Chapter 216

The man who had knocked on their motel door – the apparent leader of this sinister trio – stepped forward. ‘What did you tell Ariel Moretti about the letters?’ Sebastian straightened in his chair, adrenaline momentarily overriding his fear. ‘I didn’t come here for this!’ he roared. ‘Where’s your boss? I want to see him! I reached out to him to help clean up the mess HE created! I—’ His protest was cut short by a sickening crack. The leader had lashed out with his fist, connecting with Sebastian’s gut with brutal force. Pain exploded through Sebastian, robbing him of breath. He doubled over, gasping for air, as a wave of nausea washed over him. The leader loomed over him. ‘Don’t waste my time, old man. We both know you wouldn’t be here unless you were desperate. So, I’ll ask you again – what did you tell him?’ Sebastian’s vision swam. The room, already dim, seemed to fade to black at the edges. He tasted bile rising in his throat, and a whimper escaped his lips. He couldn’t breathe, cou