She clawed at his arms, struggling to breathe.
“Now, isn’t this interesting?” a man said.
They turned, and she saw someone who was twice the size of the man strangling her, and looked ten times as deadly.
The first thing she noticed was that he had guns at his waistband. The next thing was how calm he looked while she was getting hurt.
“Who the fuck are you?” the guy behind her asked.
“Me? I’m here on a job. Why the fuck are you here?”
“Got a job. This bitch needs to be taken out.”
The man at the door laughed. “Tell me you don’t have a clue who I am. Do you have any idea who I work for?”
The man behind her stilled, and the hand at her throat actually eased, surprising her. He didn’t let her go, but she was able to think, and for that she was thankful.
“Viper!”
The smile on the man at the door turned deadly. “Exactly. Now, tell me who the fuck hired you.”
“Her stepfather. Who else would? He wants her gone, and he wants it done as soon as possible. Doesn’t matter who gets it done so long as she’s dead at the end of it.”
The man called Viper looked at her as if he was assessing her. “You’re really worth that much?” Viper entered the room, and closed the door. “Let the girl go, and I’ll let you leave here with your life.”
Laughter made her jump as the man behind her erupted as if it was the funniest thing he had ever head. “I know you’ve got a good reputation, Viper, but I don’t think you can take me.”
“Put the girl down, and let’s see.” Viper stood with his hands behind his back, looking so calm.
The man behind her was strong. She didn’t want either man to win, but she didn’t want the one behind her to win at all. That bastard was going to hurt her.
Viper was going to hurt her as well, but she hadn’t actually been hurt by him yet. He was the best bet.
She was shoved down hard on the floor.
“Stay.”
The man walked toward Viper, and she didn’t know what she was expecting. Maybe a fight, something that was scary. She didn’t expect Viper to reach out, grab the man’s neck, and in one twist, snap it.
Her heart raced.
Her attacker was on the floor with his head at an odd angle. “Now this is curious.” Viper began to rummage through the guy’s pockets, and when he found the wallet, tossed it at her. “Who is he?”
She stared at him. “I’m not touching that.”
“Tell me who he is or I’ll hurt you a hell of a lot more than this bastard ever did, and from the look of your face, he hit you a few times.” Viper glared at her. “Now, who is he?”
Grabbing the wallet, she opened it up, and stared at the name. “It says William Donald.”
He stepped back, and grabbed his cell phone. She stared at him, and then at the door. She was in pain, hurting in places she didn’t think it was possible. Could she make it out in time?