Page 14 of The Wolf and the Monarch

He grunted softly. “You can slap me around all you want, it doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t do anything.”

“Then your fucking night is going to be long one, because I don't fucking believe you,” Milo stated.

Sawyer lifted his gaze for the first time, looking towards the man in the chair. He could see his eyes flicker with something. He just couldn’t tell what.

Milo placed a hand on Andi’s shoulder, squeezing it tight then thrusted his fist directly into his stomach. Tank kept his hand steady in Andi’s hair, not allowing him to budge even though he could see the urge to move all over the captive’s face. Milo punched him again and again and again in his gut. At that point, he was just using Andi as a breathing punching bag. Sawyer could tell he was struggling with the breathing part. But who wouldn’t?

Tank yanked Andi’s head backwards so that he was staring directly up at him. “Anything come to mind yet? Perhaps the location of where thousands of dollars that didn’t belong to you went?”

He smiled up at Tank and Sawyer could see the red in his mouth quite clearly. “My mind is free and clear,” he said, “You’re gonna have to do a whole lot worse than that to jog it, I guess.”

Sawyer was expecting to see something on Milo’s face but he kept it quite neutral. Even as he cracked his knuckles and neck. “Let’s see what we can do then.” Milo slammed his fist into the captive’s stomach once again and he could see the air fly right out of him when he did. It was quickly followed by a backhand to his left cheek. Andi grunted again from the impact. Sawyer watched from the sidelines as fist after fist slammed into the man. Milo was relentless. Blood began to steadily ooze from both Andi’s face and his uncle’s knuckles. But didn’t stop him and Andi didn’t give up either. He just took every hit.

Milo took a couple steps back after another minute or so and he folded his arms across his chest, taking the time to really look Andi over. A smirk crossed his lips after a moment before he turned to look at Sawyer. “You didn’t bother to check him for wounds or anything?”

“I uh…” Sawyer began then shook his head. “No.”

Walking over to Andi, he lifted up his shirt and revealed a wound on the right side. Some sort of slice. “Tank said he got you.” Sawyer shifted his gaze towards Tank and the man just nodded once. “He does have the best aim out of all of us as much as I hate to admit that.” His uncle jabbed two of his fingers into the wound, effectively opening it up further than it was. The sight made Sawyer’s stomach turn.

He couldn’t believe he forgot to check for something like that.

Andi tried his best to keep his face as neutral and unbothered as possible but there was no hiding the clear pain he was in. He was shaking from his attempt but Milo just kept pressing further and further into the wound. It was bleeding profusely. “Jog your memory yet?”

He just shook his head and pressed his lips into a thin line. Sweat was beading on his forehead. Milo simply sighed and pulled his hand back. Once he had, Andi allowed himself to sag some in the chair and his head dropped forward. His uncle wiped the blood on his hand on Andi’s shirt and shook his head. “Fine,” he said simply, “You’ll remember soon enough I’m sure.” Milo leaned forward towards Andi and asked, “Shall we keep going then?” Obviously, the man didn’t answer. Sawyer just watched him swallow hard and prepare.

Chapter Nine

Benji

Benji really should have thought a bit harder about what he said before he did because by the time the two were done beating the living shit out of him, he felt like he was going to keel over. It was honestly a miracle that he was conscious. He didn’t know the names of the four men in the room. It wasn’t like that was going to make much of a difference in anything. No matter what he knew about them, they were still his captors. He did wish that he knew why he was though.

Sure, context clues led him to understand that they thought he was Andi. That made sense. Andi was a unisex name. He just didn’t know how they knew the name or why they thought Andi had done some egregious thing to them. Everyone in their little business had enemies. But it was rare when they were called by name. And it was even weirder that she was. She always kept her name under wraps but he was sure there was a way to find it somehow. Andi could surely find the name of anyone and if she could, someone else probably could.

The whole thing was rather suspicious though. Were they waiting for him? How did they know he was going to be there? The whole facility was closed off. Was it their facility? That would make the most sense… But they didn’t seem very concerned with what he was doing so that couldn’t be it. Could it?

His mind was reeling from all the questions he had and zero answers. Benji’s body slacked forward as much as his bonds would let him. His head hung forward as well with blood oozing from it. He heard a snicker in front of him and he was pushed back against the chair again. Benji swallowed down a groan and stared blankly at the man in front him. His fists were bloodied from the assault he had given him and Benji’s blood was spattered all over his body now. The other guy that was behind him that had been doing the beating looked similar. They did not pull any punches on him. Not that he was expecting it.

The other two hadn’t really budged much. The short one kept cackling though and Benji hated the sound. It was something that was going to haunt his nightmares, surely. And why was he there anyway? He hadn't done anything besides cheer. The one beside him though… He just stood there and stared at a spot on the ground. He had been doing that the whole time. Benji couldn’t help but notice it when the other three were so interested in him and that guy just wasn’t.

“Are you still biting your tongue, Andi?”

Benji scoffed quietly and snorted. Blood immediately coated his mouth again. He spat another large glob of it on the ground near both of their feet. His gaze stayed lazily upon them, figuring that was a decent enough answer.

The leader, he was assuming, smirked then nodded his head. “Good,” he leaned forward, impossibly close to Benji’s face, and placed his hands on his shoulders. “I didn’t want to be done with you so quickly.” He gave his face a good three pats then slammed his fist into his face. “Learn your manners.” The man seethed softly before he turned around and walked up the stairs. Two of the other guys immediately followed. The other aggressor and the cackler. The quiet one stayed, not lifting his gaze from the ground until he heard the door close. Benji was pretty sure he heard a click of a lock. That made sense. It would be foolish not to.

For a while, Benji just stared at the guy and the guy stared back. It probably went on far too long but that wasn’t his fault. He was the one attached to a chair, unable to move. All he could do was stare and try to figure out how to get the hell out of there. However, after a while, he couldn’t stand it anymore and he looked away. Particularly at the blood that had pooled on his stomach from his mouth.

That seemed to be enough to get the guy to start moving. Benji couldn’t really see what he was doing but he heard some drawers open and water running behind him before he reappeared. He had a wet cloth and some bandages. “What are you doing?” Benji asked as clearly as he could with his swollen face, genuinely curious.

“Cleaning you up.”

“Why?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Why would you?”

The guy just stared at him. “Would you rather I leave you alone?”