What troubled me was simply that I didn’t have a clue as to his identity. That was unusual, although those intending on doing the family harm had become more creative over the years.
I slipped my weapon into the shoulder holster before buttoning my jacket and adjusted the cuffs on my shirt. This was only the first stop of the afternoon.
After leaving Josette, I’d returned to my house, taking another shower. Not because I’d wanted to wash away our passion, but because any hint that I’d been with a woman wasn’t something I preferred sharing with anyone.
My private life was just that.
Mine alone.
While I hadn’t meant to become close to her even carnally, I’d certainly enjoyed myself more than any man had a right to. The added benefit was that she’d dropped her questions about the sound in the trunk. So I chose to call it justifiable fucking. Yes, I was a very bad man.
The facility I was prepared to visit had been acquisitioned for our use, the owner offering no resistance. We still offeredprotection throughout the city, a leftover series of business arrangements handled by my father fifteen to twenty years before. In exchange for ensuring the riffraff of the city including gangs never laid a finger on them, they paid a small fee. We weren’t interested in the money. It was all about the information.
Which was why I’d already asked Enzo to have a few conversations with the local businesses. There had to be someone somewhere who could provide information about why and how the product had been hit.
In this case, we’d acquired the building through the death of a client, the aging man leaving the facility to us in his will.
How very nice of him.
The aging man had believed we would continue his small operation, our reputation firmly planted in the locals’ minds. We’d honored his request. In doing so, we’d acquired another building in the heart of the French Quarter. We’d yet to determine what to do with the pristine space.
For some reason, I was more eager to get the day’s more destructive act of business completed. Maybe the woman and her goodness had rubbed off on me.
My soldiers had been sent ahead in order to prep for the early afternoon’s festivities.
Although I’d kept them waiting for longer than anticipated.
For good reason.
The thoughts of her lingering in my mind needed to be shoved aside. Now it was time to concentrate on business.
When I walked inside the building, the frigid air was invigorating, the cold storage location useful for several reasons, including for Indulgence. Today, it was all about one in particular.
My footsteps echoed on the hard concrete floor as I walked slowly toward the savage noise of the man held against his will. As I rounded the corner, the stench of fresh blood wafted into my nostrils.
Enzo glanced at me.
“I thought you’d forgotten about us, boss,” he said as he approached.
“I just had a few things come up unexpectedly.” Goddamn, it was cold in the building. Yes, that was the point, including requiring the man to be stripped of his clothing.
Enzo lifted his eyebrows, chuckling under his breath. “He’s been very quiet. Nothing on him. No sign of the van that left.”
“As anticipated. Pull him down and put him in a chair. I want to do this face to face.”
With a single nod, he instructed the other men, who lowered the crank, grabbing the man under the arms. Even with his face swollen from the beating he’d received, the thief managed to look me directly in the eyes. In them I noticed continued amusement.
He was certainly an arrogant bastard. Not typical with a low man on the totem pole.
My men wasted no time securing him to a chair. Afterwards, he hung his head, his breathing labored, but he was very much alive.
I took my time approaching, placing my foot on the center of the seat between his legs. And very near his manhood.
He snorted in response. His lips were dry and if I knew my men, they’d ignored any plea for water.
“What’s your name?” I didn’t normally ask because I just didn’t care. But at this point, it could prove beneficial to know how far he’d go to keep his identity hidden. That would provide me with an understanding of his willingness to make a deal.
“Fuck you.” His voice was strained from his dry throat and swollen lips.
