Chapter 56 *
Scarlett's POV
I stepped out of the private dining room. Something felt wrong.
Not wrong exactly. Just... off.
I kept walking down the hallway. Didn't change my pace. Didn't look around.
But every instinct I had was screaming.
You're being followed.
I headed toward the elevators. Pressed the down button.
The hallway was quiet. Empty.
But I could feel them. Four of them. Hanging back. Trying to look casual.
Amateur hour.
The elevator dinged. Doors opened.
I stepped inside. Hit the button for the parking garage. B3.
Footsteps rushed behind me.
All four of them crowded in after me.
Jesus Christ. They're actually all getting in the same elevator.
Real professionals would've split up. Approached from different angles. Made it look natural.
These guys were practically tripping over each other.
I looked down. Studied my phone screen. Kept my expression blank.
Four men. Late twenties to early thirties. Cheap suits. Bulges under their jackets that screamed "concealed weapon."
The one closest to me had a scar running down his left cheek. Badly healed. Probably a knife fight.
Buzz-cut guy was sweating. Kept wiping his palms on his pants.
The other two were standing too close. Breathing too loud.
Not professionals. Just muscle. Probably hired by someone who didn't want to get their own hands dirty.
The elevator descended. The numbers ticked down.
B1. B2. B3.
Ding.
Doors opened.
I walked out. Slow and steady. Like I had all the time in the world.
The parking garage stretched out in front of me. Fluorescent lights flickering overhead. My car was parked in section C. Arthur was waiting there.
But I didn't head toward section C.
I turned left. Toward the maintenance area. Where the security cameras had blind spots.
If these assholes want to make a move, I might as well pick them a nice quiet spot to die in.
The footsteps behind me sped up.
Good.
I kept walking. Into the darker, emptier section.
The footsteps got louder. Faster.
Then I heard it. Running.
Someone slammed into me from behind.
My body jerked forward. I stumbled.
Cold metal pressed against my throat.
A switchblade.
"Don't fucking move, bitch." The voice was rough. Close to my ear. "Or I'll slit your throat."
Time to perform.
I let my body go rigid. Tense. Like I was terrified.
My breathing got shallow. Quick. Panicked.
"Oh God." My voice came out shaky. High-pitched. "Please don't hurt me."
The blade pressed harder against my skin.
"Shut up."
"I'll give you whatever you want." I let my voice crack. Made it sound like I was about to cry. "My phone, my credit cards—just please let me go."
"I said shut the fuck up!"
I could feel him shaking. He was nervous.
"Are you going to kill me?" I let tears creep into my voice. "Please, I have a family. They're waiting for me."
"Jesus Christ." One of the other guys stepped closer. "Just knock her out already."
"Look." I turned my head slightly. Just enough to see Scarred Guy's face. "I don't know what this is about. Did someone hire you? I can pay double."
"Shut her up." Buzz-cut guy sounded annoyed. "She's giving me a headache."
One of them pulled out a cloth. White. Folded.
He unfolded it carefully. Held it away from his own face.
The smell hit me immediately.
Chloroform.
Heavy dose too. Enough to knock someone out in thirty seconds.
My mind raced. Once I was unconscious, I'd lose all control. They could take me anywhere. Do anything.
Time to stop pretending.
The guy with the cloth moved closer. Raised it toward my face.
My eyes went ice cold.
I grabbed Scarred Guy's arm. The one holding the switchblade. Reversed my grip in one smooth motion.
Twisted hard.
His wrist bent at an unnatural angle. He screamed.
The blade clattered to the ground.
I didn't let go. Used his momentum. Torqued from my hips.
Shoulder throw.
He flew over my back. Slammed into the concrete with a sickening crack.
I stepped forward. Planted my boot on his chest.
He gasped. Tried to roll away.
I pressed down harder.
Buzz-cut guy rushed me from the left.
I pivoted. One clean kick to his ribs.
He flew backward. Hit a concrete pillar. Slid to the ground.
The other three finally processed what was happening.
They rushed me. All at once.
Sloppy. Uncoordinated.
First guy got a boot to the stomach. Sent him sprawling.
Second guy caught an elbow to the face. Nose broke with a crunch. Blood everywhere.
Third guy tried to grab me from behind.
I dropped low. Swept his legs. He went down hard.
I turned back to Scarred Guy.
He was trying to crawl away. Blood dripping from his mouth.
I picked up the switchblade. Walked over slowly.
He looked up at me. Eyes wide. Terrified.
I smiled. Sweet and pleasant.
Then I drove the blade straight through his hand.
Through his palm. Into the concrete floor.
He screamed. High-pitched. Agonized.
I leaned down. Got close to his face.
My voice came out soft.
"Now. Let's have a conversation."