A Promise of Torment (A Violent Agenda)

“Like fuck am I staying in the car,” I say to him.

“Fine. We just need one of you to drive” He looks at Dino in the rearview mirror. “You stay in the car.”

Dino scowls but nods.

“It makes sense. He’s the best fucking driver we’ve got,” says Viola, like we’re discussing a fucking rally drive or some shit.

By some miracle we make it to the casino without getting pulled over by the police for speeding. Dino takes the wheel and pulls the car away from the entrance where valet parking is, and into the pick-up and drop off area. Then all three of us walk toward the casino.

Viola, thank fuck, has put the crossbow inside a violin case that she found in the music block.

“We’re the entertainment for the night,” she says flirtatiously to the doorman holding the violin case with her good hand. The dress is a plunge neck, so her tits are almost out for all the world to see. It works in her favor and the doorman allows us in without question. As soon as we’re inside, she makes a beeline for the bar.

Dante stops me from following her. “Play the tables. Look like you’re drunk. We need you to be our eyes and ears on the floor. No surprises. Anyone comes in that door you don’t like the look of, you know what to do.”

Clenching my jaw, I nod. Act drunk. I can do that. The rest of it? Fucking psycho talk.

I grab a passing drink off a waiter’s tray as soon as Dante stalks off in the direction Viola went. The urge to follow her into the lion’s den is fucking overwhelming. Why am I even listening to Psycho Charlie anyway? Because he’s a fucking hired gun and does this for a living. I’ve killed before, but under duress. Not on a whim because I don’t like the look of someone.

This is fucking crazy.

I need to trust that he can keep her safe.

After the longest ten minutes of my life, where every person walking through that goddamn door is someone I might have to take out, my phone vibrates.

I walk off to the side to answer it.

“We’ve got her. Viola’s taken the rear exit and will meet you out front,” says Dante.

I pocket my phone, down my drink, and walk out the front doors of the casino.

There’s no sign of the Mustang until I hear it roar around the corner like a souped-up street racer. That’s Dino behind the wheel alright. He jerks to a stop right in front of me.

“Where are they?” I say, after getting in.

“Who the fuck knows, I went around the back but I didn’t see them.”

I scrub a hand over my face as we drive past the front entrance and several men storm out of the casino. They run down the steps, opening fire right at the Mustang.

“She’s not here. Try around the back again” I say. “So fucking glad this isn’t my McLaren,” I mutter as bullets hit the car and Dino takes a hairpin corner, screeching into an exit only back route.

Viola, with an older lady who must be Rebecca, bursts around the side of the back entrance just as we career into the delivery drop off area and slam on the brakes.

“Where the fuck were you?” Viola hisses as she helps Rebecca climb in the back seat and then runs around to the other side.

“Where’s Dante?”

Viola shakes her head. “He’s not coming.”

“What the fuck? Why?” Dino exclaims just as another fucking bullet explodes the rear window, covering everyone in glass.

“Just go!” Viola orders.

“Is he dead?” Dino can’t help but ask.

I shoot him a look but Viola isn’t upset by his question.

“No. He’s fine. He’s holding them off for us. We need to go now,” Viola snaps. Thank fuck after that, Dino doesn’t wait. He accelerates and the car screams like a banshee out of the casino parking lot.