Shit, he thought, this is why I like to work alone. You can’t count on anyone.
He made his way to the lighted porthole and peered into the room downstairs.
Sin was lying on the floor with both Bubba and Humberto aiming guns at her.
“I’ll hold her while you cut them clothes off her,” Bubba tossed Troy a knife.
“Use this,” Humberto said, handing Troy Sin’s pearl-handled blade. “I want to watch you cut her with her own blade.”
“I like that idea,” Bubba growled. “Give the bitch some of her own medicine.”
Troy pocketed Bubba’s knife in the front pocket of his pants and flicked his wrist, snapping Sin’s straight-edged razor open. He squatted in front of Sin and ran the open blade across her cheek. “I have another idea,” he said. He stood and looked back at Bubba. “She’s been giving you the most trouble since she’s been back in town,” Troy said. “I’ll hold her and you strip her.”
Sin snapped her head toward Troy—eyes open wide and nostrils flaring.
“What,” Troy said, glancing back at her, “did you really think I bought your line of bullshit. This is going to be as much fun as doing that stupid bitch my freshman year.”
He eyed Sin a little longer than he should, hoping she got the message. He snapped the razor closed, tossed it to Bubba, and yanked her to a standing position.
Charlie pulled his gun from the inside of his wetsuit and crept towards the open door.
From the door, he could hear Bubba clear as day. “Don’t squirm or I might cut them big tits.” He could see Bubba pull Sin’s shirt out of her pants and start to slice the material.
Charlie knew Troy was working with him, but he couldn’t understand why he was letting Bubba get away with what he was doing.
As Bubba sliced through the fabric of her shirt, he turned to say something to Humberto. As he turned back, Sin lunged forward and head-butted him, cracking the bridge of his nose.
Bubba dropped the blade, covered his bloody nose with one hand; at the same time Troy tossed Sin to the side.
Troy turned back just in time to see Bubba pull his gun. Troy dove to cover Sin as Bubba pulled the trigger. Before he had a chance to pull it a second time, Charlie put two slugs in him.
Bubba’s limp body dropped—dead before he hit the floor.
Charlie ran into the cabin toward Troy who was also on the ground―bleeding. From the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow moving toward him.
Charlie spun toward his target when one final gun shot echoed through the cabin. He heard the thud of a gun drop onto the wood floor and turned to see Humberto holding his neck, blood gushing in time with his pulse.
Humberto’s eyes were glued not at Charlie and Troy, but at the corner of the room. “Perla Angel de la Muerte,” he gurgled.
The last words he would ever utter.
“Damn right.”
Charlie and Troy turned to see Sin kneeling in the corner.
“What the hell just happened?” Charlie said.
“Damned if I know,” Sin said. “I managed to free my hands before Hummer and Bubba made their way down here, and Troy was nice enough to put a knife in his front pocket where I could grab hold of it before he tossed me aside. I threw the knife at him, but he was shot before it even hit him.”
“That explains the knife sticking out of his neck,” Charlie whispered, “but where the fuck did the shot come from—and where’s Fletcher?”
“Fletcher?” Sin exclaimed.
“Yeah, I called him when you didn’t return as planned. The bastard was supposed to be my backup, but he wasn’t in position when I boarded the boat.”
“I was in position mate and don’t call me a bastard.”
“Care to explain?” Charlie asked.
“I watched the skinny one drop off the others on shore and double back here. I didn’t want him surprising you, so I stayed submerged next to the boat when you came looking for me. I figured I better keep an eye on him.”
“And?”
“And I stabbed the son-of-a-bitch as he was re-boarding the boat. He’s now chum—shark bait. When I got on board, the party had already started, but lucky for me, I arrived in time for the climax.” He nodded towards Humberto’s body.
Sin wrapped her arms around Fletcher and squeezed him tight. “It’s good to see you, Fletch. Is the unit with you?”
“Yeah, they’re keeping watch, making sure there are no unwanted visitors.”
“Nice story,” Troy grunted, “but do you think one of you could give me a hand?”
They turned and saw blood beginning to pool around Troy.
Sin used Troy’s belt as a tourniquet. “That will hold him, but he needs medical help.” She glanced at Troy and Fletcher. “I don’t want to call an ambulance and give away our position. Fletch, do you think you can drive him to the hospital?”
Fletcher began to nod.
“Not necessary,” Charlie said. “We have the best medical care around back at the house. We’ll transfer him to Fletcher’s boat and we’ll make a b-line home.”
“What about York and the girls?” Sin asked.
“They’ll be safe―for now,” Charlie said.
“How do you know?”
“I was able to find out quite a bit while you were on a little Central American vacation,” he smirked, “come on and I’ll show you.”
“Wait, one thing before we leave.” Sin squatted in front of Humberto and removed her gun belt from his waist. She then dug into his pockets and found her Balisong. She stood, wrapped the belt around her hips, strapped it tight, and caressed the pearl handles. “Now, I’m ready.”
Charlie picked up her semiautomatic from the floor where Humberto had dropped it and stuck it inside his wetsuit. “Now
