“What the hell is going on in here, Sundance?” Snowcone asked with a nervous laugh. “We havin’ some sort of surprise party?”
“We sure are, asshole” I replied, and Wrath and Rocky grabbed Snowcone from behind. “Your patch out party.”
“Get the fuck off me,” Snowcone yelled as the two men dragged him to the far side of the shed before throwing him to the ground, directly over the drain.
I stood above him and the rest of the club formed a circle around us while Moses wheeled over a metal shop cart.
“Strip,” I said, and the color drained from Snowcone’s face.
“Whatever the hell this is about, I’m sure we can work it out if you’d just let me—”
“Take off your clothes right now or I swear on my wife’s grave I will put a bullet in you,” I said pulling my Ruger from my waistband.
Snowcone swallowed hard and began removing his right boot.
“Start with the cut. You’re not worthy of wearing it anymore.”
“Please, Sundance, whatever I’ve done to piss you off. I swear I can make it right.”
“We’re gonna make things right, don’t you worry about that,” I said, leveling the pistol at Snowcone’s head. “Now, I won’t tell you again. Take off your fucking clothes.”
Snowcone did as instructed and was then secured, face down on the shop table, with his hands and feet bound to the table’s legs. Wrath wheeled over a second cart handed me a black chef’s knife bag which I unrolled, making sure Snowcone could see me. Inside the bag were a set of chef’s knifes, hypodermic needles, and several glass vials filled with clear liquid.
“Jesus Christ, please don’t do this,” Snowcone begged.
“You did this to yourself,” I snapped. “Starting with the first time you laid hands on Ruby.”
“Ruby? Jesus Christ, Sundance. Is that what this is about? That mouthy bitch?”
“Ruby is a friend to this club and therefore protected, even from its own members,” I said.
“Not to mention,” Moses said, leaning down to look Snowcone directly in the eye. “Ruby is a woman and she’s half your size.”
“Please, Moses. You guys have gotta give me another chance,” Snowcone pleaded.
“I told you this club doesn’t tolerate men who hit women or children,” Moses replied.
“Not to mention spies,” I added.
“What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not a spy,” Snowcone said.
“The hell you aren’t,” I snapped. “You told the Predators exactly when and where to hit our delivery vans after the grow house was torched.”
Another wave of panic washed over Snowcone’s face. “It’s not like that, Sundance. I swear.”
I hit Snowcone with a short shot to the ribcage. Partly out of rage but mostly to stop the bullshit from coming out of his mouth. He gasped for air, writhing in pain as I continued, “This goes one of two ways,” I said, picking up the hypodermic needle. “If you tell me everything about your involvement with the Predators, I promise I’ll work quickly. Plus,” I said pointing to the vial on the left, “I will give you a shot ofthisto help with the pain. Then, when we’re done, I’ll make sure you’re dropped off at the hospital instead of the middle of the wilderness.”
“I don’t… know… anything about the Predators,” Snowcone sputtered in short gasps.
“You’re choosing the rough road, pal. Hold out on me and I’m gonna take my time with every single cut.” Snowcone’s eyes widened and I continued, “And when you pass out from the pain, I’ll shoot you up with what’s in vial number two to make sure you wake up again. Of course, if I give you too much of it, your heart will explode, so I’ll try my best not to let that happen.”
“I swear I don’t have anything to tell you,” Snowcone said, in what could only have been a final, desperate attempt at bluffing.
“The hard way it is.”
I made my first cut, taking my time as promised. The razor-sharp blade cut through flesh with ease, leaving me with a perfect, thinly sliced tattooed, filet of Snowcone’s calf when I was done. The blade did such a good job, I’d been cutting for at least one full second before Snowcone even reacted. However, once the pain hit, the sounds he made were unlike anything I’d ever heard.
“Jesus Christ, Sundance. I swear I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. Please stop,” he screamed as blood dripped down the table, heading toward the drain.
