.Friendly, caring even, and then with the click of a finger, a cold-hearted killer.It would be impressive if he weren’t holding his beating heart in the palm of his hand.
“Message received loud and clear,” he told Max.
Why had he waited?He should’ve known the time limit was a test, he’d never intended on giving him a full week to get his life in order.
A phone ringing cut off Max’s reply.“Do excuse me, business calls,” he said, leaving to answer it.Harry and another man followed him, leaving Curly and Eric in the room with him.
He laughed, bitterly, with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.“Boss man sure has lost his touch, don’t you think?”
Curly growled.“Watch your mouth.”
The other men came back into the room, clearly having been dismissed by Max.
