Free Holy Island Trilogy 02 - Nowhere Man by Sheila Quigley Page B

David glanced at Aunt May, then back at Mike. The pain in his eyes tore right into Mike, but it only strengthened his resolve.
    ‘I have to do it, Dave, you know this.’
    ‘I will pray for your soul, brother.’
    ‘Better pray hard,' Smiler quipped.
    Mike gave him a look, then turned back to Brother David. ‘Well, I suppose it’ll be good to know I’ve got God on my side. Bit of celestial help won't go amiss.’
    Ignoring his flippancy, Brother David said, ‘Take the boy with you. You’ll need him.’
    ‘No way.’
    Behind him, Smiler tutted. Shrugging, Mike walked over to Brother David. Squeezing his shoulder, he said, ‘Look after them for me-Brother David.’
    Brother David smiled. For a moment his heart lifted. He had been waiting a long time for Mike to accept what he was, and had not realised until now just how much it really meant to him. He covered Mike’s hand with his, and whispered, ‘Take care, Mike.’
    Mike nodded. ‘I will. And make sure you take care of Aunt May and Smiler.’
    Brother David squeezed Mike’s hand. When he finally let go, Mike looked at the still form of Aunt May, covered in wires and tubes, all doing for her what she should be doing for herself. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, her skin was scraped where she’d slid down the wall and Mike gently touched the spot. Then, with a quick glance at Smiler, and a nod at Brother David, he turned and walked out of the room.
    Smiler was at his heels as Mike went into the assassin's room. Reaching the bed, Mike grabbed the man’s face and twisted it towards him. The man moaned, and his uncovered eye opened. He stared at Mike for a moment then, realising who had his jaw in a death-like grip, his eye filled with fear.
    ‘Right, you bastard. Tell me who put you up to this, or I’ll rip your fucking head off.’
    Although he had been expecting something along those lines, Smiler still gulped at the sheer ferociousness in Mike’s voice, and stepped back.
    ‘Tell me!’ Mike shook the man’s head as hard as a terrier would shake a rat.
    ‘I…I don’t know,’ he practically screamed. ‘It was a phone call.’
    Mike laughed. ‘Get many calls like that, do you?’
    ‘A few.’
    ‘Liar, fucking liar… Tell me who owns you. And that’s the operative word, isn’t it? Truth is, they think of you as highly as they think of us, and we both know how much that is. Wise up, bastard, and tell me, or I swear to God you’ll never get out of this room alive. You’re nothing but a useless piece of fucking scum that the world will be better off without, you and your friggin' parasite masters, and whoever allies with them. So tell me. Because, trust me, I’ll drag it out of you one way or another. Now. Tell me now.’ Mike was practically nose to nose with him and screaming in his face.
    The shadow that crossed over the man’s one good eye told Mike he was close to the bone. ‘Fucking tell me!’ He shook the man’s head again.
    But the assassin’s eye still said no as he stared defiantly at Mike.
    Mike let go of the man's jaw, and transferred his grip to his throat. He squeezed until the muscles stood out on his arm. The man’s face grew red, but still he held that stubborn stare.
    ‘No, Mike.’ Smiler stepped forward and put his hand on Mike’s arm. ‘Don’t.’
    But Mike shook him off. As his grip tightened, the man’s face lost the red and took on a purple hue.
    ‘Please, Mike,’ Smiler begged, his hand latching back on and tightening around Mike’s arm. ‘Don’t do it… It will make you worse than them.’
    Mike squeezed harder. Then, after a moment, Smiler’s words seemed to sink in and his grip relaxed slightly. The man sucked in some much-needed air as he struggled to sit up.
    Arms folded across his chest, legs planted firmly apart, Mike watched him struggle. When he was fully upright, Mike leaned forward. ‘Well?’
    ‘Fuck off,’ came the mumbled reply.
    ‘Something original, please.’ Using as much force