Page 85 of PSYCHOlogical

His eyes shifted toward my straightened arm.

It was all the distraction I needed. I snatched my pistol from the quick-release holster at the small of my back and fired one shot, clearly out of instinct.

The bullet struck him just above the wrist. His arm jolted from the impact, slinging blood against the wall behind him.

The pistol fell at his side.

I fired two shots, one at each of his massive biceps. The hollow-point bullets exploded on impact.

With eyes as wide as saucers, he stumbled back a few steps, but didn’t fall. Blood dripped from the fingertips of both hands, soaking the floor at his feet.

With my pistol pointed at his chest, I took a step forward. I kicked his pistol to the side. “Take a seat or get shot in each knee,” I said, gesturing toward his knees with the tip of the silencer. “I’ll let you decide.”

Wincing in pain, he lowered himself to the floor.

“Roll onto your stomach, spread your legs wide, and extend your arms out straight,” I demanded.

He gave me a narrow-eyed glare.

I pointed the pistol at his crotch. “Next one will blow your nut sack off.”

He rolled onto his stomach and complied with my demands.

I glanced at my watch. Three minutes and fifteen seconds had passed. I needed to get to Val before her guard got nervous. I holstered my pistol, removed the wire cutters from my pocket, and wiped my brow with my arm.

After tracing the wires, I found the one I needed to cut. Nervous, exhausted, and drenched in sweat, I drew a breath and held it. I gripped the wire firmly in the jaws of the cutter, made certain the other wires were clear, and closed my eyes.

Snip.

I opened my eyes. An involuntary sigh of relief shot from my lungs. I released the dead man’s switch and let it fall to my side.

I secured my bearded hostage’s feet and wrists with zip-ties. I then cut off a section of his tee shirt and shoved it in his mouth.

I took a step back and looked him over.

“When I get back, I’m going to torture you,” I said without a hint of emotion. I walked to the front door and opened it. Before going through it, I paused and glanced over my shoulder. “Just so you know, if she’s got one mark on her, it’s going to be a long fucking night.”