Sanguine Tides - Book 3

Chapter 21

TW in the description
Thank you to Mindie for the art!

Hey guys, I am sharing with you Chapter 21 early because I WILL BE OUT OF TOWN this Wednesday! So I am giving you the chapter early because Wednesday I will not be able to post. Chapter 22 will come next Sunday! Happy reading!

Alberto POV

Alberto kept still as he listened to the men. They were mumbling amongst themselves, confusion in their tone.

"Boss says he is coming here to figure it out." One of the men said.

"What do you think he is gonna say when he sees for himself that we got two humans?"

"I don't want to be around to find out."

The room was filled with the scuffling of feet, men coming and going, some leaving entirely to different posts.

It was over an hour before Mattias began to stir. When he tried to sit up, a man stomped over and kicked him hard in the stomach.

"Stay down! We are in enough trouble as it is because of you."

Mattias groaned. But during the exchange managed to roll himself over to face Alberto. When the man left to resume talking by the door, Alberto dared whisper in Mattias's direction, barely moving his lips.

"Are you ok?"

Mattias gave an almost undetectable nod.

"What do we do? Ercole is coming."

Mattias closed his eyes, thinking.

"We can't be here when he arrives. Can you change?"

Alberto nodded. He was still lying on the soaked carpet, one side of his body wet. Changing now would be a relief.

"How many are there?"

Alberto moved his eye as far as he could without turning his head. As far as he could see, six men were by the door. Two had guns, and the others had belts with an assortment of weapons, including tasers.

"Six men. Two guns." Alberto's stomach turned at the sight of the metal firearms.

"Ok. This is what we are going to do."

~.~.~.~.~.~

"It's your damn fault!" Mattias shouted, struggling at his bonds, trying to get at Alberto.

The steady lull of conversation in the room stopped.

"Get out of my face! I should never have followed you here!" Alberto yelled, trying to kick at Mattias.

"Hey! Shut up!" The guard shouted.

"My fault!? What a joke. This was your idea." Mattias growled, his face contorted with anger.

"My idea, but you're the one that screwed it up!"

"I said quiet!" A guard came at them, a heavy baton in his hand.

"Oh yeah? And what are you going to do about it? Your boss is coming. You can't kill us." Mattias said to the guard.

With a heavy swing, the man brought down the bottom on Mattias's shoulder.

"Can't kill ya. But nobody said anything about giving you a good beatin." He sneered.

Mattias grit his teeth in pain on the floor, but he didn't stop.

"Beat me all you like. I can take you."

Another hit.

He groaned.