Free [smg id=31099 type=normal align=center width=150] by Kirsty-Anne Still Page A

struggle to say, the blade pressing in harder than ever.
    My whispered response has Zane and Carlo looking quickly.
    “Fuck,” Carlo swears as he turns to see me captive. “This isn’t the deal!”
    “We’re here to swap money for diamonds,” Zane states. There’s alarm in his eyes, but the training he had to become an officer is clearly sparking to life. He has the ability to negotiate and he’s going to be using it to his advantage. “Now, let her go.”
    “Well, you see,” Carmello pipes up, stepping out of the shadows. He’s a large man with an unhealthy glow to him and a back comb hairstyle. He’s tanned, overweight and reeks of power. “We can’t do that. Salvatore owes me more than just a pitiful swap job. I thought his beloved Amelia was pretty good collateral damage.”
    “She isn’t anyone’s collateral,” Zane comments, and I notice that although he’s getting hostile, Carlo leaves him to play this part. “We have your money.” He turns and Carlo throws the pouch of money to him. “This, for the diamonds. That was the deal Salvatore said. Amelia is no form of payment.”
    “Like my good pal Sal, I like to change things up,” Carmello comments casually, reaching into his pocket to withdraw a small pouch that I can only assume is the diamonds. “Like him letting you take this job.” Carmello laughs when he sees Zane’s eyebrows furrow. “I know all about you,” Carmello acknowledges who Zane is. “The wannabe for Don Abbiati.”
    Zane scoffs, “You know nothing about me.”
    “No, no, I do,” Carmello comments, moving closer to Zane. “That pretty little thing over there was set to kill you. That didn’t happen too easy so Big Al stepped in to help the Dio Lavoro only to take Ms. Amelia’s stiletto to the neck.” He looks at me with hungry eyes. “Damn, girl, you are killer when it comes to those you love. I have to hand that to you. I wonder what pretty fortune your father will pay when he finds out you’re now working for me.” Carmello laughs, eying me quickly from head to toe. I feel like his gaze leaves a trail of dirt behind. “I actually bet you’d look good tied up on my bed. I can’t wait to fucking claim you as mine. No one will want you after I’ve ruined you.”
    My stomach bottoms at the thought of what his nasty mind is thinking up. Before I can truly panic, the look on Zane’s face loosens, but not for long. Suddenly, he comes bewildered with the rage that ignites in him and all at once, he’s picked the hammer up from the workstation before him and is slamming it into Carmello’s face. Blood sprays out and the wounded man yelps. Zane doesn’t stop with one hit. I watch as he slams the hammer into Carmello’s jaw, and another hit to the cheek sends the man to his knees.
    “I’ll go in for another hit if she’s not released in three seconds,” he threatens, raising the bloodied hammer above his head. “It’s an easy choice. If she’s harmed or not let go of, you’re both going to wish for a quick fucking death.” There’s a deliberate, contemplative pause, and I close my eyes as the knife pushes further into my neck. I whimper as I feel blood trickle down my neck a little, and as I open my eyes, I see Zane watching me. “You’re pushing me here. If anything happens to her more than already has, I’ll make sure you’ll learn pretty quickly that hell is a place on fucking Earth!”
    “Let her go!” Carmello orders, still shielding himself from the threat of taking the hammer to the face a fourth time. He’s not speaking much now, the damage to his jaw obviously done.
    Zane doesn’t speak until I’m released and back by Carlo’s side. The look he uses on Carmello afterwards is truly frightening. He’s heaving with such aggression, fueled by rage. I have never experienced this side of Zane before.
    “Don’t ever think you know a fucking thing about me,” Zane spits at Carmello, tossing the hammer aside. He leans in, and Carmello