Murder Path (Fallen Angels Book 3) by Max Hardy Page B

by the sardonic smile on Adam’s lips.  ‘What fucking part of this are you finding funny!’ I scream as my fist flies through the air, in a line for Adam’s left cheek.
    Adam simply sidesteps my oncoming appendage, and watches on in obvious amusement as I fall to the road in an ungainly heap.  My exposed palms rake along the uncompromising tarmac, ripping the skin from them and leaving a trail of blood on the road.  Adam walks past me, looking down at me humorously and heads towards the entrance to the Chillingham Estate.
    ‘I would get up off the road if I were you and get your car pulled into the side.  There’s bound to be a car along any minute and I would hate it to go into the back of yours and injure Jacob.  Hurry John, we don’t have much time.’  Adam relays, matter of factly as he heads off down the side road, and walks up to a wooden fence separating the road from the fields, where a few dozen white cattle are grazing.
    I scramble to my feet, still looking furiously after Adam, but backtracking to the car at the same time, ready to climb in.  I didn’t need to.  Rebecca has jumped into the driver’s seat and is steering the people carrier into the side road and onto a grass verge opposite the fence against which Adam is now leaning.  I follow the vehicle in, stomping toward Adam, rubbing my palms, pressing the fingers into the injured flesh, feasting on the pain.  Rebecca jumps out of the car and sprints straight in front of me, butting her head into my chest, slightly dislodging her wig, exposing the scars and scabs of harm that she self-inflicted during her incarceration in the ‘Fielding Institute’.  I stop dead in my tracks. 
    ‘Stop being a dick John.  Just remember, Adam managed to stop Jacob’s fits.  We need to find out how.’  Rebecca whispers in disappointed frustration, both hands firmly implanted in my chest. 
    I looked down into her angry, imploring emerald eyes, then to the scars on her head, then down to the stigmata scabs on my hands, and the fresh wounds on my palms, still feeding on the pain as I force my fingers into them.  What the fuck am I doing?  What is the selfish, self-obsessed bloody mind of mine trying to achieve?
    ‘Like you said, that’s just fucking life, I’ve got to come to terms with the pain.  Sorry Rebecca.  I conveniently forget this isn’t just about me.  I conveniently forget about the agonies you have gone through.  Sorry for being a dick.’ I apologise, raising a hand and straightening her wig as I bend down and kiss her on the forehead.
    ‘You’re not just a dick.  You are a cunt-twat-dick, and so up your own arse it’s untrue.  We can talk about that later.  Right now, Adam is over there and we can hopefully get some answers.  So let’s get back to our plan, and let’s stop being played.  Let’s start playing.’ Rebecca counters, reaching up and taking one of my hands from the side of her face and deliberately squeezing it overtight, inflicting pain, making me wince as she turns and leads me towards Adam.
    Adam has his back to us now and is looking out over the rolling fields, watching the ambling cattle as they nonchalantly munch on the verdant grass and inquisitively stare back at him.
    ‘They are remarkable creatures, Chillingham Cattle.’  Adam begins, as we come up to the fence beside him, Rebecca standing between the two of us. ‘They have remained genetically isolated on this estate for hundreds of years and have remained a sturdy and hardy breed, without any of the genetic issues you tend to expect from inbreeding.  Absolutely remarkable.’ he continues, turning sideways from the field to look at us. ‘John, I fully understand your anger.  I fully understand why you would want to kill me.  I can only re-iterate what Eve told you last night.  We would gladly give our lives a hundred times for the two of you and Jacob.  That is how much you mean to us.’
    ‘It doesn’t feel like that Adam.  If