“Antonio,” Anna said, giving the smug looking man a single nod.
“Well, if it isn’t Lady Death herself. I didn’t know you were in town.” His hand moved to the grip of his piece.
“Yeah. Not staying long. Just passing through is all,” Anna replied.
Antonio rubbed his nose with his other hand, then pointed at her. “What are you doing here? I didn’t think we’d see you again after that last job you messed up. Boss man made it pretty clear that we were no longer doing business with you.”
I glanced up at Anna from my knees, shifted my weight, and raised both brows.
The buttstock of Heavyset’s AK hit the top part of my shoulders, sending me face first to the concrete.
“Believe me. I’m not here by choice,” she answered, raising her tone.
Antonio pulled the heater from the waistband and pointed it at her head. I stayed on the floor.
“So, you’re working, then?” Antonio asked, shifting his gaze between Anna and me.
“In a way, but it’s complicated,” Anna replied, keeping her hands in the air. “It’s not what you’re thinking, though.”
“Complicated. It’s always complicated when it comes to you, Lady Death.” Antonio said. “Are you here to kill us? Kill the boss man? I can tell you right now, that’s not going to happen.”
“If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have knocked on the door,” Anna answered in a curt manner. “There are a number of other ways I could’ve gotten in here and you know that.”
Antonio shrugged. “Still, that doesn’t mean anything. I’ve seen the sorts of things you can do.”
Anna sighed. “Listen. We don’t have time for this. I need to speak with Domingo now. Where is he?”
“Speak with me. I’ll give you two minutes to explain why you’re here before I pop you and your friend in the head,” Antonio replied.
Anna glanced down at me, then over to Antonio. “It’s about the information you recently got on the McCones.”
“Those worthless cockroaches. So they hired you, then?” Antonio adjusted his fingers over the grip of the piece. He shifted his weight between his legs.
“Like she said. It’s a bit more complicated than that,” I shot back, sitting upright.
Antonio turned, then looked at me. “No one was ask—”
Anna knocked the barrel of the AK away with her forearm. The weapon fired a single round toward the back of the building. Fire flashed from the muzzle. The sharp report hammered my ears.
Heavyset trained his AK at her. I turned and stood, grabbed the hand grip, then shoved it toward the ceiling. He squeezed the trigger, firing off multiple rounds.
I kneed him in his plump gut then ripped the AK from his hands. I shouldered the rifle, aimed it at his head, then turned on my heels to face Antonio and his other men.
Anna had Antonio’s piece in her hand. She stood a foot away from him, the barrel trained at his skull. He lifted his hands, then gulped. The smug look had vanished.
“You shouldn’t have come here,” Antonio said, his mouth crooked and teeth gnashed.
“Like I said, we didn’t have a choice. I don’t want to kill you, or your men, but I will if need be,” Anna replied, keeping the pistol deadlocked on him.
The line of men flanking Antonio aimed their weapons on Anna, then over to me.
“Tell your men to lower their weapons now,” I said, staring at Antonio.
He kept his gaze focused on Anna, then moved his two fingers. “Lower your guns. Do as he says.”
The armed men lowered their weapons without question.
Anna grabbed Antonio by his jacket, then wrenched him around. She shoved the barrel to his skull. “Take us to Domingo, now. I’m not going to ask again. I’m going to speak with him whether you’re with me or not. He’s going to want to hear what we have to say.”
“All right. Fine.” Antonio got on the move with Anna right behind him. His men stepped out of her way, allowing them to pass. I fell in line behind her, covering our backs.
“Where’s he at? His office?” Anna asked, pushing him forward.
“No. He’s in one of the offices on the first floor,” Antonio answered.
Two of his men stayed near the side entrance to the building while the other three guards flanked us, following at a close distance. They trained their flashlights ahead of us, lighting the way.
We made our way through the storage area, passing by steel racks that had various pallets stored in the bays. Black shrink wrap concealed the contents stored on each.
Antonio pushed his way through the lone black door, leading us into a narrow hallway. Anna kept a tight grip on the collar of his jacket, then looked either way down the long stretch of hallway.
I backed out of the warehouse with his men trailing us, keeping the AK shouldered and at the ready.
Portable lights shined down the corridor, breaking up the darkness into small chunks. We skirted past the edge of the door and continued down the hallway.
His men funneled out of the doorway and stayed on our heels. They kept their attention locked on us, AKs shouldered and pistols trained in our direction.
We slipped past the blind corner and continued down the hallway a bit farther. Two more men, armed with AKs, were stationed near an office. They looked our way, then brought the rifles to bear.
Antonio raised his hand. “Lower your weapons.” They hesitated. “Do it now.”
Both men lowered their weapons, watching as we approached the set of double wood doors.
“Go on. Take us inside.” Anna pushed him toward the door. “Your men stay out here. Am I understood?”
“You heard her.” Antonio barked at his men. “Remain out in the hallway and do not come inside.” He pushed the doors open.
I walked past the two
