Unbreakable (City Lights, #2)(15)

Callie, I love you…

“What the f*ck you think you’re doing? Sneaking up on me? Get on the ground, *! Now!”

I returned to my spot against the wall beside Alex, walking on legs that felt like Jell-O. My breath came in harsh gasps but anger was fast burning up that first jolt of terror.

“Relax, man,” I said. “I wasn’t trying to get the jump on you. We got people here who need to use the restroom.”

Frankie froze for the space of a few heartbeats and then burst out laughing—an obscene giggle. “Gotta go pee-pee?” He snickered and wiped his nose. “All right. Hold up.”

He disappeared for a moment and the entire room breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“Thank you,” Tanya said to me, and Sylvie, sitting beside her, nodded.

Frankie reappeared in the door a minute later. “All right, piggies. Field trip. One at a time.” He indicated for Roy to stand up. “Slowly, fat man, or I spray the wall with your guts.”

One by one, we took turns filing out of the office. Wolfman did the escorting so Frankie could remain on guard. When it was Alex’s turn, I felt every muscle in my body tense as she slowly got to her feet.

“Come on, Red,” Frankie exhorted. “We don’t got all day.”

Alex squared her shoulders and started to slip through the doorway but Frankie moved to block her. He leered at her and she averted her face, as if he smelled sour. My hands clenched into fists.

Frankie giggled. “You’re a pretty one, aren’t you? Gotta pee-pee, angel? Need any help?”

Alex said nothing, gave him nothing to show he was riling her. She squeezed past him, into the hallway. Good for you, Alex. I eased a sigh as Wolfman, still wearing his mask, led her away, out of Frankie’s reach.

“You just holler if you change your mind,” Frankie called after, chortling like a dope. His jumpy, housefly gaze landed on me and an ugly sneer spread over his face. “I see you watching us, pretty boy.” He cocked his head, mockingly curious. “You don’t like how I talk to Red? No, you don’t like that at all, do you?”

Fuck. I averted my eyes, vowing to keep them anywhere but on Alex when she returned.

Too late. When she came back, Frankie danced back and forth like an eager mutt. “Feel better, Red?” He glanced at me, then her. Back and forth, gauging how I reacted without the smallest shred of subtlety. And I couldn’t help but look.

Alex said nothing, but braced to move past him. Again, Frankie blocked her path, moved closer, until she was backed against the doorjamb, his body against hers. He leaned in, nosed her neck, and inhaled noisily. “Mmm, you smell good. Like money.”

“Hey, man,” I said, striving to keep my voice flat. “Leave her alone.”

“But she likes me, don’t you, Red?” Frankie’s free hand crept up to her breast. “I think she likes me a lot—”

A red haze of rage descended. I surged to my feet, ready to rip the f*cker’s throat out, but Frankie backed off quickly, and swiveled his weapon toward me.

“I knew you couldn’t stay put. Ha! A bully, just like I thought. Big strong guy…break me in half with your bare hands right?” He laughed and hefted his AR-15. “You ain’t shit to this.”

“Be cool, man,” I said, holding up my hands and trying desperately to follow my own advice. “Just leave her alone.”

“Fuck you!” Frankie spat a wad of saliva. I think he was aiming for my face, but he was too far away and the yellowish blob landed at my feet.

“Come on, Frankie,” Wolfman said from the hallway. “Let’s wrap this up. Who’s next?”

Frankie hesitated and I could see a thousand different chaotic thoughts dancing behind his eyes. Finally, he barked at Alex to sit down and she did, avoiding meeting my eyes as she passed me. I wanted to tell her it was okay, to comfort her somehow, but Frankie was jabbering at me to take my turn.

“I don’t like you,” he said as I went to the door. “I don’t like you at all.”

It took all I had to not shove the bastard out of my face. “Feeling’s mutual.”

In the hallway, Wolfman took up position behind me. “Eyes forward. No talking.”

We walked down a short corridor perpendicular to the hallway in which our office room was located. I saw other offices filled with hostages, no more than about ten to a room, and made a mental note to tell Amita so she could pass it on to the cops. I didn’t know exactly what good it would do, but I figured the more info they had, the better. Especially about the monster squad. By my count, there were only six of them but I couldn’t say for sure. I’d only seen three since we’d been moved. I tried to get a count of more, or anything else I thought might be useful, but the men’s employee bathroom came up on the left.

“Two minutes,” Wolfman said.

I used the restroom and then took a minute at the sink to splash some cold water on my face, trying to think. Frankie was bad news. Someone was going to end up seriously hurt or killed if he wasn’t dealt with. And if he touches Alex again…

My hands clenched again at the memory of that filthy bastard’s hand on her. The rage had been hot and immediate. Potent. You’d feel the same it were any woman there, I told myself. Maybe. I knew I’d defend any woman the same way, but the ugly feeling in my chest when he touched Alex? That outrage had an edge of fear to it that I couldn’t explain.