Brink of Extinction | Book 1 | Sudden Impact

by Shupert, Derek

  “See, here’s the thing, Cory,” Andrès said. “You’re going to help me, whether you want to or not.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CORY

  I had painted myself into a corner. One that I feared wouldn’t be easy to get out of.

  The brute nudged my chest with the assault rifle, pushing me back. I stared him down, sizing him up.

  I turned my head to the side, then peered over my shoulder. “So, is this how things are now?”

  Andrès removed the Cuban from his mouth. He walked over to the round table and set the cigar on the glass ashtray. He wedged the stogy in the notch along the outside. “I’m sorry things have resorted to this, my friend, but you have left me no choice in the matter.”

  “You do have a choice. This is the wrong one,” I shot back. My amiable demeanor evaporated, leaving nothing more than a furrowed brow and pursed lips. “This isn’t how we conduct business. I thought we had a better relationship than this.”

  Andrès lifted his arm and craned his neck. He wiggled his fingers, then pointed at me. “As did I. I mean, you show up to my house unannounced after all of these years, demanding a plane and a vehicle. Those are not small favors, regardless of what you think I owe you. I do not do such things for anyone who comes to my front door broken and desperate. You, my friend, look to be both.”

  The rucksack was ripped from my shoulder.

  “Hey. What the hell.” I reached for the strap, but was halted by the barrel of the large, Hispanic man’s AK-47 trained at my face.

  Anna was flanked by two of Andrès’s goons. They each grabbed an arm, and pulled her away. “Get your hands off me.” She jerked her arms, trying to break their hold, but they held firm.

  The rucksack was tossed to Juan. He unzipped the top, and buried his hand deep inside the bag, sifting through the cash stowed within. “Five K. Just as he said.”

  I stood there, defenseless, watching the horror of another rotten deal crumble apart in front of me. I took a step forward, then pointed at Anna.

  “Let the girl go. She has nothing to do with any of this,” I said in a desperate plea. The goon flanking me grabbed my shoulder, and yanked me back. “Any business we have is between you and me, not her.”

  Anna was dragged across the floor to Andrès’s side. She continued to thrash her body, and fought to pull away. It did little good.

  Andrès walked with his hands cupped behind his back. A calmness rested on his face as he circled her like a lion toying with its meal.

  Anna looked at me with nervous eyes, then glanced at Andrès. Her head sunk below her shoulders as she avoided his touch.

  “Such a beautiful, young woman.” Andrès ran the tips of his fingers through the ends of her hair. He leaned forward and sniffed.

  Anna jerked her head, pulling her hair away from his touch.

  His men wrenched her arms, staring at her.

  “No. It’s all right.” Andrès stood a scant inch away from Anna. “I like that fighting spirit. There isn’t anything more attractive than a woman who doesn’t put up with much guff. Rest assured, nothing will happen to you as long as Cory plays ball, and doesn’t try anything stupid.”

  Anger surged through my body. I kept my gaze locked on Andrès who buzzed around Anna like an annoying gnat.

  “Fine. I’ll do it,” I said. “Just don’t hurt her, all right? That’s all I ask.”

  Andrès smiled, then glanced over to Juan who had my rucksack draped over his shoulder. “See. I knew Cory was a smart man. He just needed the proper motivation to get his head out of his ass.”

  I pulled my shoulder away from the brute flanking me. “Get your hand off me.”

  His thick arms flexed as he looked down at me. His nostrils flared, but he didn’t make a move.

  “Now that we have that settled, let’s get down to things, shall we?” Andrès said. “The faster we get this done, the quicker you’ll be on your way to that wifey of yours.”

  “Just so we’re clear, once I complete this task, we’re square, right?” I asked. “No more games or bullshit.”

  Andrès bowed. “I assure you, Cory, I am not playing any games. I am dead serious about this matter. Once our business is concluded, you are free to leave.”

  “And the plane and car?”

  “Both will be at your disposal, but only if you complete this task,” Andrès replied. “I’ll hold onto your lovely-little friend here until you come back. Just as a precaution, mind you. She will not be harmed. You have my word.”

  Word? His word meant little to me at this point.

  Anna looked at me with a fearful gaze as the two armed henchmen stood at her back.

  I felt horrible for dragging her through the crud of my former life. She didn’t deserve what was happening.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll get this done, and we’ll be out of here before you know it,” I said, trying to reassure Anna that everything would be okay.

  She nodded, but the fearful gaze remained.

  “Right there. That’s the Cory I remember working with. Focused and ready to handle business,” Andrès said with a smile. “I knew you’d show up eventually.”

  I placed my hands on my hips, then looked at Andrès. “Where do I find this T-dog?”

  Juan removed the rucksack from his shoulder, and set it in the plush chair next to him. He turned toward me. “I’m going to take you there.”

  A look of confusion washed over my face. My nose scrunched as I pointed at Juan. “He’s coming with me?”

  “What? Did you think he was just going to toss the keys to a car and give you a gun, then send you on your way?” Juan asked with a snicker.

  “No, I just figured he’d send someone else who’s a bit more capable than you,” I shot back. “After all, I remember some of those jobs where you were green around the gills, and acted as though you were going to throw up.”

  The subtle jab cut to the quick. His smug smile vanished as he stared me down.

  Andrès tilted his head. “Juan will get you inside, and handle any threats you come across. He is more than capable of handling anything that comes your way Your only objective is to find T-dog and see what he knows by any means necessary. Do what you do best.”

  Juan glanced to Andrès, then nodded in my direction. “You’re sure you want him handling this? I told you before that I can get the intel you need. Besides, I think he’s too soft now. Probably doesn’t have it in him anymore.”

  Andrès reached up, and messed with Anna’s hair. “I have no doubt that Cory will rise to the occasion, and do what is needed. He has ample incentive to not screw me over and mess this up.”

  Anna kept her eyes fixed on me.

  Juan strode past me. He slapped the back of his hand against my shoulder, then motioned toward the rear of the house where we came in through. “Come on. Let’s ride.”

  “I’ll be back as quick as I can.” I said, to Anna as I turned to follow Juan.

  She offered a nod.

  “Do me proud, Cory,” Andrès said in a raised voice while standing at Anna’s side. “I have all the faith in the world in you, my friend.”

  I followed Juan through the rich digs of Andrès’s home. We left through the rear of the house and out through the patio.

  The armed men patrolling the grounds trailed the German shepherds and Dobermans that trotted along in front of them.

  Juan made for the SUV we’d arrived in. He pointed at the passenger side of the vehicle. “Saddle up.”

  He vanished around the driver’s side of the vehicle as I strode along the passenger side. We loaded up into the cab of the SUV.

  Juan cranked the engine. It started without fault. His foot pressed the gas pedal, feeding the engine extra fuel.

  I pulled the seat belt across my body, and snapped it into place. I glanced over to Juan. “So, how far–”

  “Listen. Let’s get something straight here.” Juan turned in his seat toward me. His forearm draped over the steering wheel. There was no
smug smile or cocky expression on his face. Just a stern look. “You do as I say when we’re out there. No funny business or anything else. I tell you to move, you move. You keep your head down, do as the boss requested, and we’ll be back before you know it. If you try to mess us over in any way or do anything other than what you’re tasked with, I’ll kill you. Oh, and that little girlfriend of yours back there, she’ll be passed around my boys like a bottle of Tequila. You feel me?”

  “Yeah. I feel you,” I replied.

  “Good.” Juan shifted into reverse and punched the gas. The SUV backed away from the fence and out into the middle of the driveway before the stone garage. He torqued the steering wheel counterclockwise, and pumped the brake, then shifted into drive and made for the gate.

  My gaze lingered out on Andrès’s security detail patrolling around his house. I hated leaving Anna alone with those vile thugs, but had little choice in the matter. It was that or a fate far worse.

  The gate jerked, then wheeled across the drive.

  Juan rapped his palm against the steering wheel as he waited for it to open. He pulled around the edge of the gate, and passed another guard and dog patrolling the outside of the fence.

  The German shepherd sniffed along the base with its handler trailing behind. The guard tugged at the strap of his AK-47 slung over his shoulder as he pulled on the dog’s leash. The guard didn’t seem too worried about flashing his assault rifle beyond the protected walls of the compound.

  The dog stopped, then lifted its front paw. It looked back our way as we hit the road. Its ears stood on end, and twitched for a second before it continued on.

  We made for the intersection up ahead. Juan didn’t bother stopping or braking for that matter, and drove past the stop sign. He lounged in the seat as if he was out for a relaxing drive on a Sunday afternoon.

  “So tell me, Cory, were you serious when you said you had gotten out of the game?”

  “For the most part, yes,” I replied. My palms rested on the tops of my thighs as I peered out the windows. “I’ve done some work here and there, but nothing like I used to do.”

  Juan guffawed. “Sounds like that woman of yours has got you whipped. Never thought I’d see the day that the great Cory Lawson would be knocked down a few pegs.”

  “Yeah, well, like I said, people change.” Juan was grating on my nerves. I had no desire for small talk. I wanted him to shut up and drive.

  He blew through another intersection, then swerved around a small white hatchback that was stalled in the middle of the street.

  Nestled in the cubbyhole at the bottom of the center console was a 9mm with the grip facing out. It rattled against the sides of the enclosure. I looked at the weapon from the corner of my eye, but didn’t train my head in its direction.

  “You know, Mr. Compos thinks you’re the end all be all,” Juan said. “Even after all of these years, he still mentions you from time to time. ‘The best interrogator.’ ‘Cory Lawson was so good.’ Blah, blah, blah. He’d ramble on, and I’d have to listen to him place you higher on that damn pedestal. Made me sick after a while, but I did it. Shit eating grin and all. Have to keep the man happy. I wouldn’t have brought you back here, but if Mr. Compos would’ve found out that you were in town and I didn’t bring you here, then that would’ve been my head.”

  Juan didn’t sound envious in the least or resentful.

  “I would’ve been more than happy for you to have handled this on your own. This wasn’t what I had planned when I came to him,” I replied.

  Juan shrugged. “Expect the unexpected. You should know that, especially when it comes to the boss. When he wants something to happen, he’ll do whatever’s necessary to make it so. If he isn’t happy, then no one will be.”

  The idle dribble between us subsided as we made our way to T-dog’s warehouse. I scoured the side streets and intersections for any patrolling Young Bloods.

  The shiny and well-kept SUV would no doubt draw the eye of any in the area.

  Juan sat up straight in the driver’s seat. He adjusted his backside, and slowed the SUV down. He pulled alongside the curb, and put the vehicle into park.

  “T-dog’s warehouse is a few blocks up the road. I figure we stash the ride in an alley, and hoof it on foot the rest of the way. I know some back alleys we can use to keep out of sight in case any Young Bloods roll by.” Juan pointed down the vacant street. “Last we heard, the majority of his crew, the Young Bloods, had been dispersed over the area to maintain a foothold on their territory. They’re spread rather thin, so there should be a minimal amount of men inside for us to contend with.”

  I peered down the street, scanning over the derelict buildings. Portions of the walls had gaping holes, and the windows had been busted out. “How many are we talking? Five or less?”

  “Roundabout there, give or take a few.” Juan retrieved the 9mm from the cubbyhole, then cycled a round. “Remember, no funny business, and you do as I say. We get in, find out what T-dog knows, then bounce. Mr. Compos wants this done as quietly as possible. You got it?”

  “Yeah, I got.” I tilted my head at the piece clutched in his hand. “You wouldn’t happen to have another one of those I could use, would you?”

  Juan scoffed. “Afraid not. Only one I got and its mine. Besides, I don’t trust that you wouldn’t shoot me in my back the first chance you got.”

  “If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t need a pistol to do that,” I shot back.

  “Either way, you’re out of luck. Just keep your mouth sealed, and follow my lead.” Juan placed the Suburban into drive, and crept down the street. He pulled into an alley along the east side of the road. We drove down the narrow corridor, and found an opening between the brick buildings to conceal the vehicle.

  Juan wedged the SUV between the rows of trash cans and the dumpster that sat along the exteriors of the dilapidated buildings. He killed the engine, and removed the keys from the ignition.

  We slipped out of the Suburban, and met at the rear. Juan tucked the 9mm in the waistband of his slacks, then concealed the weapon with the flap of his coat.

  “Good thing about this part of town is that most of these buildings have been empty for some time,” Juan said while moving toward the street. “So we shouldn’t have too many eyes on us as we make our way down to the Young Bloods’ warehouse.”

  I stayed low, and followed him to the edge of the building.

  Juan toed the edge, and scoped out the street. He motioned toward the road. “We’ll cross here, and keep to the alleys as much as we can.”

  I tilted my head.

  Juan took off, sprinting across the vacant road. I lagged behind. The soreness and injuries hindered my movement, keeping me from running full tilt. My hand pressed against my aching ribs, trying to stay the flare of pain that sought to slow me down.

  We entered the alley on the west side of the street. Juan slowed to a brisk walk as he peered over his shoulder at me. He glanced at my side, then back up to my face that was contorted in discomfort.

  “You’re not going to die out here on me, are you?” Juan asked.

  I took in a deep breath, then shook my head. “No. I’ll be fine. Let’s keep moving.”

  Juan looked me up and down. Concern flooded his face as he raised his brow.

  We scurried through the maze of alleyways and narrow corridors between the buildings like rats. Each street we crossed was void of any traffic.

  The homeless sheltered in damp cardboard boxes and other makeshift coverings to shield them from the elements. Their long, dirty faces stared at us as we passed by. The smirched rags draped over their rail-thin frames smelled of fecal matter and garbage.

  Juan pulled the 9mm from his waistband as we neared the edge of the alley. He kept close to the building, and craned his neck.

  The pain in my side only grew in intensity. The Oxy I had taken seemed to be wearing off.

  Juan stretched out his arm, and shoved me back against the wall. The dull, familiar bass tone fill
ed my ears as we watched the street.

  A four-door, black sedan with blacked out windows rolled past the entrance to the alley. The car kept moving down the road.

  “Young Bloods?” I asked, pushing his arm away from my chest.

  “Maybe. Hard to tell. It’s better to be safe than sorry.” Juan watched the car for a few moments longer, then glanced in the direction it came from. “All right. Let’s move.”

  We hoofed it across the street to the adjoining alley as more cars passed by. They didn’t pay us any mind. We skirted around the dumped over trash cans and other debris in our path.

  The other end of the alley was blocked by a teal-green sports car that sat an inch off the ground. I couldn’t spot any movement around the tiny vehicle or any chatter.

  “Shit.” Juan brought the 9mm to bear, and trained it at the car. His head was on a swivel as he skimmed over the row of buildings ahead of us. “That’s T-dog’s pad on the corner. He might have some men on watch back there. We can get in through the roof, though, using the fire escape.”

  I glanced over my shoulder, checking our six for any threats looking to get the drop on us, but spotted nothing more than open space and the street. I faced forward. “I say we make for the roof. It’ll be less likely to be guarded than any ground level entrances.”

  Juan lowered the 9mm, then glanced at the fire escape. He leaned to the side, and craned his neck in the direction of the rear entrance.

  A dumpster blocked our view of the door, adding to the mystery of whether or not armed men were stationed out back.

  “Yeah. That was my thought as well.” Juan shoved the 9mm into the front of his slacks, then jumped for the ladder that hung from the catwalk. His fingers grazed the rusted bar.

  Juan tried again and got the bottom rung. He threw up his other hand and held firm. He pulled his weight up the ladder to the catwalk.

  I leapt for the ladder, and grabbed the rusted bars with both hands. The aching in my ribs radiated through my body, causing me to grit my teeth, and clamp my eyes shut. It hurt like hell, but I pushed on.