"I'll kill you if you don't," I counter evenly. "Right now. Right here. And I promise, it won't be quick." I lean back slightly, giving him space to think. "Or…you tell me what I need to know, and I make sure you have enough cash to disappear. Start over somewhere Donovan will never find you."
Hope flickers in his eyes, alongside the fear. Greed too. "How much?"
"Twenty grand. Cash." More than enough for a lowlife like him to vanish.
He considers for a long moment, clearly weighing his options. Survival instinct wins out. "Donovan's bringing in more men," he says finally, voice barely above a whisper. "Professional this time. Not local talent."
"When?"
"Tomorrow night. They're meeting at the warehouse on Elgin Street. Donovan's offering double the usual rate to whoever brings the girl in."
My blood runs cold, then hot with fury. So soon. Closer than I thought.
"What else?"
"That's all I know, I swear." Baker glances at the door, like he's already planning his escape. "Now what about that money?"
I smile again, the expression never reaching my eyes. "In my truck. Let's step outside."
We exit through the back door, into the alley behind the bar. The moment we're out of sight of the street, I slam him against the brick wall, my forearm across his throat.
"Wait! You said—" he chokes out, eyes bulging.
"I lied." I press harder, cutting off his air. "Did you really think I'd let you walk after you tried to take what's mine?"
His good hand claws at my arm, ineffective. I ease up just enough to let him speak.
"Please," he gasps. "I told you what you wanted to know. I'm out. You'll never see me again."
"Not good enough." I drive my fist into his gut, feeling the satisfying give of soft tissue. "You put your hands on her. Scared her. For that alone, you deserve much worse than I'm giving you."
What follows isn't pretty. I don't kill him—not because he doesn't deserve it, but because a dead body raises questions I don't need right now. But when I'm done, when I leave him crumpled and bleeding in that alley, he won't be walking straight for weeks. Won't be using that other arm anytime soon either.
I pay for it, though. My knuckles are split and bleeding. A lucky punch has left a cut over my eye that's dripping blood down my face. My ribs ache where he landed a desperate kick before I put him down for good.
Worth it, for the information. For the message it sends. Touch what's mine, and there will be consequences.
By the time I make it back to the cabin, the sun is setting. Blood has dried on my face, stiffening the sleeve of my jacket where I wiped it away. My hand throbs with each heartbeat. But I'm alive. And I have what I needed—confirmation of Donovan's next move, time to prepare.
Priscilla opens the door at my knock, gasping when she sees me. "Oh my God, Woodrow!" She pulls me inside, her hands fluttering over me, assessing the damage. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," I grunt, shrugging out of my jacket with a wince. "Just a little disagreement with our friend from the parking lot."
"You're bleeding!" She guides me to the couch, pushing me down gently. "Stay here. I'll get the first aid kit."
I watch her rush to the bathroom, concern etched on her beautiful face. Something warm unfurls in my chest at her worry, at the knowledge that she cares whether I live or die. When was the last time anyone gave a shit if I came home in one piece?
She returns with supplies, kneeling between my spread thighs. So fucking perfect, looking up at me with those big, worried eyes as she cleans the cut above my eyebrow.
"Does it hurt?" she asks, her touch feather-light as she dabs antiseptic on the wound.
"Had worse," I tell her, wincing slightly despite myself. "Much worse."
She frowns, concentrating as she applies a butterfly bandage to the cut. Then she takes my hand in hers, turning it over to examine my split knuckles. Her touch so gentle, so careful. I'm not used to being treated like something fragile, something worth preserving.
"You did this for me," she says quietly, not a question. "Hurt yourself protecting me."
"I'd do a lot worse to keep you safe," I admit, watching her delicate fingers work. "Kill anyone who tried to take you from me. Burn the world down if I had to."
