“Is he dead?” She asked.
“Not yet.” I growled.
Eventually, I got him into the trunk and drove him out of town. When we arrived at a desolate area, I pulled over.
“We’re stopping?” She asked. “Why?”
“Our friend and I are about to have a conversation.” I relied.
“You’re not going to kill him, are you?”
I shrugged nonchalantly. “It depends.”
“On?”
“What he has to say. And if he lies to me or not.” I told her simply as I climbed from the car. When I opened the truck, he tried running. I caught him by the back of the neck to stop his retreat, pulled him out and shoved him to his knees.
“Let’s talk.” I growled.
“I know who sent you.” I glanced up to Ellie—but only for a second. The question is, why.”
“Fuck you.”
I smiled. “If it was up to me, you’d already be dead. But see that woman? For some reason she doesn’t want you dead. She seems to think you can be redeemed. Me? I’m an asshole. I think you’re done and there’s no going back. So, prove one of us right—I don’t particularly care which.”
The man looked over at Ellie and I slapped him against the back of the head.
“Hey! Focus on the one with the gun.” I warned. “Now, I believe my question is a very simple one. Why.”
Silence.
The last fuck I had to give dissipated along with my last nerve.
“Okay.” I pushed the gun into my holster and grabbed him. I tugged him to the car and bent him over the hood while twisting his arm dangerously backward.
“They’ll kill me!” He squealed.
“And what the fuck do you think I’m going to do to you?” I snarled.
“But you said…”
“Yeah, that went out the window.” I twisted his arm even more making him scream. “What happens to you now, is totally up to me. So, here’s the deal.”
I dug his wallet out and found his license then tossed it behind me. “Okay Sam, is it okay if I call you Sam? Or do you prefer to go by Samuel? Oh, well, it doesn’t matter. Listen, Sam. I’m about to let you go. Then, I’m going to hit one of the Araña Tóxica hideouts and while there, I’m going to announce it at the top of my lungs how helpful, you’ve been. And trust me, Sam, I got a big mouth.”
“I didn’t tell you shit!” Samuel tried pushing away.
I only ramped up the pressure on his arm.
“But do you really think it’s going to matter?” I asked. “They hear you were in the same zip code as a US Marshal and they shoot first and ask questions later.”
“Shit.” Samuel grunted.
“Ah—language. There’s a lady present. I’m not going to ask you again.”
Samuel grumbled something. “He slept with Valentina’s sister…”
“Who?” Ellie asked.
