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.After all, when it came to government discounts, there were only three companies the Secret Service travel office listed as “preferred providers.” National was number one.“Any luck?” Joey asked.Squinting at her screen, the rental agent looked confused.“I’m sorry.but it says here that someone already picked it up.”“Oh, those enthusiastic bastards,” Joey laughed.“I knew they’d jump on the early flight—anything to catch a bad guy.” Flipping open her wallet, she whispered “United States Secret Service,” and flashed a gold badge.Sure, she covered the words “Fairfax County Police” with the tips of her fingers, but as Joey learned over the years, a badge was more than a badge.Especially when it was her dad’s.“We were supposed to meet in Miami and.Can I borrow your phone?” she asked.“I’ll try their cell.”Stretching the cord over the counter, the rental agent punched in the number Joey gave her.Through the receiver, Joey heard her own answering machine pick up.Suddenly serious, she looked up at the rental agent.“All I’m getting is voicemail.”“I-Is that bad?”“Do you have any idea where they went?” Joey asked nervously.“Actually, we’re not supposed to—”“They’re my partners,” Joey pushed.“If something happens.”The rental agent was about to say something, but hesitated.“It’s an emergency,” Joey pleaded.“Please.”The agent ripped a paper map from the stack and anxiously slid it on the counter.“They wanted directions to South Beach.That’s what I gave them.”“Anywhere in particular?”“Tenth Street—they didn’t give an address—but it’s a small area.”“I’ll find it,” Joey said, grabbing the map.“How fast can you get me a car?”55The third punch pummels my jaw, and the sour-sweet taste of blood floods across my tongue.“Leave him alone—!” Charlie screams, though he barely gets the words out.Whipping his arm forward, DeSanctis pounds the butt of his gun against Charlie’s jaw.“Where is it!?” Gallo roars in my face, winding up for another blow.He grips my tie and swings me back toward the couch.“Tell us where it is, Oliver! Say the words and we’re out of your life!”It’s a simple promise and an absolute lie.The only reason we’re still breathing is because we have what they want.“Don’t tell ’em shit!” Charlie yells, blood dripping down his chin.DeSanctis cranks his arm back and this time plows Charlie in the ear.Crumbling to his knees, Charlie screams and cups the side of his head.“Charlie!”“Don’t move!” Gallo warns, tugging me back by the neck.“Hit him again and you’ll get nothing!” I shout.“You think we’re negotiating?” Gallo barks, still holding me by my tie.He smashes me into the bookcase, where a dozen engineering texts tumble to the floor.Refusing to let me catch my breath, he grabs me by the lapels and wings me back toward the endtable.The lamp shatters and picture frames go flying.I’m stumbling.fighting to stay on my feet.but I can’t get my balance—or the gun that’s in the back of my pants.“Y’know how much of my time you wasted?” he continues to rage.“You have any idea what this cost me?”Like a wrestler in the ring, he regrabs the knot on my tie, whips me around, and tosses me back into the bookcase.On impact, the edge of the shelf stabs me in the back of the neck, and my head snaps back.For a second, I can’t see.Pulling me forward, Gallo winds up and shoves me back again.Then again.Each time I collide, a stack of books rains down on me.“Where’s the money, Oliver! Where’d you fuckin’ put it?”Spit flies from his mouth.There’s a small gap between his yellowing teeth.On each impact, the world blinks on and off.I’m about to pass out, but Gallo won’t let up.Eventually, he wraps his claws around my throat and pins me back against the bookcase.I can’t breathe.As he tightens his grip, I fight for air.Nothing comes but an empty gasp.“P-Please.”Over Gallo’s shoulder, Charlie’s still on the ground, holding his ear.DeSanctis stands over him with a cocky grin.And behind them all.I swear, something moves in the kitchen.Before I can react, the whole room fades and spins sideways.It’s like being underwater, sucked down by the tide.Gallo squeezes tight and I float back to last night.Back to Gillian [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]