Page 25 of The Hitman's Virgin
Stupid, stupid, stupid.
When was she going to trust her instincts? She knew something was off when Violet came to her apartment. At the very least, she should have told Evander where she was going. As soon as they got to the club, the truth was obvious. Everything was a trick to get her to the club. She wasn’t sure why at first until she heard the men talking.
They wanted Evander. He didn’t know where she was, so they couldn’t hurt him. That was one consolation for her miserable predicament. There was a small army of thugs hiding in the back rooms. She counted at least nine of them, but only two stayed guard in the main club with them.
The one with the beard seemed to get a thrill from hurting her, but she refused to cry and give him the satisfaction. Inside, she was a mess, barely holding onto her sanity. She felt the heavy weight of hopelessness crushing down—not just for her, but for everyone, even Guy. This was so unfair.
Callie had never really thought about life and death much. Life was a game of survival and she was only twenty-one. However, being held against her will by such ruthless animals sent a new kind of fear and desperation racing through her nerves. Her body shook as if chilled but it was only the fear threatening to take control.
“Are you okay?” whispered Leah.
Callie nodded. The asshole had punched her right in the jaw when she initially fought back. She hadn’t tried again. No one had ever hurt her like that before. She’d been sitting quietly ever since, too afraid to make waves and test how far they could go.
Even now she tasted her own blood in her mouth, but she didn’t feel the pain. Not with so much adrenaline flooding her system.
“Shut up over there.” One of the men guarding them stomped over and kicked Leah where she was sitting so she toppled back.
“Leave her alone!” Callie shouted, the weight of fear suddenly lifting as she worried for her older friend. “She didn’t do anything!”
“Brave now, are you, little bitch? You’re lucky he wants you alive.” He grabbed her hair in his fist, making her eyes water. She winced but refused to cry out. Then he attacked her, the weight of his body crushing the air out of her. Everything was a blur. She fought back, struggling to push him off her. Instead of fighting, he only rolled to his back. Completely still.
Callie sat up and noticed the stream of crimson blood leaking out from under his head, making her scurry backward with her hands and feet. When had he hit his head? Did she do that?
“Is he dead?” She wasn’t sure if it was a question or not. Nothing made sense, especially when the door from the back room opened and the sound of gunshots echoed in the large bar. She put her hands over her ears.
“Over there! The back stairs!” one of the men from the larger group yelled to the others, gun in his hand as he rushed past them. She was grateful their attention was on something else.
The lights flickered from their heavy footfalls, but the electricity had always been in bad shape at the club. The old disco ball over the stage swung as the men ran around, the glittered light highlighting the madness.
More gunshots, bullets ricocheting off the walls, plaster crumbling down, making her afraid to get caught in thecrossfire. She peered at the back where they were running, and that’s when she saw him step out of the shadows. She couldn’t describe how she felt. The closest thing would be serenity. Peace.
At first, she was glad Evander wasn’t with her because she didn’t want these kidnappers to hurt the man she’d grown to love. But now, she knew that fear was unwarranted. Even though he’d told her point blank that he was a hitman, it was hard to imagine. He was so patient and gentle when they were together. There was nothing about him that inspired fear in her. She could only ever feel his adoration. But the man she saw now was something else. There was a darkness in his eyes, the kind that didn’t discriminate, didn’t feel, or offer mercy. A devil.
He didn’t look fazed as he walked straight toward her, barely looking away. There was intent in each confident step. The men initially hadn’t noticed him, passing by to the back of the club. One caught sight of him.
“He’s here! In the club!” the man shouted.
Evander turned slightly and crossed his farthest arm across his body, immediately shooting the man in the forehead. He dropped down heavily to the concrete. Callie dared to glance at the dead man beside her on the ground. The blood had spread out now, almost reaching where she was sitting. Evander must have shot him. She scurried backward a bit more.
The group of men had all returned now, guns drawn as they sought out Evander. What had he done to piss them off so much?
There was no way Evander could take on so many men. Her heart began to race with the possibility he wouldn’t get out of this alive. Maybe none of them would.
“I knew you’d show up,” one of the men said. He drawled the words, no sense of urgency in the way he came forward either. “I knew you’d never fall for a piece of pussy. Where is it?”
Evander laughed, but the sound was anything but funny. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. Your mistake was thinking you could put your hands on my woman and expect to live another day.”
The man scoffed. “You think you’re a threat? Look around you. You’re outnumbered, outgunned, and you’re just fucking done.”
“Like I said, I could have let things go, but you went too far. Crossed a line. I can’t forgive that,” said Evander. “There’s blood on her face.”
“And?”
“Get ready to bleed.” Evander dropped down with speed and stealth, immediately taking out the legs of at least three men with his gun. There was a chorus of screams, thugs dropping down and rolling in agony.
Everyone scattered, bullets flying again. She kept low, huddled close to the other captives as they tried not to get shot.
“Get the girl!” The man who’d argued with Evander pointed in her direction. She began to hyperventilate, not sure where to go or what to do as another man ran to her. Callie’s entire body was frozen in fear, like being in a nightmare and unable to react. She wished today was just as easy to wake up from.
