Page 75 of The Big Fix

“I am,” I assured her, realizing that standing there was agony and walking would be even worse. It felt like knives were twisting in my gut, and I wanted to leave, but I wanted to give Jing peace as well.

Suwan was in bad shape, staring over at me, blood sliding past his lips, his eyes bloodshot and swollen, and although there was fear in his expression, there was still defiance as well. He understood his fate.

“She’ll get you,” he told me.

Jing stomped on the beam, and he shrieked like a wounded animal.

“She’ll try,” I agreed, and then lifted my right arm for Jing. “I need you.”

She moved fast, and even her slight weight leaving the beam had to be excruciating for Suwan. Clutching tighter at Dante’s shoulder, I gave Jing some of my weight, I had no choice, the scant strength in my body dissipating fast. I was finding it hard to breathe.

“You look terrible,” Dante commented, sounding a bit disappointed.

“I feel like hell, but you know what the hospitality can be like in these remote resorts,” I teased him, stumbling, giving him all my weight for a moment before I righted myself again.

“We should find the manager of this establishment and take it up with him formally.”

“We just did. But the bastard had a doorman. He’s likely lurking around. The man is quite skilled.”

“Haven’t come across him yet, but you let me know if you see him.”

“Oh, you won’t be able to miss him.”

I was tempted to try and find Fang. After what had been done to me and Owen, I didn’t want to leave the man alive. Whoever else got out, they were paid to be there. I understood that and could let them go. I would never hunt down henchmen; that was neither moral nor a good use of time. Fang was different.

“How about we focus on getting you out of here? This place was hard to find, and it took a damn Laplander to get up here, and you know I hate those.”

“It’s because they’re not stylish.”

“Absolutely right.”

We were quiet for several moments.

“Wait, where did you get a Laplander?”

“The ambassador made it happen.”

“The ambassador who didn’t want me setting back US and Thai relations into the last century loaned you a military vehicle because you asked?”

“I didn’t ask. Darius did the asking, and you know how he can be.”

I did. When Darius Hawthorne really wanted something, he was inexorable. The man could be like the ocean battering against the shore, and he never stopped and never gave up. Best to give him what he wanted so he’d leave you in peace.

We exited through the collapsed wall into the courtyard. Just as we emerged out into the open, Fang attacked. I didn’t see him coming, my peripheral vision was shot, but Dante yelled, shoving me at Jing, the two of us going down under my weight.

I watched in horror as Fang leaped into the air with a swift jump kick, both feet smashing heavily into Dante sideways with the entire weight of his body. Both men fell to the ground. I saw Dante roll and bounce to his feet. He positioned himself and delivered a staggering left hook into Fang’s jaw. The blow connected with such force that the enforcer went reeling backward. It was impressive, especially since Dante didn’t do hand-to-hand combat much anymore, but training was training and it never deserted you.

Jing helped me to my feet, and as we struggled, it was suddenly easier. Arden was there, propping me up, tears rolling down her cheeks as she looked at me.

“I could just shoot that guy if Dante could get clear,” Arden suggested.

But Dante getting clear would require us yelling at him to move out of the way, and that momentary lapse in focus, a second of distraction, could get him killed.

“I couldn’t even lift a gun,” I confessed as I saw Fang seemingly rise in the air and hurtle toward my friend. Dante dived forward as Fang’s foot came whistling within an inch of his head. Fang was so fast, so lethal, I wanted to yell at Dante to get out of there, but he looked as he always did in a fight: calm and controlled. When I saw the grin on Dante’s face, I knew he had him. When Fang lunged at him, I caught my breath. A second later, I saw the glint of steel in Dante’s right hand before he scythed upward with his knife, slamming the seven-inch blade of his KA-BAR into his attacker’s heart. Fang’s mouth opened wide in disbelief as he fell to the ground. He clutched desperately at the hilt as his life slipped away from him. Dante watched, panting, until the man ceased to move, then pulled the knife out and returned to my side.

“Impressive,” I told him.

He shrugged. “I’m gonna be sore tomorrow.”