I don’t know what the fuck Da was thinking putting James in charge of this place, but he sure as fuck hasn’t been keeping a good enough eye on it if this fucker thinks this is how we do business.
James crumbles to the ground when I let go of him, and I don’t spare him a fucking glance. I pass the knife to Mac, then take out my handkerchief and wipe the blood off my left hand.
Only then do I turn to look at the woman.
In her thirties, I’d say. Latina, and with anger and fear in her eyes.
That’s a strong person right there.
I offer her a hand and pull her up.
“I’m Eian Dempsey,” I introduce myself, my voice as calm as before, though this time it’s not hard. “What’s your name?”
“Frida,” she whispers, and I don’t hold the tremble in her voice against her. That’s the effect of the Demspey name.
“What did you complain about?” I ask louder, since James won’t shut the fuck up. I can’t kill him, though—not yet.
“He brought a girl, a very young girl.”
“To work?” My voice goes deep. The feral need to attack is instant, and not even I like it when I’m in this mood, so again, I don’t hold it against her when she takes a step back.
“Ye-yes,” she stutters.
“Is she here now?” I demand in a shout.
“Yes.” Frida’s voice goes high-pitched.
“What room?”
“Three twelve,” she says urgently.
I turn to James and bend over to hit him in the head with the butt of my gun, then I snap at Frida.
“Make sure he doesn’t bleed out in the next five minutes.”
I’m out of there and running up the stairs a second later, Mac’s thundering steps behind me.
I kick in the door when I find the room locked, and when I see?—
Fuck being smart. Fuck intelligence.
“Cover her up and have her look away,” I snap at Mac.
I grab the man by the hair and yank him back away from the girl who’s tied to the fucking bed.
The motherfucker doesn’t even have time to react before I punch him hard enough to break his nose. More screams of pain, but they just fuel me this time. I go for his eye with the next punch. I really want to gouge it out, but I settle for his jaw next, and then wrap my hands around his throat.
“You’re gonna wish I killed you,” I tell him just before he passes out. I squeeze tighter for just two seconds, then I let go.
I turn and see Mac sitting on the bed, in front of the girl.
His coat is gone and the sheet is bunched up around her, so at least he did what I told him to do.
“Mac, tie this fucker up then call Blake. We’re taking them to Da.”
He follows my instructions again, and I take a moment to breathe out slowly before I let myself look.
This is going to test me.
