This wasn’t a situation where you could anticipate anybody’s next move, but when Drew began to laugh sadistically, spitting out as much of the blood as he could in between his sharp and shallow breaths, I truly believed I was seeing things.
“I would say I was sorry, but…” Drew sighed.
Cortez didn’t waste time in stepping up to him, his fist smacking him square across the jaw sending him swinging as much as his body would allow him to as he was held within the restrictions of the chains. The sound was one of those things you can’t put words to—flesh on flesh, blunt trauma that comes so hard and fast, the sickening echo of it lingers.
“That one was just a warning. The next one goes across your woman’s face, not yours.” Chester began to walk in a slow circle, making sure every inch of the sole of his shoe connected with the floor with each step he took. “I wonder what the Navs would say if they knew you were imitating them to gain higher standing in the MC world.”
Drew glanced up, both brows rising as far as they could considering how swollen his face was becoming.
“You’re talking to me about imitating, Chester?” He coughed again, shaking his head slowly. “The Widow Makers were all you had? I can’tbelieve… I didn’t see it.”
Cortez threw his arms out to the side, showcasing himself to Drew. “You went big, I went small, and still, I am not the one who ended up in chains.”
“Not yet,” Drew added quietly, and I didn’t know if he was bluffing or if his confidence really was growing, but I knew I couldn’t tear my eyes away from him.
“Not ever.”
“I guess I should congratulate you on your chess move. Well played. I didn’t see you being behind those pissant kids.”
Cortez feigned a bow, sweeping his arm down and back up again. “I have more surprises where they came from.”
“So do I.” Drew coughed up even more, almost choking as he sucked in his stomach to try and combat whatever pain he was in. I felt helpless, but I was being caged by a man almost twice my size who seemed more than happy to prove how much stronger he was.
Stepping forward, Chester closed the gap between them, once again, tilting his head to the side. “I think I know all your surprises by now, Mr. Tucker. I know more about you than you think. I knew your arrogance wouldn’t allow you to see what I was doing with those bastard boys. I know now that the smirk you wear on your face is for nobody else’s benefit but mine. I know your mind is racing with ways to save your bitch, even if that means sacrificing your own life. I know pain doesn’t bother you, but shame does. I know all about the way you tore my man apart in front of Sofia without so much as a thought for the family he was leaving behind.”
Drew’s smile faded as he began to work the strong muscles along his jawline and the sound of the chains tightening rang out again.
“I also know you killed four of my men at the house fire.”
“Men who tried to burn two innocent people alive,” Drew hit back through gritted teeth.
“Ah, innocent lives. Let’s talk about those, shall we?” Cortez widened his stance, bringing both his hands behind his back as he leaned in closer to Drew. “Where is Hernandez?”
“He’s dead,” Drew answered matter-of-factly. “Buried in a shallow grave somewhere on the outskirts of town.”
The blow to his stomach was immediate, forcing all the air out of his body as he curled in on himself again and grunted in agony, unable to catch his feet beneath him as he rocked forward. I didn’t know what I was thinking I could do to help, but my legs moved under me, only to receive a kick from the man standing watch. He had to remove his foot from my head to do it, but he was reminding me of his constant presence.
“I’ll ask you again,” Cortez said, pulling Drew up to a more stable stand and resting his hand on his shoulder. “Where. Is. Hernandez?”
“I don’t know the location.” He sucked in a breath before rushing out to speak again. “But there’s a man in this room who does.”
Cortez paused in his next assault, the confusion across his face evident as he pulled back and leaned farther towards Drew. “Excuse me?”
“I said,” Drew forced his head back up to meet his stare head on. “One of your men was with me the night we buried him. He also helped lure Sofia and her boy to the forest.” The slow smile on his face appeared again as he glanced over Chester’s shoulder and pushed out a humorless laugh. “Y’all have got a rat up in here who’s played us both.”
“No,” Cortez breathed out, uncertainty tainting his voice.
“Denial is to be expected.” Drew smirked.
“You’re lying.”
“I wish I was. I paid that bastard ten big ones of my club’s money to dish your shit out, and here I am strung up like fucking Jesus. I’ve got no reason to lie to you anymore. I’m dead anyway.”
Cortez spun on his heels quickly, glancing around at allthe men he had with him in the shadows before he turned back to Drew and growled quietly. “Name. Now.”
“I’m no rat.”
“Name,” Cortez persisted.
