Page 30

Viktor shrugs. “Figured you were busy.”

People call me unhinged. They have no idea how much worse Viktor is. The man takes genuine pleasure in breaking people.

“Have they spoken?” I ask.

“Still tight-lipped,” Viktor replies.

“Then let’s make things interesting.”

I pull out my gun and put three bullets into the head of the man on the right. The shots echo loudly in the small space.

The surviving bastard starts shaking violently, trying to twist away even though the chains make it impossible.

I step closer, voice calm. “The worst fate is about to happen to you if you don’t start talking. You put someone I care about in danger tonight when you decided to attack my club.” I tilt my head. “I hold no personal offense against you. I know you were working on instructions. That’s why I need you to tell me who sent you.”

He stays silent, lips pressed together.

I stretch out my hand. One of my men places a pair of pliers in my palm.

I look the man in his good eye. “I’m going to clip off every toe, then every finger, then your teeth, then your cock, piece by piece until you tell me what I want to hear. I have all night.”

He lasts less than ten seconds.

The first toe comes off with a sickening crunch. He howls, body jerking wildly in the chains.

“I don’t know!” he screams. “It was through the dark web! We don’t get names, just pictures of the target. Your picture was sent. That’s all I know!”

Viktor steps forward. “How was payment made?”

“Cash drop-off. Anonymous. I swear!”

I exchange a look with Viktor.

The man keeps babbling. “Please… I’m telling the truth. That’s everything. I know nothing else.”

I sigh. “Guess you’re useless to me then.”

I raise my gun and put two bullets in his head. The body goes limp.

“Clean this up,” I tell my men as I turn to leave.

Viktor falls into step beside me in the hallway.

“This has the Irish written all over it,” he says quietly.

“I know.”

“They’ve been testing our borders for months. Now they’re getting bold. We need to stop them.”

I nod once, jaw tight. “And we will.”

Chapter Nine

Rosie

I wake up to the feeling of the softest mattress I’ve ever lain on.

I stretch lazily, eyes still closed, savoring the luxurious warmth of the blanket tucked around me.