Free Beloved Beast by Cathy McAllister Page B

screamed.
    Ramon was by her side in a second and speedily cut through her ropes, then he lifted her into his arms in complete relief.
    Crissy sobbed into his arms. Ramon felt unending relief because he had been able to rescue her in time. He had been so afraid that he would lose her. He cradled her in his arms like a child and his heart beat as if it would burst.
    “Are you OK, baby?”
    “Yes,” she sobbed. “I was so afraid for you.”
    “For me?” he asked in amazement.
    “Yes, you complete idiot! Wasn’t it obvious to you that this was a trap? He wanted to kill you!”
    Ramon let her go a little and looked at her, shaking his head.
    “Did you really think I would leave you at his mercy, just to save my own backside? It was already bad enough that I allowed all of this to happen. I let you down, Crissy. Forgive me.”
    “What sort of rubbish are you talking? You did not let me down, you saved me. I don’t what to hear such stupid talk again!”
    A quiet groaning distracted them from their argument. They both looked at Mario on the ground.
    “He … he’s still alive,” cried Crissy in horror.
    Ramon knelt down, turned Mario over onto his back and looked into the glassy eyes of his former friend. Mario’s lips moved.
    “What?” asked Ramon and bent down more.
    “Bro-ther,” gurgled Mario, and blood ran out from the corner of his mouth. Ramon took Mario’s hand and squeezed it.
    “It’s OK,” he said gently. “Sleep, brother.”
    Mario coughed. More blood gushed from his mouth and his body jerked in agony.
    “Heeelp m-me to d…” he groaned.
    Ramon drew the pistol and held it at Mario’s head.
    “It’s over, brother.”
    Mario nodded weakly.
    Ramon shot and the glassy eyes of his one-time friend became empty.
    “Let’s get out of here!” said Ramon and got up.
    Crissy’s eyes fell on the blood on Ramon’s shoulder.
    “You’re injured!” she cried.
    “That’s not important right now,” he said. “We must get away from here. Come on!”



10
Bitter-Sweet
    “I don’t believe it!” said Crissy, shaking her head. “You’ve saved my life several times, dealt with the worst of the Mafiosi, fought with an alligator and now you’re saying that you’re afraid of flying ?”
    “Can you just be quiet and pour me another whisky, please ?” groaned Ramon and he leaned back in his seat, eyes closed.
    “Where are we flying to anyway? Rio?”
    “No. Campinas.”
    “Does your family live there?”
    “Not right there. We have to drive for another two hours – can you pour me another one? I think it’s working a bit.”
    “Do you want to be drunk when you arrive in Campinas? You’re already tipsy.”
    “Don’t argue with me, Crissy,” snarled Ramon.
    Crissy sighed and poured another drink into Ramon’s glass. She looked around the luxurious private jet. It felt more like a lounge in a villa rather than an aeroplane cabin. The bathroom alone was big enough to hold a party in. This could not be compared with the narrow, unpleasant toilets on charter planes.
    “Your friend must have a lot of dosh,” she said.
    “His family is one of the wealthiest in Saudi Arabia,” explained Ramon.
    “Ah, I thought he had something Arabic about him. I just thought that they always wore those head-cloths.”
    “Djamal was born and raised in Florida. He’s more western than many Americans are.”
    “How did you meet him? He hasn’t got anything to do with the Mafia, has he?”
    “No, he deals in straight business. At least, no more dodgy than all other big businesses. I got to know him years ago at a horse racing event. We got on straight away. I haven’t seen him for a long time.”
    “And yet you were sure that he’d help us?”
    “Djamal would give up his last shirt for me. I once helped him with a young stallion that couldn’t be tamed.”
    “You can deal with horses?”
    “Yes, horses and dogs like me – even if they’re complete monsters with everyone else. Even Mario’s guard