There was no way I was going willingly with that turd, but I also needed to find Jeffrey Rose. I put up a good fight for show but let him “capture” me in the end.
The joke’s on him.
As soon as we stop, it’s going to beRueage Central up in this Bitch!
I needed to get out of my blindfold and ties first.
Details!
Fucker was smart, tying my hands behind my back. Most idiots tie them together in the front, and that’s begging someone to get free. Not this guy. He must be on the Varsity Goon Squad. The one they brought in when the Junior Varsity Goon Squad couldn’t handle it.
And you know - died in a car explosion.
But with all the big talk in my mind, I have zero plans when the car comes to a stop.
Shit. I thought I’d have more time.
There’s no way Jeffrey Rose is this close to D.C., right?
The back seat door opens, and rough hands yank me outside. “C’mon. Da boss is waiting.”
Oh, goodie.
Varsity Goon pushes me forward. “Any chance you could take the blindfold off? You know, so I can see where I’m fucking going?”
“Geez, da mouth on you,” Varsity Goon rips the blindfold off my face. “Shoulda gagged you instead.”
I smile sweetly at him as I blink to take in my surroundings. We’re at a sprawling stone mansion that looks like something right out of a horror movie. Gargoyles perch on the edges of the roof. Stone steps curve up to the front door that is larger than a car. It groans as another goon opens the door.
“I brought her, just like da boss asked,” Varsity Goon squints his already beady eyes at Butler Goon, who points down the hall.
Varsity Goon pushes me in that direction.
“So, am I being dragged to the principal’s office? What’d I do? Smoke in a non-smoking area? Shoot too many of the J-V Goon Squad?”
He doesn’t bite. He opens the door to an office and shoves me in, closing the door behind me. With him on the other side.
Okay. That’s good. One less goon to deal with for the moment.
I take in my surroundings. It’s not only an office. It’s a two-story library. Bookshelves reach to the ceiling. There are stairs in here to get to the second level of the library, and it’s those stairs that capture my attention.
Because a familiar face is headed down in my direction.
And it’s not Jeffrey Rose.
Motherfucker.
“What did you say, baby?” Gary Griego comes to a stop and looks up at me.
I shake my head at the tiny greaseball in front of me. That’s right. The head of the Griego Crime Syndicate is an inch shorter than I am. Not that the height difference helps me in this situation. This is a moral or intellectual victory that will probably get me killed.
“Gary,” I grunt. “What the Hell am I doing here?”
He grins at me. “Good, you know who I am.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course, I know who you are. Your brother testified against you. Although, why you’re out of prison, I have no idea.”
He waves his stumpy hand and heads toward a desk that’s two sizes too big for him. “Technicalities.”
