Ledger is still hogtied and lying on his side on the floor. His breathing sounds rough, but then I did make a mess of his face. He’s already shivering. He’s conscious, but only just.
The three Numbnuts are huddled together. They barely seem aware of our arrival. Duke manages to lift his head, and Paulie’s eyes roll. They’re probably suffering from hypothermia, but they’re going to be wide awake soon enough when they realize what’s coming.
“Wakey-wakey, boys,” I shout and clap my hands. “It’s playtime.”
The Numbnuts groan and start moving. Ledger does nothing. He just lies there and glares at us in fury. He must realize he’s fucked.
Jack, Big Mike, and Smokie Saul enter the refrigerator as well, keeping their guns trained on both the Numbnuts and Ledger. Not that they seem to be any threat, but better safe than sorry, and besides, the presence of the guns will help sharpen their minds a little. Becker and Cash remain outside, watching to make sure we’re not interrupted.
I approach our three guys and deliver a couple of swift kicks each to get their attention. “Come on, time for talking is here. We need to ask you idiots some questions, and if you don’t give us the correct answers, you’re going to be even more screwed than you currently are.”
We’d questioned them before, but now we know the full story, so we want to hear it from them.
“Is anyone else in our MC involved?” I ask. “What about in the Revenants?”
They’re awake now, but no one says anything. They glance at one another, fearful and confused, as well they should be. I decide to take another tact.
“When the three of you were bothering Camile and Rook that time, I wanted to cut your fucking hands off for touching her. I was going to do it, too, but Ghost stepped in, and he wouldn’t let me.” I deliberately make ashow of looking around. “Oh, but looky here, Ghost isn’t around today, and, even if he was, I don’t think he’d get in my way this time.”
I bring out my flick knife and hit the button to open it. The lethally sharp metal springs into existence, glinting in the unforgiving striplights above.
Eddy, Duke, and Paulie practically try to climb over one another to get away, but I don’t know where the fuck they think they’re going. There’s nothing but metal shelving that’s attached to the walls, and packets of meats and cheeses and gallons of milk and juice behind them.
I reach Paulie first, so he’s the one I grab by the wrist. I slam his hand down on the shelf. “Tell me everything you know.”
He squeals like a stuck pig and starts sobbing. “I don’t know anything, Ace. I’m sorry, man. I’m telling the truth, I swear.”
“Oops,” I say with a grin. “One gone.”
In one swift move, I slice my blade across the place where the base of his index finger meets his hand.
Paulie stares at it a moment, as though he can hardly believe what he’s seeing, and then he screams like a girl. Blood spurts everywhere, and it briefly occurs to me that I’m going to get in some serious shit with the ol’ ladies who man the kitchen for getting blood on the food. But it’s all packaged and sealed, so I can’t really see what the problem is. Besides, Paulie’s blood won’t be the last of it.
Paulie uses his other hand to reach for the dismembered finger, but I’m faster than him and scoop it up. “Nope, I don’t think so. I have plans for this.” I stuff it into the pocket of my leather cut, not caring that I’ll get blood on it.
Duke stares at me in horror. “What the fuck, man? You’re a complete psycho.”
I send him a grin. “Not arguing with you there. Want to be next?”
He knows what’s coming, so unlike Paulie, goes into complete panic mode. He scrambles and flails, not caring that he’s hitting his cousins at the same time.
“Big Mike, get on over here and hold him down.”
“Gladly.” Mike grins and grabs Duke.
“Hand out,” I say.
Big Mike splays Duke’s right hand across the metal shelf.
“Got anything you want to tell us?” I say to Duke. “Might just save you a finger or two.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Please, it was so fucking stupid of us. We just wanted a bit of extra cash to have a good time. We won’t do it again, I promise.”
“Who else was involved?”
“Just that guy over there.” He means Ledger. “And a small group of the Revenants. It was the fucking Revenants who started this, not us. They’re the ones who came to us. You should be punishing them, not us.” His voice is a high-pitched shriek.
“We can’t. They’re dead.” With that, I slice off Duke’s finger and pocket it.
