“The book belongs to someone close to me, and they want it back. Now, would you like two weeks or three to find him, the book, and save your family?”
“T-t-three.”
I smiled. Such a dumb fucker.
Elias and Sergio moved into position each grabbing a side of him and forcing out one of his hands.
“No, please––,” his brittle voice turned into a high pitched shriek as I brought the cleaver down on all his fingers, excluding the pinky and one where his wedding band sat. My finely honed blade went clean through the flesh and bones, disconnecting all three with ease.
“Collateral.” I explained over his yells of pain. “You have three weeks now. You deliver and you can have them back. I’ll keep them in my toolbox for safekeeping.” Ignoring the blood, I picked up the lighter, flicked on the flame and brought it right to his freshly gaping wounds to cauterize them.
If possible, he screamed louder.
The smell of burnt flesh and blood quickly filled the space between us, making my nose burn. His shoulders slumped, and his head lolled as he passed out from the pain. I didn’t stop until the bloody flesh was scabbed and inflamed.
“Sergio, wake him up and dump him back in the city. I’m sure he’ll work much more efficiently this time around. Elias, come with me.”
“Do you think whoever has it will be able to decipher it?” my brother asked, falling into step beside me.
“It would take someone with significant common sense to do that. The point is finding it before that can happen.”
“Too bad Eva couldn’t do the right thing for a change,” he grumbled.
“I’m sure she deeply regrets her decision right about now, considering her new accommodation.”
“What about Elena? Do you think she knows anything about it, you said she had an ulterior motive.”
“Elena’s main motive is finding her sister. I’ve known that from the beginning. Why she chose to get close to me was another story. She has yet to make any moves trying to figure out Eva’s whereabouts but that may be because she isn’t a fan of the lifestyle.” I climbed inside a UTV and waited for him to situate himself.
“So what are you going to do with her?”
“I’m going to drag her into it head-first and start the game.”
“So cold-hearted,” he laughed. “You ever think maybe she remembers who you are on a sub-conscious level?”
I didn’t reply to that.
“We’re going out,” I said instead.
Chapter Thirteen
The land of dreams so easily turned people into fiends.
Encore was a nightclub unlike anything I had ever seen. It was one wide, giant bronze tower. There was a luxury hotel and two restaurants attached to it.
The club itself was three stories with an outdoor pool surrounded by two story cabanas. It was plush, with deep purple and gold interior.
The chandeliers were in the shape of hammocks. Laser infused lights lit up the massive dance floor. The place was packed with high-rollers.
I saw the basic bottle service started at fifteen-hundred dollars, and while that was the equivalent of an old Abe Lincoln for these people, I still couldn’t wrap my head around it, and that was with access to my family’s accounts.
Mateo had sent me ahead of him with Melody and Peyton, saying he’d call for us.
My thin halter style dress had a deep V and was backless, hitting just below the full-on slutty spectrum. My hair was twisted in a chic bun and I’d skipped wearing underwear.
Even after being fucked all day I still wanted more.
“What are you looking for?” Melody yelled above the music, adjusting her purple bandage dress to plump up her cleavage.
