That fucker. Bolt Saxton-the guy Kennedy had claimed was just a subject in her study. He was the one who did this to me. As soon as he stopped this vehicle, he was a dead man. I slowly eased my way back down to the floorboards of the SUV and waited. And waited. And waited some more.
No one spoke. The radio didn't blare from the speakers. And when Smith dared ask what they were going to do with us, the Azurite barked, "None of your goddamned business."
It was just as well. Whatever he had planned, I was going to thwart it.
When the SUV finally pulled into the parking garage of a warehouse building, I closed my eyes and focused, seeing the tribal tattoos on my left arm in my mind's eye. I imagined the intricate scrolls intertwining with each other and just like that, my arm heated and I knew if I looked, they'd be glowing.
He wouldn't stand a chance. All I had to do was wait for my opportunity.
Without bothering to use a parking space, Saxton stopped the SUV right next to the building's elevators. "Out," he ordered.
"What about the shit-for-brains in the cargo hold?" Smith asked.
"Leave him." Saxton jumped out of the SUV.
"You can't do that. We had a deal!" Kennedy cried as she followed him and slammed the door shut.
The back popped opened just in time for me to catch the Azurite's response. He had his back to me as he spoke to Kennedy. "The only deal was to not leave him behind."
"But-" Kennedy started.
"Toss him in that dumpster over there," Saxton said, cutting her off.
"Gladly," Smith said with a snicker, eyeing the receptacle. I closed my eyes, feigning unconsciousness and willed the power in my tattoos to go dormant. I had one shot to get this right. Three on one was too risky when Kennedy was vulnerable. And glowing tattoos would eliminate my element of surprise.
"Poor bastard," Smith continued. "Too bad the boss doesn't just let us end his sorry ass. Imagine waking up in a pile of rotting, stinking garbage. If we're lucky, he'll fall into a maggot infestation."
I suppressed a shudder. Sick son of a bitch.
"You'll do no such thing," Kennedy said, her tone seething. "You'll bring him to my apartment or-oomph!"
The sound of flesh smacking flesh rang through the garage and it was all I could do to not spring out of the SUV and kill the son of a bitch. That was the very last time anyone was going to lay a hand on her if I had anything to say about it.
"Asshole," Kennedy muttered.
Good. At least she still maintained her fire. A trickle of pride for her unwavering strength broke through the rush of unrelenting anger, fortifying me. She only had to hold on for a few minutes, just long enough for me to get the jump on the assholes threatening her.
"Carl, retrieve sleeping beauty," Smith said.
I went completely limp as Carl hauled me halfway out of the SUV by my feet, then lifted me over his shoulder like a sack of grain.
"Meet us up on the fourth floor, apartment 4B," the Azurite ordered.
"This will only take a minute, boss," the man carrying me said. "Or would if Smithy would help for one goddamned second."
"Smith, help him. Then met us upstairs." The elevator dinged, and a few seconds later, I heard the faint whoosh as the doors closed. The goon carrying me, stumbled and we both went down hard on the cement.
"Jesus fucking Christ, Carl," Smith admonished as he stalked over. "Can't you do anything right?"
Carl rolled off me, kicking my shin for good measure. "That fuck weighs more than a beached whale."
"Stop bitching and do your job." Smith held out a hand to Carl, but before the thug could grab it, I sprang to my feet, grabbed Smith's wrist and twisted it behind his back while simultaneously locking him into a chokehold. Smith gasped and clawed at my arm, but it was no use. My tattoos had flared to life again, giving my skin a stone-like quality. No matter what he did, he wouldn't be able to penetrate my protective layer.
"Hey, Fuck Face. Let Smithy go or I'll turn your head into a canoe." Carl raised his gun, pointing it over Smith's shoulder.
I gave him a sinister smile. "Go ahead and try it. Of course if you miss and hit Smithy, there'll be nothing stopping me from breaking your neck."
Carl pulled the trigger. Smith let out a strangled cry of terror as the bullet ricocheted off my jaw before embedding itself in the SUV.