Inhaling, I shook my head. Where I’d enjoyed this before, it had been long enough I’d grown used to business as usual. “You’re thirsty.”
He didn’t say anything, doing his best to look away. Did he honestly think ignoring me would convince me to leave?
“Give me a bottle of water.” I held my hand out, surprised when Enzo narrowed his eyes. “Do it.”
With the confused look remaining, he grabbed a full bottle.
I untwisted the cap, holding it in front of the unknown thief. “Give me your name and I’ll let you have some.”
Rarely was I surprised any longer what worked in getting people to talk. Normally, it was about threatening their families, but I’d grown weary of doing so. I’d killed plenty of enemies in my years on Earth, but not once had I made good on killing a single family member.
I’d sent a few out of the lives of their worthless spouses, but that was different.
His sigh was heavy. “Vincent.” However, he was studying me as if wondering if I recognized the ordinary name. Was this some game to him?
At least obtaining his name was something. I cupped and squeezed his jaw, forcing him to open his mouth. As soon as I threw back his head, I poured water into his mouth until he choked. I tossed the rest into his face and walked away. Obviously, I was still in a shitty mood.
“You know, Vincent, what you did was reprehensible. Stealing under any circumstances is a criminal act.”
The asshole actually had the stupidity of chuckling.
As if his bravado was going to save him.
When Enzo moved closer, lifting his arm prepared to teach him another lesson, I held up my hand, shaking my head. I was in no mood to allow this to go on longer than necessary. It had been a long week and the thought of enjoying a drink or two sounded excellent.
Too bad I couldn’t do it with a beautiful woman by my side.
“I’m going to try one last time with you, but you should know by now I’m not a patient or forgiving man. I need one thing. Who were you planning on selling the merchandise to?”
“Your mama.”
Here we go.
I was getting too old for this or maybe I’d completely grown out of every level of patience.
Street value of the product was near two million, the cocaine brought in of the highest quality. The number of bricks he andhis buddies had stolen was substantial enough that it would provide undue stress. Our wealthy clients expected perfection, which we’d always supplied.
Until now.
We were even considering expanding our operations into Texas and possibly Florida. Now the expansions would need to wait. Not only for time to acquire additional product, but also for our reputation to recover. A part of me wondered if sullying our brand had been as much of a driving factor into risking enraging the Prince family as obtaining the product itself.
Being the laughingstock wasn’t on my bucket list.
Whoever was purchasing the product had substantial cash as well as connections. Or there was a slim chance the cargo would remain intact until the heat cooled, sold off in smaller quantities. The last thought was that someone was testing our security. While Alexander might call me a conspiracy theorist, he couldn’t deny that the Russians had done that very same thing. Whatever the plan, nothing about it boded well. The last thing we needed was another party attempting to move in on our turf.
“I can see we’re not going to go anywhere with this. I’d hoped you’d be cooperative so I could spare your life, but unless you give me something, I wouldn’t be doing my job by keeping you alive.”
“I have nothing to say.”
“You said plenty before, as if I’m unaware of a much larger operation. It’s time for you to confess. Your buddies are obtaining all the glory while you sit here. Not that my company isn’t enjoyable, but I’m certain you’d rather be doing anything else.”
“Fuck you. I don’t give up my friends.”
The words for the day. And here I’d thought the man might be more creative.
“Are you certain about that?”
Vincent looked away. Another mistake.
