A losing plan

Chapter 13

"Isn't this just perfect."

It was too sweetly and too sickly stated to mean anything good. You fought the shiver that raced through you, unwilling to give any outward appearance of your current mood.

"Be careful, Jake. She's feisty and Hayashi isn't going to be happy if she gives us the slip."

Jake laughed, the sound cutting through bone and marrow. You gripped your chains all the tighter to resist reacting to the sound.

"You worry too much, Gabriel. With how much the boss likes you, I'm surprised you haven't grown a pair yet."

Jake leaned closer, his finger sliding down your cheek. You narrowed your eyes and waited for your chance.

"I can't wait to see her fight, though. Hayashi promised us front row seats," Jake gleefully stated.

"Then don't do anything to upset him. You know how quick to anger he is," Gabriel shot back.

You glanced at the man leaning to the side. Gabriel was skittishly watching the door to the barn you were held in. After having been dropped off at a corner not two hours ago, these two hadn't wasted any time in grabbing you and bringing you here. You had put up a fight, Gabriel's eye slightly swollen and blue from where you had punched him.

"Surely even he can't deny us our pleasure," Jake stated with a wicked smile.

You gritted your teeth, recognizing that vile look.

"Jake," Gabriel growled as he pushed off from the wall.

"Fine. Fine," Jake grumbled and pulled back.

You waited until the man turned his back to you before slumping against the wall behind you. For a second there, you had feared Jake wouldn't stop.

"He's here," Gabriel murmured, signaling to a third - still unnamed and very young appearing - man to open the door to the barn.

A black SUV rode into the barn and parked, before the barn door once more closed behind the car. You took a last shuddering breath. Your next one should be steady and fearless if you wanted to face Sasaki and his shadow. The doors to the car opened and out stepped Sasaki's shadow.

"Gabriel," Hayashi greeted not unkindly. His eyes narrowed as he took in Gabriel's bruised eye socket. He reached out and Gabriel lightly flinched as Hayashi's fingers stroked down his face.

"I see she hasn't lost her touch."

"Still as fierce as you said."

Hayashi grunted and pulled away. You watched how his eyes lingered on Gabriel's face.

"Were is she?"

You swallowed down the rising fear. The cold tone in which Hayashi spoke made you want to whimper.

"Over there," Gabriel stated as he motioned towards you.

Hayashi's eyes lit up with malice as he spotted you. His approach was slow, almost as if he wanted to make you feel the fear of the unknown all the longer.

"Such a lovely sight," he whispered as he crouched down beside you.

You spat at him, but the man was hardly impressed. A cloth was presented to him and you briefly glanced at Gabriel. The moment your spit was removed from Hayashi's cheek, the bastard reached out and viciously grabbed your hair. You gasped as he pulled your head painfully backwards.

"I've been waiting for this for two years," he murmured, his lips inches from your ear.

"I'll kill you," you hissed fearlessly.