Page 75 of How To Catch A Killer … And Date His Best Friend

Maddox chirps up, his chest all but puffing out as he’s pulled right into his element. “You have to consider everything that went into this. There’s a drain for easy cleanup, ventilation above to keep the moisture out of the room, but it’s also letting in a small sliver of light. The tools hanging up are clearly new, and there’s not even old blood stains on the walls. Total bonus if you ask me. A severe lack of rats though. They’re definitely missing out on an untapped market there.”

I consider his reasoning, and I have to agree with most of it. “I do love a good, polished concrete.”

Maddox nods as a bloody smile pulls across his lips. “You know I’m a sucker for polished concrete.”

“It is a premium choice.”

Maddox whistles, looking at the cell in a new light. “Must have set DeLuca back a fortune.”

A familiar voice cuts through the cells. “Ten million to be exact.”

DeLuca.

And just like that, we’ve entered phase B of the plan. Draw the fucker out.

Antonio steps into view from beyond the row of cells and the first thing I notice is how much older he looks. It’s only been a few years, but that time hasn’t been kind to him. He’s heavier now, and still wearing enough gold jewelry to draw the attention of every pirate across the seven seas.

“You boys never learn,” he chides, barely sparing a glance at his dead guard under Maddox’s feet. He doesn’t even note how Maddox’s new position could be a threat to him.

He’s arrogant, that hasn’t changed since we last saw him, but what has changed is us, and considering that he’s standing in this room without a guard at his back tells me just how much he’s underestimated us.

Maddox grins. “You’d be surprised.”

Antonio just shakes his head. “Still the class clown,” he muses, but for just a moment, uncertainty flickers through his stare, and he takes a cautious step back.

Looks like he’s finally paying attention.

“I made an error in judgment the last time we met,” he says, his gaze shifting between us, his hand resting on the gun at his side. “I won’t make that mistake twice.”

“You made a grave mistake,” I tell him just as gunshots echo from somewhere deeper within the compound.

Antonio freezes, his stare locked on mine with a deep suspicion as shouting erupts from just outside the cell block. “Friend of yours?”

“Nope,” I say, just as surprised by whatever the fuck is happening outside, but I’m here for it. “Seems we’re not the only ones who’ve come to end your miserable life tonight.”

The chaos outside grows as Antonio’s men pour into the cell block, wanting to protect their boss. People scream, and I glance at Maddox. It sounds like a whole fucking army has shown up here.

“What the fuck is going on?” Antonio roars to his guards.

Great fucking question.

More people flood into the cells as though this is the only cover from the onslaught of bullets coming from outside, and when Antonio begins to shuffle away, desperate for an escape, I shake my head. This bastard isn’t getting away tonight.

Maddox takes the moment of distraction to push up against the body he’s standing on and effortlessly slips his chains over the meat hook that has us dangling here like a set of black and blue balls. I crunch upward, catching the meat hook with my feet and taking the weight off my wrists to unhook myself.

I drop to the ground beside Maddox, and with just a few slight adjustments, the chains around our wrists turn from a disadvantage into a deadly weapon.

We spring into action, picking off Antonio’s men, and by the time Antonio even realizes that we’re free and coming for him, we’re already almost there.

The golden retriever personality Maddox wears around Lyra vanishes completely. No smiles, no jokes, no fucking warmth, only focus, precision, and cold-blooded violence. People see him as the easy-going flirt, nothing more than a charming playboy, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Maddox isn’t harmless. He’s one of the most dangerous men I have ever met.

He’s just like me.

Ruthless.

Within seconds the compound has descended into complete chaos. Alarms blare as men run in every direction, trying to save themselves, but the gunshots from outside are getting louder. Then a bullet ricochets off the cell bars in a flash of sparks.

What the actual fuck is going on here?