“Tell your boss not to stick his fucking thumb in it then!”
“Um, I’m not going to do that. I’ll just clean it if he does it again. Now, hold still.”
Angel moves closer to keep Rudi from Effie’s futile attempts to get at her if she chose to, but I’m a little impressed with my VP’s old lady. She’s stronger than I gave her credit for.
“Where is he, Effie?” I ask again.
“No. You want to know, we make a deal. You can do what you like to me, I won’t ever tell you.”
“Tut-tut. Is this you doubting me again?”
“Oh I fully believe you, but I’m not dying in this shithole for nothing.”
Leaning back, I brace my foot on the wall and sigh. “Now don’t go surprising me with your answer, but I’m guessing, you wanna trade his location for your life? Go on, tell me I’m wrong.”
“You’re not wrong. It’s a fair trade.”
“A fair trade?” I snap. “A fair fuckin’ trade? You’re deluded if you believe I deal in what’s fair or not. And even if I did, your life isn’t a fair trade for our brother.”
“Then kill me, cause I’m not saying.”
Rudi finishes binding her hand and leaves the room. I barely register Angel leaving with her.
I cross the room and stand over our prisoner.
“You have nothing left to live for. The Haywards own the city now. Your men are either dead or gone. And by the time Trey finishes his tech shit, our companies will have all your money. If we were to release you, you can’t even afford to stay a night in a shitty motel.”
Her eyes widen, but she refuses to give in. “I’d still be alive.”
“Okay, say I let you live. What’s to say Ford won’t track you down and take you out?”
“He’d have to find me first.”
“Without your money, that game of cat and mouse is over.”
Defeat smashes any hope she might have occurred. I wait to see where she takes this next. I’m not kept waiting for long.
“I could help you get situated in the city…”
“Don’t need your help.”
“I could…” Defeat once again wins, and she slumps against the wall.
“There’s nothing you can offer me or my club. So that leaves me with causing you astronomical pain until you give up where Ford is.”
“You said… you said your men wouldn’t vote it in!”
Arching my brow, I tell her, “The game’s changed now. Every second counts.” Over my shoulder, I ask, “What say you, brothers. Let’s vote, anyone against using whatever means possible in getting Ford’s location?”
Maxwell: “Nay.”
Warren: “Nay.”
Trey: “Nay.”
King: “Nay.”
Angel: “Nay.”
