Page 11 of Unexpected Complication

I hated the thought of her weeping, for some reason. It bothered me more than I wanted to admit. As usual, Sean was right, though, and she needed to get it out.

Sitting down, I dragged a hand through my hair, meeting his gaze. “That man is barely human,” I started.

He nodded in agreement. “We knew that going in.”

“I walked over a dead body—two of them—while I was there. One was a runner who was late and displeased Orson. The other was a cook who made something he didn’t like.” I scrubbed my face. “Apparently he had been warned.”

Sean snorted. “Well, in Orson’s eyes, he was lenient.”

I nodded, still thinking of the lifeless eyes staring up at me from the floor.

“They were kids.”

Sean looked grim. “That’s another one of his MO’s. He gets them young, and when they’re no longer useful, he kills them. Very few make it more than a year or two. His only constant is Rex. They’ve been together for years.”

“Scary fucker. His eyes are so dark they’re black pools of nothing. He stares at me all the time, and I have a feeling he’d like to put a bullet in my head.”

“Probably would. You are the only one Orson has ever capitulated to. Gone after. Rex probably feels threatened.”

I took a sip of coffee. “I hope to take him out before this ends as well.”

“I agree.”

“I gave him the ring.”

“It’s not working.”

I frowned. “Dammit.”

“It needs to be rebooted.”

I shook my head. “Getting into that trophy room of his is next to impossible.”

“We knew it was a long shot. But if you can, it would be helpful.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“What did he say?”

“He congratulated me on a job ‘well done.’ Informed me how impressed he was with me.”

“And you acted as if you couldn’t care less,” Sean finished with a smirk.

“I did. He hates it. But he knows he can’t push me too far. He wants something more from me. Well, from Tony.”

“We hoped he would tell you today.”

“He got a call and became agitated and distracted. I put on my Tony mask and told him I had places to be and wasn’t used to being ignored. I walked out.”

Sean laughed. “I bet that pissed him off.”

“Royally. I could hear him shouting all the way down the driveway. I ignored him. He’s sent me a few messages since.”

“Which you will return at your own convenience.”

“The longer I make him wait, the more he wants me. His ego—” I shook my head. “It’s his greatest weakness.”

“Good. We can use it. Now, how about some food?”