Page 131 of The Billionaire Who Saved My Cat From The Mafia

I lower myself from the crate and crawl on my hands and knees toward what I believe might be the door’s location.I’m wrong, but I eventually locate it, then frantically run my hands over the latch, the metal doorframe, and even try to shove my fingers under the bottom, looking for any way to get it open.

I decide to find something to jimmy the door.It was dark when Niko dumped me in here, so I have no idea what might be on the shelves in here.Or in the drawers.Or even if there are shelves and drawers.

I stand, put my hands in front of me, and slowly move clockwise through the room.All I feel is more cold stone.But then I crash into something and my shin is sliced open.I fall to the floor in agony.

I reach for the wooden box.It feels sturdy, like it could be a packing crate for bottles of wine.I decide I’ll try to break it apart and use a piece of wood to jimmy the door or even wield as a weapon.

I lift the box and slam it into the stone.I do it again.I’m so weak and cold that nothing’s happening.I smash it to the stone again and again and…

A light goes on in the hallway and shines beneath the door.I sit on the box and try to catch my breath.I’m winded and dizzy.I have no idea how long ago it was that I had anything to eat or drink.

The door swings open.Niko enters.The hallway light is enough for me to immediately know what I’m dealing with.

He’s wearing jeans and a turtleneck, which is unlike him.He’s obviously plastered.His eyes are bloodshot, his face blotchy, and he’s barely standing upright.

This is Niko at his most dangerous.

CHAPTER 64

Special K

I’ve gone silent and I’ve turned inward.

The plan is in place.I know my role, so there’s no need for useless chit-chat.All that’s left now is the execution.And I’m ready.

Planning took less than forty minutes.We started with facial recognition and dermatrackers and went right into public real estate records and hacked into live satellite imagery.We found the blueprints of the custom-built waterfront McMansion built by your basic friendly neighborhood Russian mobster.

Then we determined which nearby homes happened to be unoccupied.We put together minute-by-minute weather forecasts along with wind speeds and directions.We’ve made note of any public events that would result in large gatherings, shop closing hours, and every other minor detail that could impact how the mission will unfold.

Everything from here on out is second nature for us.We could do this shit in our sleep.

We’re five Navy SEALs who’ve seen it all.We’ve been pushed beyond our limits.We’ve been blown up, beaten and stabbed, and shot at.We’ve been asked to do the impossible because it’s a Tuesday and then asked to do it all over again because it’s Wednesday.

It’s who we are.

We own the night.

We will do this, and we’ll do it right.

We’ll get in.We’ll get Frankie out.And we’ll take down every last bastard in the place.And then we’ll slip away.

And when it’s all over, we’ll leave an anonymous tip with the Las Vegas FBI field office, alerting them to the fact that a cleanup is needed in aisle four.

But for the moment, we’re gathered in the weapons room at Cal’s house, where everyone’s just finished making last-minute checks to their loadout gear and night camouflage clothing.I’m ready to go.My kit’s resting against my right ankle on the floor as I sit in a folding chair.

“We’ll be outnumbered,” Cal says, as my brothers gather around.

I listen, my fingers steepled in front of me, my breathing slow and steady, and my heart rate in sync.

Anger is great for slowing the heart rate.Not blind anger, though.That can fuck with your arteries.But if there’s anger backed up with an unflinching certainty that injustice won’t see the light of the next day?

That shit’s Nirvana.

I know it’s the same for all my brothers.

Just like an elite athlete before a competition, I visualize what I’ll do with this anger inside me, how it will be cut loose on the world.Clear as day, I see my fist connect with the Russian’s jaw—right on the button, I make contact, and he goes down for the count.He’s a coward, a man who preys on women, so I know that he’ll try to slink away.

He won’t escape me.I’ll make him fight me.