Making his way past the restrooms, he managed to evade any other bouncers and stood outside the back room taking a deep breath. Okay, he’d have to wing it because he couldn’t leave Meg in there to face Barone, not to mention the other two scum bags. He gave a quick knock on the door and when he heard the lock being released, grabbed the handle and pushed hard.
“Hey,” he greeted enthusiastically as he barged into the room. “Wanted to put my name in early. Wondering if I can horn in on one of the games tonight? I’m feeling lucky.”
All eyes turned to him and he could tell no one was happy to see him, except Meg. Her eyes were filled with tears and now a tiny bit of relief. Barone had his arms wrapped around her and she was sitting in his lap. No pretense needed for the anger that surged through him.
“Hey, what’s the deal? You know she’s mine. What the hell are you doing with her? I’m here for another few days and I don’t like sharing. You’ll get your turn.”
Sonny stepped behind him, pushing something into his back. The end of a gun?
“You want me to take out the trash, Mr. Moreno,” Sonny offered. There was no love lost between them. Sonny still held a grudge from their earlier altercation.
“What ishedoing here?” Moreno shouted and Chris could see the man was becoming unhinged. Apparently the thought of being put out of business by the cops was taking its toll.
“I wanted to check about playing tonight,” he answered back trying to appear casual. “But I don’t like finding my woman back here with one of your lackeys. Why isn’t she out serving drinks?”
He took this opportunity to look more closely at her. Marks were already forming on her face where apparently Moreno had hit her and her eyes were red rimmed. His fists clenched tight when he wanted to be driving them into Moreno’s face.Stay in control, keep calm. Getting all heroic would most likely get both of them killed.
“Shut up.” Moreno bellowed in his direction. “I need to think. You,” he ordered to Chris, “sit down and shut up. Your girlfriend here has been spying on me and my associates and I need some information. Now.”
He walked back over to Meg and motioned for Barone to let her go. The fat bastard ran his beefy hands over her curves before reluctantly doing as Moreno indicated. It took all of Chris’s self control but he sensed Moreno was in no mood for his objections. He certainly wouldn’t let either one of them simply walk out.
“What do you mean, she’s spying on you?”Stall for time, back-up should arrive soon.“She’s been with me whenever she isn’t here. When the hell would she have time to report to anyone? She doesn’t even have a stinkin’ cell phone.”
“I said,shut up,” Moreno bellowed again, his voice low and dangerous. “How do I know she’s not reporting back to you?”
Meg’s eyes widened in fear. This time for him? Moreno roughly grabbed Meg’s arms and stared menacingly at her. “Is that it, my dear? This guy is using you to get information for him?”
She remained quiet giving her head a small shake. Moreno reeled back, slapping her so hard she fell to the floor. Chris attempted to go to her but Sonny grabbed his arm, pressing the gun in his ribs, pushing him toward one of the chairs indicating he should sit. Moreno now seethed, his breathing heavy.
He considered taking Sonny’s gun but there were two other men in this room who could seriously hurt them. Barone watched every move he made--with Meg in here he couldn’t take the chance.Continue the bluff until backup arrives.
“I need some information and I need it now,” Moreno ranted again. “I’ve got shipments on their way--I need to know which one the cops have targeted. I can’t afford to call them all off.” He grabbed Meg from the floor shoving her into the chair facing Chris. Moreno turned to him and glared.
“Perhaps we should pay a little attention to the boyfriend and see if anyone decides to talk.” He knew the punch was coming but couldn’t avoid it with a gun pressed against his back. The blow snapped his head back and he tried to stifle the groan that erupted from his mouth. Another one managed to knock him sideways. Sonny got in the act and elbowed him in the side of the neck causing him to fall on the ground. A swift kick to the back from Moreno had Meg crying out.
“Stop. Hurting him isn’t going to get you anywhere. I’m only doing it for the money. He doesn’t even have a clue what’s going on.”
Moreno stopped his foot from connecting again and Sonny pulled Chris back into his chair, his gun never wavering. Meg was trying to protect him. That washisjob. Before he could protest, she started speaking again.
“He’s just some businessman I’ve been mooching off so I didn’t have to live in that slum anymore. I get to spend my days by the pool with free home-cooked meals before I come to work. And he’s been buying me pretty things to wear. But he’s leaving soon so I had to do something to keep me in better accommodations. I didn’t want to go back to where I was before.”
“Wait.” Chris shouted stalling for time. Fear churned in his gut at the look of venom that crossed Moreno’s face at her confession. “What do you mean you were just mooching off me? I thought we had something good going on here. Are you telling me it was all a game? You were only using me for my money.”
Understanding lit her eyes and she continued the act. “Oh, please, don’t play the injured party here. You’ve been gettingplentyfrom me in return for your investment. I know you weren’t teaching me all those kinky sex tricks formybenefit. You more than got your jollies from them.”
He glared at her, hoping Moreno would buy their little act and waste more time. “I can’t believe this,” he said infusing hurt into his voice. “You’re nothing but a two-bit gold-digger. I thought I meant something to you. I was even planning to leave my wife for you.”
“Your wife?” Meg exploded. “You’re married? You bastard.” She launched herself in his direction but Moreno intercepted her, grabbing her around the waist. He twisted her around and slapped her already bruised face.
Chris couldn’t stop himself. He shrugged out of Sonny’s grip, his jaw clenching. He couldn’t allow them to hurt this woman who meant everything to him. But showing too much concern would get them both killed.
Moreno stared at Chris’s angry face, smirking. “I think we can still get some use from her.” He pulled a lethal-looking knife from behind the bar and pressed it to her throat as he pushed her back into a chair. “Maybe someone will give me the information I want if they actually see I mean business.”
Moreno pressed the knife deeper, a little trickle of blood appearing. Meg whimpered as tears rolled down her face.
“Don’t damage her too much, Salazar,” Barone ordered. “You can’t exactly let her go and she’s too precious to kill. I have the perfect place to keep her. There’s a nice secure room in one of my getaways where she’d be comfortable. I could have lots of fun with her. I don’t imagine I’d tire of her for quite a long while.”
The contents of his stomach churned. He’d die before he’d allow that slime ball to do what he hinted at to Meg. Unfortunately if he tried anything stupid, like grabbing for Sonny’s gun, he’d be dead and she’d be left to the sadistic hands of the fat man. His options seemed limited.
