Luca

“Let’s get this over with then.”

I watched Raul flick his cigarette onto the ground and head into the outhouse followed by the other two. I held my knife firmly and went to leave my hiding place but then jumped back as one of the men walked back out and headed towards the main house. Two men were in the outhouse now, I stood a bit more of a chance against two. I stayed against the side of the brick building and crept to the door listening carefully to the men inside. I could hear muffled voices, clanking of metal but not much more. As I stepped over the threshold into the building I saw one of the men leaning against another door way into a main area inside and Raul’s gravelly laugh, more evil than jovial came from further into the room.

“Where’s the iron bar? I want the fucking iron bar.” Raul shouted out.

“Take that piece of shit away and get it now.”

The guy leaning up against the wall stood up straight and caught something that Raul had thrown over to him, it looked like some kind of horses whip. Maybe they were tending to one of the horses from the stables. That would be strange though they didn’t look like animal lovers to me. The guy disappeared out the back of the building and my curiosity got the better of me I had to see what Raul was doing in that room.

I saw what looked like old farming machinery against the wall opposite the doorway the guy had been leaning against and stealthily crept my way over to it to hide out behind it and get a better view of the room Raul occupied. As I crouched down, I clamped my teeth shut to stop myself screaming when I heard the squeak of a mouse or some other small animal dart out from where I’d chosen to hide. It was imperative I didn’t give away my presence or my hiding spot at this time. However when I turned my head to face the doorway in question I couldn’t stop the gasp coming from my mouth.

Chained against the back wall of the outhouse, like some kind of butchers meat room or twisted abattoir hung Luca. His arms were chained above his head as his battered and bloody body hung limply down, his feet barely touching the floor. His head was resting forward, lifeless on his chest, and his eyes were closed as if he’d passed out but he was still breathing. I could see the rise and fall of his chest and the effort it was taking for him to breathe. His face was barely recognisable as it was swollen and covered thick with blood, red and fresh as well as brown and dried up. He’d been beaten repeatedly over and over, I couldn’t bear to imagine what he had suffered and how much more he could take, or rather couldn’t take. His chest was bare and covered in lashes, cuts and bruises. His jeans were stained and dirty and his feet were bare and looked too weak to holdup his strong frame. They were beating him to death. He didn’t have long even I knew that. The thought made me feel sick and terrified all at once.

My hands shook uncontrollably as I slipped the mobile phone out of my bra and tried to text Freddie. I couldn’t type properly, I could barely hold the damn thing still, but he would get the gist. Come quick, he’s here and we don’t have long.

I watched as the guy walked back over to the door and threw a thick metal bar over to Raul. I knew then what he planned to do and the blood in my body turned icy with fear. No. They couldn’t use that on him, not how weak he looked now. He wouldn’t be able to take a single blow. They’d kill him. They couldn’t kill him. I had to do something to stop them. I had to move or do something, anything.

I panted and felt the panic rise like bile from my stomach into my throat.

“I need another smoke.” The guy at the door said calmly as if it was just another day at the office, and walked over to the external doorway.

I didn’t even stop to think about the consequences or the prospect that he might over power me, I followed him outside. My feet were bare to ensure I moved quietly across the ground undetected. Then with as much force as I could muster and not a second thought to what I was actually doing I rammed my hunting knife into the back of his neck. I pulled it back out as he fell to his knees making a grotesque gurgling sound and plunged it back in again just as hard. Red spurted out over the gravel in front of us as he slammed forward onto the floor. One down one to go. I knelt down and felt his pockets, I got lucky as I felt a hand gun, a quick check of the chamber and I could see it was fully loaded. I threw the hunting knife onto the ground and stalked back into the outhouse with the gun ready to put the deadliest black mamba down for good.

“I bet you regret fucking with us now don’t cha!” Raul was pacing up and down, dragging out the torture for as long as he could.

“Fuck you!” Luca spat back as he used every bit of energy he had to lift his head and reply.

He spat out the blood from his mouth onto the floor then bared his teeth at Raul as I stood watching from the side of the doorway.

“Did you really think you could shut us down and just walk away…no blow back? You’re gonna pay for what you did to Sanchez and Diaz, and you’ll pay for causing us so much shit. I’m gonna enjoy fucking you up for the last time Marquez. Think your brother will love the way we’ve planned to send you back to your family. You know…head first.”

Luca didn’t flinch or show any fear, despite what he said. I on the other hand wanted to hunch over and throw up. ‘Stay focused Chloe’, I told myself, ‘you can do this’.

I stepped one foot into the room and stood silently behind Raul. Luca didn’t even look at me, he kept his gaze and attention on Raul as he held the metal bar up ready to strike.

“You know I’ve left a prime piece of ass in my bed to come down here and deal with your shit Marquez.” Luca didn’t react as Raul moved closer to him.

“Little brunette with the sweetest ass. Sucking on her tits was like sucking on candy and the little moans she made...man she’s a real keeper. I can’t wait to taste her pussy when I’m done taking you out. I’m gonna ruin her for any other guy. After I’ve done with you she’ll get the full black mamba experience and then some.”

I shook my head in disgust and lifted the gun to point it at Raul’s back. I would have gone for the head but I wasn’t the most experienced gun shot and the back was a better bet.

“Maybe I’ll take a little trip to find your girl Marquez, make it a threesome. You’d like that wouldn’t you.” He cackled and I snapped.

“Get the fuck away from him.” I could feel the anger flowing out of me and I had to put this dog down before he ruined anyone else’s life.

Raul spun round and grinned at me, his stained dirty teeth giving him a demonic edge.

“Well, well, well. Looks like we got ourselves a nice little party going on right here. Couldn’t wait for me in the bed sweetheart? Want to put on a show for our ‘guest’ here?”

“Move away from him now.” I growled through my clenched jaw as I tried not to show that my arms were shaking as I held

the gun in his direction.

“I’m not the bad guy here babe, so go back upstairs and wait for me like a good little girl. Let me finish up here and then I’ll finish you off up there.”

I wanted to shiver, even the thought of him made my skin crawl.

“I don’t think so.”