“That’s not a bad idea,” Whitman says. “I assume it’s padded and soundproof?”
“Leakproof too.”
“Found it,” McCarthy says, coming back into the living room with a pair of handcuffs.
A handcuff pulls on my wrist. “I can’t work with this on,” I snarl at Crawford.
“You need to chill out, or I’m going to call Parker and have him send over some of those nasty tranquilizers they make at Svensson Pharmatech and knock you out for a few days.” Crawford’s eyes narrow. “How about getting work done, then?”
“Knox! That fucker—he corrupted Winnie. He’s trying to steal her from me!”
“You can’t steal another human being.”
“He stole her!” I shout.
“Crawford will go to Knox’s house and check,” Salinger assures me.
“No, he will not.” Crawford’s offended. “I’m not your errand boy.”
“Yeah, don’t feed the delusions,” Whitman agrees.
“I’m mentally ill, and I’m on drugs,” Faulkner singsongs.
There’s pounding on the front door.
My brothers all stare.
Bang! Bang! Bang!“Open this fucking door, you motherfu—”
Kathy stumbles in when Crawford throws the door open.
“How did you even get in here?” I peer at her.
She’s stomping into the penthouse, followed by her grandmother, who is wielding an ax.
“Whoa, whoa! Watch that blade. That’s a Manet.”
“Oh shit!”
“She has a knife!” My brothers curse as Kathy stomps up to me and kicks me right in the balls.
“Unghh.” I double over.
“Ouch.” Faulkner sucks in a breath.
“Now, Kathy,” her granny says, “be gentle. I’m still hoping to breed him.”
“Fuck,” Crawford swears.
“You lying, sociopathic piece of shit!” Kathy screams. “What did you do to my sister? Where is my sister? I know you kidnapped her! Carolina says you have a sex dungeon and that you’ve been stalking her, and you forced her to have sex with you in an alley!”
“Okay, that was consensual—a hundred percent,” I say, wheezing.
Crawford reaches for his gun.
“Swear on my goat farm.” I hold up my hand with the handcuff dangling off it.
Kathy brandishes the knife. “Bullshit! Winnie doesn’t like to get dirty.”
