Chapter 42 - Sal

NOVA

Someone grabs my hair at the back of my head and pulls me to stand a second before I hand comes across my face. I don’t get a chance to recover before there’s a fist in my gut and I’m gasping in pain.

“Do you know where you are?” I groan as I’m pulled to stand straight again. “You’ll never leave here alive after this. How did you even get in?”

Sal is grinning though his face is different now. His nose has an extra twist in it and his front teeth are for sure veneers. I’m surprised there wasn’t greater damage but realize that Ambrose’s lesson in touching what is his didn’t stick very well.

“It doesn’t matter. We’re all dead men anyway after the deal with the devil we made, but when we were offered the opportunity to take it out on you,-“ his lips curve into a smile that makes my skin crawl, “- I couldn’t pass it up.”

He slaps me again and I feel the blood running from my nose. “What were you offered? I can double it,” I promise easily.

Even if I can’t, buying myself any time is preferred. This room is not easy to get into and I know the men will be back soon. I can see the door rattle where I’m sure Daley and Sequoia are pounding away but I’m glad Daley at least isn’t in here with me. If anything happened to her baby I would never forgive myself.

“We know all about your little world, and we also know you have no real power. Luckily we have friends that do, and they will make sure our empire in the city grows with our families; even if we have to leave them behind.” Sal grins.

There are only five men here, I assume the heads of the other families in the area but they could just as easily be hired hands or people he had blackmailed to help. Regardless, they all seem eager to be here so I question what exactly they’re planning to do with me.

He grabs my face and looks over what I’m sure are massive red hand prints before nodding approvingly. He flicks his hand and two men on either side drag me over to the patio where I can see outside through the wall of windows. Ambrose, Covyn, and Ellion have stopped to talked to someone I don’t recognize on their way back to the balcony.

Their conversation looks tense but they’re nodding politely until the man says something. Ellion pulls out his phone and answers it, and all at once their faces jerk up to look towards the bedroom; at me. Ambrose has the man by the throat in a second but then I feel an arm wrap around me and a knife at my throat. Covyn seems to need to talk him down and then my Ambrose released the man and the knife moves away.

I look over at the men and noticed they have ear pieces in. They can hear the conversation outside and I feel at adisadvantage.

Covyn throws his hands up and the only thing holding Ambrose back is Ellion. They start walking towards the balcony at the same time I see Daley and Sequoia running toward them outside. Sequoia takes over holding Ambrose back and I see her whisper something into his ear that calms him down substantially. Ellion takes Daley into his side and holds her tightly as far away from the strange man as he can.

Daley’s eyes meet mine and horror takes over her features. I realize what she’s seen as they’re climbing the stairs when I feel the bite of a knife against the side of my arm. It drags slowly over my skin and I hiss in pain at the same time I feel something pressed into my ear.

I hear Ambrose growl and it brings a smirk to my lips despite everything. “You fucking hurt her and I swear to Goddess you’ll live long enough to regret it.“