Page 73 of Grayson’s Challenge

Cesar grunted something indecipherable. “You’ve got that right! First, he promised to let me crash at his place, and then he just tossed me out. Now beat it, both of you. And tell that bastard I’m not his lackey. So whatever proposition you have, I’m not interested.”

Monique didn’t move, neither did Grayson.

“We’d be happy to tell him that, but we don’t know where he is,” Grayson said.

“Who do you think I am? His babysitter? Go to his flat.”

“Yeah, tried that,” Grayson said with a shake of his head. “But somebody torched the place.”

To Monique’s surprise, Cesar suddenly smirked. “Don’t you just love it when bad things happen to bad people? That’s what I call karma.”

“So he had it coming, didn’t he?” Grayson probed.

“You think I burned his place down?” He huffed. “Do I look suicidal?”

“Not particularly,” Grayson said dryly.

Monique glanced at Grayson. “I’m getting impatient with this guy.” She pulled a stake from her jacket and lunged at Cesar, slamming him to the wall and pinning him there. “Now tell me where to find Rufus.”

Cesar stared at her with wide eyes, clearly not having expected her to get physical. He glanced past her to Grayson. “So she’s your attack dog? You don’t wanna do your own dirty work?”

“I believe women should have equal rights and all, don’t you?” Grayson said with a chuckle. “Besides, she’s really good at this. Cutting guys down to size. It’s a beauty, really.”

Monique suppressed a smirk. She’d never seen this side of Grayson, and she liked it. “Now talk, before I lose my patience.”

“Fine!” Cesar grunted. “When I was released from prison, I needed a place to stay, and Rufus owed me a few favors. So I called him and he let me crash at his place. All was fine, until some asshole shows up. Next thing I know, Rufus tosses me out on my ass. I haven’t seen him since.”

Grayson approached from behind her. “Did that asshole look like this?”

From the corner of her eye, Monique saw Grayson hold up his cell phone to show Cesar a photo. She turned her head to see it better, and recognized it immediately. It was Abel. From an early age, her parents had drilled into her that if she or her brothers ever saw this man, to kill him or to run.

“Yeah,” Cesar said, “that’s him.”

“And that was the last time you saw him?” Monique asked.

“I swear. And I have no idea where he is now.”

She sighed and looked at Grayson. He shoved his phone back into his pocket, when she suddenly realized something. “Cesar, you said you called Rufus. You have his number?”

Cesar nodded. “Yeah, it’s in my phone.”

Monique exchanged a look with Grayson. “We can trace it.”

Grayson looked at Cesar. “Where’s the phone?”

Cesar tilted his head toward the bedroom. “On my bedside table.”

Grayson left the room and went to the bedroom. Moments later, he was back with Cesar’s phone. “Passcode?”

“1-2-3-4.”

Grayson raised an eyebrow, then unlocked the phone. A few moments later, he typed something on his own phone, and tossed Cesar’s cell phone on the coffee table. “Got it.”

Monique released Cesar and pocketed the stake. “Thanks for your cooperation.”

Cesar grimaced derisively. “Yeah, sure, pleasure.”

Outside, Grayson took Monique’s hand. “Thomas will be able to ping Rufus’s phone.”