It’s aimed into a dark corner of the wide chamber, not at my heart. I look at him over Toni’s shoulder, my hands holding on to her. The warning shot still echoes long.“Sorry to spoil the moment,” he says. “Why don’t you be a good boy and let go of the merchandise?”“What have you done to her?”“I said let go of the lady.”He aims the gun at me now, getting a bead on my next thought.I’ll never let you go, Toni.Never.The next shot cracks just past my head. I hear the slug hit the floor behind me, bouncing back into the room. The thunder staggers me on my feet, and I lose my grip on her. In the same second, a pair of rough hands grabs my arms, pulls me back—and then more hands. I can’t fight these guys. Too much pain in my head, the crashing of angels and devils on all sides. The smell of roses, contaminated by sweat and grime.Toni, just out of reach now.The world tumbling and turning.She is dressed all in black—silk pants and blouse, buttoned up the front, revealing just enough of her, like she’s peeking out at me from beyond my ruined, black dreams, her form delicate and overpowering, her long dark hair almost hiding her face.
