Reed’s chest swells with an almost violent surge of air. It whizzes through his nostrils and out of his mouth. “Back. Away. From. Her.Now.”
Jabali stares Reed down, cold and calculated.
Without blinking, he kisses my cheek, letting his mouth linger. “Don’t be jealous, sweet girl. I pictured you every time Icame in her disgusting cunt. Just like I’m sure you think of me when her pig brother fucks you.”
I jerk away, narrowly evading his tongue. “Stop it. You disgust me.”
Reed surges to his feet. I do the same, planting myself between them.
My sweet man radiates heart-attack-causing levels of tension, utterly vibrating. If I don’t diffuse this situation, he’ll get himself killed.
Jabali straightens to his full height of five feet nothing, backing away from me while brandishing the gun. “No need to lie to protect his feelings. This is why we’re here, after all. To finally be honest with each other.”
At the top of his lungs, he sings, “The truth will set you free.”
His two barrel-chested goons thunder in, weapons in hand. Their boss waves them off, dismissing them with a huff.
They slink out of the room.
Affixing my eyes on the devil, I raise my chin defiantly at him. “Carnie was it?” I continue without taking a breath. “Carnie, you’re a vile piece of trash who doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as Reed. And no matter what happens today, you’re done. You’ve already lost the game. The only way this ends is with you dead or in prison. How’s that for honesty?”
He brutally grabs a handful of my hair, yanking me toward him and throwing me onto the floor.
“Stay right there, big man. Don’t make me shoot before we get to the best part of the show.”
I glance up to see him pointing the barrel of his weapon right between Reed’s eyes. My breath gets caught in my throat.
Kenzie lurches to her feet. “You said you wouldn’t hurt them, you lying asshole.”
Jabali screams at Kenzie. “Things change, bitch.” He backhands her brutally. “Now shut the fuck up.”
She stayed on her feet. Took it like a champ.
Bracing my palms on the carpet, I start to press myself upright. It’s then that I realize that the zip-ties popped when he tossed me down.
My hands are free.
Blood races so raucously behind my eardrums I lose track of the bickering voices. Blinking, I scan the room. Nobody is paying any attention to me. I reach into my bra to pull out the smuggled razor, then hide it in my cupped palm.
I gradually rise to my feet, trying not to draw attention. Pretending I’m still restrained, I keep my arms in front of me in the same position they were in. I hope he doesn’t look closely.
Considering how chaotic things have become, my odds aren’t bad.
Jabali’s voice booms. “It’s time for round two of our game, folks.”
“What are you talking about?” Kenzie barks out. “Let us go. You’ve had your fun. It’s over.”
“Oh no, it isn’t. The party is only getting started. Let’s see, whose turn is it?” Hysteria erupts from him in a grating cackle.
He’s mad as a march hare.
As his laughter fades, he turns a scathing glare on Reed. “Here he is. Everyone, welcome our next contestant.”
“We aren’t playing any more of your god damn games, Jabali. It’s over,” Reed insists, his temper seemingly in check. “Lila is right. You’re cooked. End this peacefully, and you’ll get to live. The house is surrounded by federal agents. You aren’t going anywhere. Just surrender.”
Jabali scoffs, tapping the side of his head with the gun. He’s disturbed. Unstable. “Surrender? Not until I get my payback.”
“For what?” Reed asks.
