A flicker of movement catches my eye and I turn, watching as a short, skinny woman tries to make a beeline for the exit. Internally, I let out a breath of irritation and disappointment, but on the outside, I simply raise my gun.
I wait until the shot is perfect, not wanting to accidentally put a whole in one of the beakers containing chemicals.
I don’t let a single breath pass my lips as I squeeze the trigger, the shot ringing out loud.
Her body jerks forward as the bullet pierces the back of her head. Blood splatters and she flies forward, landing on her face.
I turn away from the scene. “Anyone else?” I ask.
Dead silence.
Until laughter cracks through the air and I look over to find Maximo watching me with delight in his eyes. He has his hand wrapped around Adam’s throat, the man’s face turning red as he gasps for air. He claws at Maximo’s hands and that catches his attention as he turns his head to look at him.
“It’s time we had a talk, Adam,” Maximo says, releasing him. Adam gasps, sucking in deep breaths of air. He bends over, placing his hands on his knees.
“No time for that,” Maximo says mockingly, patting Adam on the head hard enough for him to nearly fall over. “To the office,” he says, simply.
Adam staggers towards the door just off to the back of the room and it's clear he’s struggling, but the alternative would be worse.
There’s a barren desk sitting in the center of the room, a chair pulled up to it. Maximo kicks the chair out before slinging Adam into it. “Stay,” he says.
Adam looks over at me, a bead of sweat running down his brow. I stare back, unflinching. He blinks and I can see the minute he realizes this is it for him. His head drops and a sob racks his body.
Maximo smiles, prowling around him, drawing out the man’s suffering. He trails a finger along the back of Adam’s neck and Adam jumps, shivering.
“Well, I’ve got a few questions for you, Adam. And if you want me to even consider hearing Vito’s plea to let your family live, I’d answer them honestly and quickly,” Maximo informs him.
Once again, Adam’s eyes flicker to me, making the same mistake that many others have made before, thinking I’m a savior and not a foe.
“You heard him,” I say coolly.
Adam is scum, and very dispensable. His staying alive would serve no purpose to the family, other than causing us a headache. Even if I wanted to save him, which I don’t, there’d be no case to plead and Giovanni doesn’t rescue sad cases.
He destroys them.
Then, he sleeps like a newborn baby afterwards.
For Adam, a quick death is the best he can hope for. I chance a look at Maximo who’s practically bouncing on his toes.
Yes, a quick death would be a luxury because the mood Maximo is in, he’d draw this out for days if Giovanni doesn’t put a stop to him.
“Did you know that our drugs were messed with?”
Adam swallows, his head tilting back slightly as Maximo stops behind him, squeezing his shoulders. “N-n-no,” he stutters out.
“So, you want to die as a liar and a traitor, Adam? Can’t say it’s a unique combination,” Maximo taunts. His hands squeeze tighter on Adam’s shoulders until he lets out a low groan. The strong, acidic scent of urine fills the room.
I look down at the dark spot on Adam’s pants, wrinkling my nose.
“A pissy mess,” Maximo mutters.
He releases Adam, moving in front of him and pacing from one side of the room to the other. From the way Adam starts to shake, you’d think Maximo was already loading the chamber of his gun.
“Why would you betray the family after all that we’ve done for you?” I ask, redirecting Adam’s attention back to me.
“I… I didn’t.”
“Don’t lie to me.” I move forward, wrapping my hand around his throat. I squeeze as blood pumps through my veins and my body grows warm from the adrenaline.