“Race. Where the fuck is she?” I barked, squeezing tighter.
“Wait. I love Race,” he said, dropping his hands to his sides.
“What?” My mouth fell open.
“I wouldn’t hurt her. I love her,” he babbled.
I lessened the pressure against his throat enough for him to speak, but not enough for him to get out of my hold.
“I wouldn’t hurt her. I swear, man.”
“Morgan!” Thomas yelled from behind me. “Let him go. He can’t get away, and we can’t get information if you kill him.”
“Dude, fuckin’ let him go,” James pleaded as he patted my arm. “We won’t let him get away.”
“You should listen to your friends,” Tyler said in a strangled voice.
I closed my eyes and applied just enough pressure to remind him that I held his fate in my hands. “If you fuckin’ say one thing I don’t like, I’ll break your neck.”
“Yes, sir,” Tyler said, trying to nod under my fingertips.
I released him, pushing his body and slamming his head into the wall in the process. “You better start fuckin’ talking.”
Thomas and Sam stood at the foot of the steps with their guns out and ready to shoot, and James had my back.
Tyler reached for his throat. “Why do you think I have Race?” he asked as he rubbed his skin and swallowed.
“She got your messages about the video,” I snarled as I stood one foot in front of him and didn’t move.
“How do you know about the video?” he asked, his eyes as wide as saucers.
“Um, again, asshole. You sent her e-mails blackmailing her. I don’t have time for this shit. Where the fuck is she?” I yelled, punching him in the stomach and watching him crumple.
He crouched over, holding his stomach. “I haven’t told anyone about the video. It’s still in my study.”
“Someone knows. If you don’t have Race, then who the fuck else could know about it?” James moved closer to Tyler.
“You got this all wrong. I’d never hurt her. I loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her in college. My lucky asshole cousin dated her. When he died, I found the tape, and I’ve never let it out of my sight.”
“Sick bastard,” Sam said.
“Who else fuckin’ knows?” I asked again, pushing him back against the wall.
“Only Natasha. She kind of caught me once and…” He dragged his hands through his hair, still trying to catch his breath.
“Natasha. Where the hell is she?” I asked, looking around the room. “Sam, go look for her!” I yelled, holding Tyler in my grip.
Sam nodded and disappeared.
“She’s not here, fucker,” Tyler said. “She hasn’t come home from work yet.”
“Where’s the video?”
“In my office,” he said, pointing to his right.
“Show me,” I demanded as I turned him and pushed him down the stairs. “Try anything and Thomas there will put a bullet in your head.”
“Jesus. I’m not stupid, man,” he mumbled, walking slowly with us inches behind.
