Suckers - J.A. Konrath

The kitchen lights came on, revealing two goons behind the bald guy. Younger guys who
were also dressed entirely in black. The one on the left had one of those ridiculous curved
collectors’ knives, the kind they sell on the Home Shopping Network that looked like they’re
used to skin buffalo. Glinting in the overhead florescence, it didn’t look ridiculous at all.
His partner had opted for the maniac implement de jour—a sixteen inch chainsaw.
Suddenly Harry didn’t seem so bad.
"I said drop it," the bald guy said.
I dropped the gun.
The man pointed the shotgun at Harry. "Get off my prey."
"Thank God you showed up," said Harry. "This guy was breaking into your house. I'm part
of the neighborhood watch and—"
The man bared his teeth, revealing fangs. "I told you to get off my prey."
Harry scooted off the body and got to his feet.
The man looked back and forth between us, and then smiled. "Which one of you is Harry
McGlade?"
"He is," Harry said, pointing at me.
"No, I don't think so," said the man. "I know who you are. We’ve been watching you for a
long time."
"Groupie, huh? You must be Vlad."
"I am indeed."
"I'm Andrew," I said, raising my hand. "I'm uninvolved."
"Not anymore. But you will be soon." Vlad grinned. "Harry, you and I are going to have a
pleasant little chat. We have a lot to discuss. Andrew, you're going into the Pit."
"How come Harry gets to have a chat and I have to go to the Pit?"
The two guys behind Vlad simultaneously came at me. I tried to pretend that I wasn't
seconds away from losing control over one of my bodily functions. Or perhaps even two of them.
Vlad chuckled. "If you resist, my friends here will cut off your feet, and then they'll drag you
to the Pit. I'd advise against making them do so. You'll survive a few minutes longer if you can
run."
"I was just getting spaghetti sauce."
Crazy Knife Goon got me in a headlock, and Crazy Chainsaw Goon put his hand on his
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