AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Get this damn Eye and get back to Emily and my sons.
I couldn’t help but glance up at the moon, a silvery crescent half-hidden behind a shroud of clouds. It cast a ghostly glow on the water, painting the swamp in shades of silver and black. The sight was mesmerizing.
Please, God. Let me get this Eye.
One tall guy got in front of us. “Come see.”
And then he walked off.
Valentina gazed at Rafael. “Come see what?”
Rafael shook his head. “Come see means Come here.”
Valentina let out an exasperated breath. “I already have problems with English and now I will need to learn a new dialect?”
“As most would say in New Orleans, ‘they talk funny ‘round here.’” Rafael headed off.
Chapter eleven
The Alligator Don
Kazimir
This better not take too long.
With a deep breath, Rafael led us through the gateway, stepping into the shadowy expanse of the Alligator Don’s den.
Inside, the compound was an unsettling blend of rustic charm and lethal functionality. Nature fought to consume the man-made structures. Patches of moss clung stubbornly to the wooden beams. Vines sprouted from the thatched roof and dangled like bizarre green chandeliers. Well-worn furniture stood scattered, revealing hints of the Don’s eccentricities.
We continued forward, passing a wall adorned with tons of hunting rifles. The scent of gunpowder and stale alcohol lingered in the air.
Down the hall, a huge door stood flanked by two men holding machine guns.
I glanced at Valentina. “What do you think?”
“If things go bad, we will have to fight our way out of here.” She frowned. “I hope the rifles on that one wall are loaded.”
I smiled. “Smart.”
“But I do have two small knives under my breasts. Men never check well in that area.”
“You are thinking like a number one.”
She parted her lips and kept my pace.
“Oh.” Rafael came closer to us. “I forgot to add that when we enter, the Don will be silent for a while so you can drink the sight of him in. It’s his thing. Remember. Lots of theater. Just wait for him to speak first.”
I rolled my eyes.
He better not take too long.
As we approached the door, Rafael held up his hand, signaling for us to stop.
One of the guards stepped forward and pierced me with an icy stare. “I will need to check you again for weapons.”
I held out my hands. “And where would I keep this gun, in my ass?”
Silent, the man came over, patted me down, and then checked the others. Once he was satisfied, he signaled to the other guy.
