Page 863 of Coal Hearts

Spotlights flicked on, scanning the swimming pool deck as I barged through the patio doors and headed toward the fence I’d climbed over.

The two guards patrolling the perimeter hadn’t been enough to stop me.

However, the dogs almost did.

Scowling at my shredded arm, I cursed the two Dobermans that’d decided to dine on me tonight.

They’d taken a decent bite.

I felt a pang of guilt for shooting them.

They weren’t at fault.

I hadn’t wanted to kill them.

But they’d been brainwashed by their Masters, just like I’d been brainwashed by Victor for a time. I didn’t have long enough to recondition them to see the error of their ways.

“There!” The spotlight arrowed on me. “Shoot him!”

I hurled myself over the high metal fence. My automatic rifle caught on the fleur-de-lis at the top. “Fuck.” Slashing the strap with my dagger, the webbing gave way and I dropped to my feet.

I staggered as the quiet pop of a silenced bullet sounded.

Shit.

I ducked and ran.

I hadn’t parked far.

The car I’d stolen from the last prick I’d exterminated in his villa in the Italian hills waited at the end of the looping drive. My hunt had been rather successful in Europe. I barely slept. I ate just enough to get strong enough to fight if it came down to it.

Nothing else drove me but madness.

Sheer and utter madness to slaughter as many of these cunts as possible.

The monster inside me was completely off its leash, and fuck, it felt good.

Better than good.

I was free.

Another pop.

The red-hot poker of being shot.

Fuck!

My leg tried to give way, but I kept running. Blood oozed out of my black slacks, my thigh throbbing with agony.

I should go back and murder the guard who shot me, but...with my arm gnawed on and my leg now quickly becoming useless, I wasn’t exactly ready for another fight.

No matter.

Just a minor inconvenience.

I barely even felt it.

Pain.