Deadly Intent: An Action Thriller (Adrian Hell Series Book 4) Read Online Free
Author: James P. Sumner
throat.
I’m definitely out of practice…
I lean my head back and bring my arms up, slamming them down on his elbows, forcefully bending his arms, which loosens his grip. As he does, I push him away and immediately step toward him, launching a hard kick to his stomach. He doubles over, the wind knocked out of him. I bring my right elbow down hard on the back of his exposed head, and he joins his friend on the floor. Again, not quite unconscious, but he won’t be getting up for a few minutes.
The middle guy has his gun drawn, aimed at me, as I turn to him. I knock his right arm up as he fires, causing the bullet to fire into the ceiling. I hear gasps of shock and concern from the bar, followed by the scrambling of people trying to get outside. I hope Tori’s one of them…
I grab his wrist with my left hand, twisting it away from him. He has no choice but to lean with it, so it doesn’t break, and he drops his gun. I kick it away, then jab him twice in the face. I switch hands and twist his arm back across him with my right, straightening it out and turning it, so his elbow is facing me. Without warning, I smash my left forearm down and dislocate it. He screams in agony as he crumples to the floor, his elbow hanging loose at an unnatural angle.
I quickly move to the two guys already down and drag them both up by the back of their necks, marching them out to the bar. Styx sees me and is up straight away, snarling viciously.
Around me, people are looking on, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, but I ignore them. They knew I didn’t stand for any trouble in my bar, but I’m not sure they thought I could take out three guys at once.
Well, now they know.
I throw them both to the floor, just in front of the saloon doors. Styx circles them, barking wildly. “Keep ’em there, boy. Don’t hurt ’em.”
I walk back around the bar, avoiding the surprised look on Tori’s face. I retrieve the gun and aim it at the middle guy. “Get up,” I say.
He struggles to his feet and stumbles out into the bar, holding his broken arm close to his body. I follow, keeping the gun on him the whole time. The other two haven’t moved—Styx is doing a great job of keeping them in check. I push the middle guy over to them, and he falls.
I release the magazine from the gun, letting it fall to the floor. I eject the round from the chamber, which I catch and drop next to the magazine. Finally, I throw the empty gun over to them, as a message.
“Leave now, while you still got the use of your legs. Tell whoever it is that sent you to forget about me. Forget about Devil’s Spring... Next person that comes here looking for trouble leaves in a body bag.”
I cross my arms and glare at them until they stand. The two bodyguards hold the diplomat up.
“You’re making a big mistake,” says the man with the broken arm.
“Like I haven’t heard that before?” I reply. I look at Styx. “Show ’em the door, boy.”
The fur on his back rises, and he bares his teeth, snarling and barking, rounding them up like he’s herding sheep. He chases them out of the bar, returning moments later, much calmer. He pads over to Tori and rubs his head on her leg before walking over to and sitting down next to me.
I glance around the place. Everyone’s staring at me, waiting for an explanation. Tori walks over and throws her arms around me.
“You okay?” she whispers.
“Never better,” I reply, smiling.
I look around again, meeting everyone’s gaze before smiling at the room. “Come on, folks. Show’s over. Next round’s on me.”
Laughter and cheering quickly erupts as people take their seats. I walk over to the bar and get a clean glass down from the shelf, then start to pour the first beer.
4.
23:40 CDT
I’m in bed, sitting propped up against the pillows with my hands behind my head. In the bathroom, Tori’s brushing her teeth. She’d been concerned after the showdown in the bar earlier in the evening, but I think I’ve
I’m definitely out of practice…
I lean my head back and bring my arms up, slamming them down on his elbows, forcefully bending his arms, which loosens his grip. As he does, I push him away and immediately step toward him, launching a hard kick to his stomach. He doubles over, the wind knocked out of him. I bring my right elbow down hard on the back of his exposed head, and he joins his friend on the floor. Again, not quite unconscious, but he won’t be getting up for a few minutes.
The middle guy has his gun drawn, aimed at me, as I turn to him. I knock his right arm up as he fires, causing the bullet to fire into the ceiling. I hear gasps of shock and concern from the bar, followed by the scrambling of people trying to get outside. I hope Tori’s one of them…
I grab his wrist with my left hand, twisting it away from him. He has no choice but to lean with it, so it doesn’t break, and he drops his gun. I kick it away, then jab him twice in the face. I switch hands and twist his arm back across him with my right, straightening it out and turning it, so his elbow is facing me. Without warning, I smash my left forearm down and dislocate it. He screams in agony as he crumples to the floor, his elbow hanging loose at an unnatural angle.
I quickly move to the two guys already down and drag them both up by the back of their necks, marching them out to the bar. Styx sees me and is up straight away, snarling viciously.
Around me, people are looking on, wide-eyed and slack-jawed, but I ignore them. They knew I didn’t stand for any trouble in my bar, but I’m not sure they thought I could take out three guys at once.
Well, now they know.
I throw them both to the floor, just in front of the saloon doors. Styx circles them, barking wildly. “Keep ’em there, boy. Don’t hurt ’em.”
I walk back around the bar, avoiding the surprised look on Tori’s face. I retrieve the gun and aim it at the middle guy. “Get up,” I say.
He struggles to his feet and stumbles out into the bar, holding his broken arm close to his body. I follow, keeping the gun on him the whole time. The other two haven’t moved—Styx is doing a great job of keeping them in check. I push the middle guy over to them, and he falls.
I release the magazine from the gun, letting it fall to the floor. I eject the round from the chamber, which I catch and drop next to the magazine. Finally, I throw the empty gun over to them, as a message.
“Leave now, while you still got the use of your legs. Tell whoever it is that sent you to forget about me. Forget about Devil’s Spring... Next person that comes here looking for trouble leaves in a body bag.”
I cross my arms and glare at them until they stand. The two bodyguards hold the diplomat up.
“You’re making a big mistake,” says the man with the broken arm.
“Like I haven’t heard that before?” I reply. I look at Styx. “Show ’em the door, boy.”
The fur on his back rises, and he bares his teeth, snarling and barking, rounding them up like he’s herding sheep. He chases them out of the bar, returning moments later, much calmer. He pads over to Tori and rubs his head on her leg before walking over to and sitting down next to me.
I glance around the place. Everyone’s staring at me, waiting for an explanation. Tori walks over and throws her arms around me.
“You okay?” she whispers.
“Never better,” I reply, smiling.
I look around again, meeting everyone’s gaze before smiling at the room. “Come on, folks. Show’s over. Next round’s on me.”
Laughter and cheering quickly erupts as people take their seats. I walk over to the bar and get a clean glass down from the shelf, then start to pour the first beer.
4.
23:40 CDT
I’m in bed, sitting propped up against the pillows with my hands behind my head. In the bathroom, Tori’s brushing her teeth. She’d been concerned after the showdown in the bar earlier in the evening, but I think I’ve
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