I walked closer, taking the time to study his face, leaning over in order to do so. There was no fear in the man’s eyes and if I didn’t know better, I’d say he was amused by the entire situation. “You fucked with the wrong people.”
“Do you… think I give… a shit?” His gruff words were followed by a wheeze, the asshole spitting a spray of blood across my face.
I took a deep breath before smashing my Glock across his face, knocking out two of his teeth. The dinging sound as they toppled to the deck gave me a smile. I rubbed the back of my hand across my face, hissing from the sight of the bloodstained spittle. “That was your last mistake.”
Enzo cautioned me with his eyes, but he hadn’t needed to. I could hear the rousing music of Bourbon Street as if I was sitting in a bar watching a crisp, enthusiastic jazz band.
“Maybe we should do this somewhere else,” my Capo suggested so only I could hear.
I knew he had a point. However, his wise suggestion didn’t mean I was in the mood to take any shit. Just the opposite.
While I’d come to despise weakness on any level, I also loathed a dying man’s defiance. I pointed the barrel of the gun against his forehead, studying his face in the waning light. When he smiled, it was all I could to do keep my composure.
“You stepped into a lion’s den,” he huffed, the warning only fueling my anger. A lion’s den. The sentiment was interesting. More like a rat’s nest and I was the exterminator. Me? Was he fucking kidding me? His choice of words was interesting. I should take the time to torture the meaning out of him, but I didn’t have that much patience.
“And you obviously don’t know who you are dealing with.”
“The great Prince family,” he huffed, laughing, although the sound was strangled. “So the fuck what?”
“Perhaps you need to choose your friends more wisely. They left you all alone to take the brunt of my anger.” I could tell he was annoyed. He knew more than he was willing to share.
For now.
At least the car was close where I could dump him in the trunk and deal with his sorry ass later. Perhaps when I was in a better mood.
“What do you want to do?” Enzo lifted his eyebrows.
I was angry enough I wanted to slit the asshole’s throat. But I’d refrain. He and two of his friends had managed to steal an entire cargo container of party favors coming in from Colombia. He’d been the unlucky one, twisting his ankle while being chased. His buddies had left him in the middle of the road even though they’d seen me gaining on the douchebag.
“Help me get him to the car. I need to spend some private time with him away from all this.” I waved my hand because I could hear the jazz music even through the thick walls of the small warehouse. The sound wasn’t conducive to acts of torture. I preferred hearing every sound they made during the ordeal. The theft continued to drive me bat shit crazy, the brazenness of their action ridiculous.
The location almost never had illegal drugs stored inside. It was used as an auxiliary for the restaurant and club we owned. That meant someone from the inside had tipped off the thieves. Not only did I need to learn their identity, but flushing out the traitor was imperative.
I’d do so at my leisure.
Enzo easily grabbed the kid, tossing him over his shoulder. I grumbled the entire time, yanking out my key fob. While I used to enjoy this part of my job, the older I got, the more I loathed the break in routine.
I checked the exterior before motioning my Capo outside. You never knew where tourists ventured. “Dump him in the trunk.” I grabbed the rope I stored alongside other necessities needed for this very reason. While it wasn’t often someone betrayed or stolefrom us so brazenly, I’d learned a long time ago to be prepared for anything.
Still cursing and with Enzo still chuckling, I wrapped the asshole’s wrists, tying them to his ankles. Then I shoved a cloth in his mouth. If he woke up from the near coma I’d put him in, I certainly didn’t want him escaping or drawing any attention.
After all, I had the Prince reputation to uphold.
“Do you want me to meet you at the warehouse?”
Sighing, I stared up at the late afternoon sun. “You know what? We’re going to allow our guest to spend a full night at Hotel Hell. Maybe that will soften him up.”
“You’re in a rotten mood.”
I slammed the trunk lid, still glaring at him. “I was enjoying a day off until the alarm sounded. Then you called.” At least I know my Capo was paying attention. Maybe I’d need to give him a raise.
“Speaking of which. I have tickets to a game tonight.” He eyed me almost sheepishly.
He was my go-to man. Always there when I needed him.
“I mean if you need me, I’ll let the thousand-dollar Saints tickets go.” He knew how to pull at heartstrings, which was why he’d never had any trouble getting women. Drove me nuts. He had a better track record than I did.
I clapped him on the shoulder. “Go to the game. Take whatever wench you’re dating and enjoy yourself. I’ll toss him into the warehouse after driving around for an hour or so.” Only myCapo could make me feel like such a fucking Grinch as an employer. “Who’s the girl?”
