Escaping The Mafia King

Chapter 50: 50- Danger

Hope was in the strange guard's hold as the doctor hovered over Max. "Here, take these, you'll feel better in no time."

Max's eyes were rolling by this point, but he listened to the words. He opened his mouth and the strange pills vanished within. He swallowed and Hope winced. "What did you give him?" she demanded as she struggled to break free. The man's grip was like an iron vice. Nothing she did was budging him, and the way he stared at her as if she didn't exist. It gave her the creeps.

"Medicine, foolish woman," the doctor spat. "Now, I think we should give you some of the same. You look like you could be feverish too. Hold her steady for me."

Hope didn't like those words. She struggled more now and shoved her elbow back into the guard's chest. He grunted and loosened his hold for a fraction of a moment.

It was all she needed. She yanked herself away from him and dove for Max. Even in his state, his arms came around her, to protect her. "Max! Max, please you have to spit out what they gave you. Please!"

Max didn't answer and his fever had increased even more at this point. All of his skin was burning her.

"Get away from my patient." the doctor demanded.

The guard from before grabbed Hope's hair and she yelped as she was dragged back. She glared up at him and plowed her fist into his cheek. Snarling like an animal, he grabbed her by the neck and lifted her off the ground while she kicked and scratched at him.

"Let me go!" Hope screamed.

"There, keep your mouth open, just like that," the doctor encouraged as he held another of the pills close to her mouth. "You want to get better too, don't you?" he smiled at her. "You've got to be your best health for your husband."

The way he said it sent chills through her and Hope howled like an animal before she leaned forward and bit the doctor's hand. He cussed and punched her so hard she saw stars.

"I got this," the guard spat. His leather-clad hands were forced into her mouth with the pills inside and bite as she could, Hope couldn't break free. The strange capsules landed on her tongue and he held her mouth shut with his fingers pinching her nose. "Swallow, bitch," he growled.

"What did you say?" Hope blinked and looked to the side where the growl came from. Max was sitting up his chest heaving and his skin oh so very red. "No one calls her that." He dug through his pockets for his gun, aimed it, and fired.

Hope winced as she waited for the impact, but the bullet went wide. It plowed into the wall beside the guard. The man let go of Hope for a moment as he scrambled for his own weapon and she took the opportunity to spit the pill straight into the doctor's face.

The man screamed as he bit at it.

That was not a good sign. Just what the hell was in those pills? Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"I didn't get paid enough for this shit. Just knock them out so we can take them with us."

"No," the guard replied as he pulled out his own weapon and aimed it at Max. "I think we should just take the bitch. That guy can die, right here. We don't need him. He doesn't have long anyway."

Hope broke free again, grabbed the gun, and struggled with the man for it. Unfortunately for her, the doctor wasn't a stranger to fighting and grabbed her and wrenched her arms behind her. She screamed and bucked as the guard aimed his gun again. "Stop!" she demanded. "Please, stop, I'll do anything but leave Max alone!"

His smirk was slow but it overtook his entire face. "Anything, huh? Then come with me, now. I've got some people you should meet."

Hope shivered and glanced over at Max. His breathing was ragged now. "What about Max? He's going to die?"

"He can die from the poison, or I can put a bullet in his head. I'll be nice and let you make the decision."

"You're going to kill both of us, aren't you?" Hope whispered. "Even if I do everything you say, you want to kill us."

The guard's grin grew. "Yeah, you're going to die. But hey, it's up to you on how you get to die. Is it going to be fast, or do I get to take my time and get to make you suffer before sending you back to your husband?"

"You're Ethan's men?" she whispered. "But, you don't have to do this! Ethan is dead!"

His lip twitched. "I know, and that's why you're going back to him. He's paid me already, and I always keep my debts. I for one hope you keep fighting. I'll enjoy killing you slowly."

"I don't understand," Hope whispered as she gave in. "Why do you want to kill me? I've never done anything to you. I don't even know you!"

He chuckled. "Don't know me? Why would I even register to you? But as for never doing anything to me? Oh no, I think it's time we give you a refresher oh just what kind of destructive bitch you are." He grabbed one of his leather gloves with his teeth and tugged it off until his skin and the network of angry red scars were revealed. "Does this ring any bells?"

"Oh," Hope whispered. She did recognize him after all. "You joined Ethan after that? But you're too organized for only being with him a few days... You can't be the ringleader."

"Did I ever say I was only working with him for a few days?" He chuckled again. "No, I've been with Ethan for a very long time, turning over his men one by one. It just got far easier when they saw how they treated the poor guard that was just trying to inform him. I think the only one still loyal to that asshole is Marco, but we've got quite the present set for them too."

Max stopped thrashing. His chest still rose in shallow breaths but it was clear, the man wasn't even conscious anymore. "I give up, just please, don't hurt Max anymore."

The guard smirked. "I knew you'd see it our way. Come along, Doctor. We've got some more fun experiments for you to perform before we're ready to send her to the other side. You did say your poison was fast-acting, right?"

"This one will never wake up," the Doctor agreed before following the guard out of the room leaving Max on the slab behind them. Hope vowed that she'd break free and come back to save him, somehow.