Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
The Alligator Don’s expression hardened as he took in the scene. For the first time, I saw uncertainty flicker in his eyes.
“Those two don’t mean anything to me. Kill them.” He rose from his throne. “I’m not sure what you’re thinking, Lion, but I have to warn ya, this choice will be deadly. There’s a lot of people to go through when ya leave.”
Suddenly, shots rang in the air.
Then, bullets filled the Don’s chest.
A second later, his body dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes.
Who killed him?
I glanced back over my shoulder.
Valentina held her hostage’s gun. Meanwhile, the hostage lay on the floor in a pool of blood with his neck slit.
I smiled. “Are you trying to replace David?”
“Only if I get a promotion.”
Tisha slung his hostage away and then shot him in the head. The man screamed and then fell to the ground. Tisha stepped over him. “We should hurry. There is already a war outside the compound.”
“And the pansy? Rafael? Where is he?”
“He went to handle the guards outside of the house.”
I turned back to the platform and stared at the Eye. “We do not leave without that jar.”
Tisha got to my side. “I love you, cousin, but my job duties end at alligators.”
I smirked. “Scared?”
He frowned at me.
Valentina shook her head. “I will go in and—”
“You will not.” I took off my shoes. “I will do it, just—”
“Hold on! If I was David, you would let me go in—”
“But, you are not David, you are my sister who I love very much, and you are the mother of my favorite niece.”
“You only have one niece.”
“Yet, she still is my favorite.” I gestured to the dead men on the ground. “Drag them to the pit and push them in. The dead will distract the alligators.”
Tisha sighed. “That might not be enough, Kazimir.”
“There are several alligators eating the woman.” I got to the edge of the pit. “There will be others that go for the men. All you need to do is shoot the ones that come for me.”
“At least take this.” Valentina threw the knife my way.
I caught it.
She cursed under her breath and helped Tisha drag the men over.
As I stood close to the pit, several alligators gazed up at me, waiting to feast on my flesh. The very idea of going in there with them did not excite me at all. In fact, a fearsome fire blazed in my very core, screaming in my head to not do it.
But then I thought of my mouse. Sweet, beautiful Emily. Her laughter alone had brightened some of my darkest days. Upon being with her, I now had my own family—two sons and more children to come.
She needed the Eye.
I still didn’t fully understand why, but if Delphine said it was important, then it was important.
I am doing it.
In the end, my mouse was worth facing a hundred pits of alligators, if needed.
It will be fine.
A sense of calm washed over me, extinguishing the flames of my fears.
I squared my shoulders, readying myself.
Tisha and Valentina rolled the bodies over to the edge.
My heart pounded.
Fuck.
“Okay.” I bared my teeth. “Throw them in.”
Tisha shook his head. “Are you sure about this, cousin?”
“Hurry.”
With a determined nod, Tisha tossed his dead man into the pit. The alligators quickly closed in, tearing at the flesh. The sickening sound of bones cracking echoed in the air.
Having a little more difficult a time, Valentina shoved hers in next. The remaining alligators rushed to that body.
“Have your guns ready.” I took a deep breath, held my knife out, and jumped in. Warm water splashed on me. The pit not only reeked of death, but alligator waste.
Ugh. This is disgusting.
Getting my footing, I quickly trudged forward.
Out of nowhere, an alligator lunged towards me with its mouth open wide—eager to devour me whole.
Damn it!
Somehow, I side-stepped it, right as a bullet slammed into his head. The beast crashed into the water, splashing gunk onto me.
Thank you, Tisha or Valentina.
Adrenaline pumped through my veins.
I raced through the pit.
More bullets fired.
I had no time to see what was going on behind me. All I could do was get to the other side of that damned platform before other alligators rushed my way.
My lungs burned.
My legs ached.
A small alligator charged my way. Rushing forward, I swung the knife, slashing at the snout and slinging it back.
Almost there.
Then, suddenly, right in front of me, I caught sight of the enormous alligator that I had seen earlier next to human skulls.
No. No.
I sprinted forward with every ounce of energy I had, even though my legs screamed in protest.
That damn creature glided through the water with ease. Sharp teeth bared, ready to snap me in half.
Come on, Tisha and Valentina!
Shots rang out all around the big beast, but none hit him.
Terrified, I continued racing through that pit, pushing myself harder and harder.