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“You want me to give it up?” I ask again, but she shakes her head.
“No, I want you to do what you want,” she responds. “I only ask that you stay safe. If Hex and the others can help you cover your tracks, then let them. If you ever need me to give you an alibi or help with your cover, all you have to do is ask.”
I open my mouth to protest, but she places her finger over my lips. “I’m putting the offer out there, knowing you likely won’t take me up on it. But keep the thought in mind.”
I bite her finger and offer her a grin. “I love you, Delphine.”
“I love you, too. You promised to help me go to sleep. I’m still pretty wired. What are you going to do about it?”
Well, I did promise. Rolling on top of her, I wear my woman out.
When my alarm goes off a few hours later, I roll out of bed carefully so as not to wake Delphine. When she doesn’t move, I grin. Definitely wore her out. I dress in silence and step outside my door to find Zip waiting for me.
“Where’s Irish?” I ask him.
“Car trouble. He’ll be here later this morning,” Zip says.
I shake my head and chuckle. “I swear he has more bad luck than anyone I’ve ever met.”
“Why do you think we call him Irish? He lacks the luck of a good Irishman,” Zip says, clapping me on the back.
“I thought we called him Irish because he couldn’t hold his whiskey,” I reply.
“Either works. We really need more prospects,” Zip says with a yawn.
“Agreed.”
We don’t say another word once we’re outside. Don’t want to risk our trespasser hearing us and bolting. We move silently past the garden and into the overgrowth. As we near the building, we hear a commotion that has us picking up our pace. We burst into the clearing in time to see two figures grappling a third to the ground. By the time we reach the threesome, the third man has his hands behind his back and he’s no longer struggling. Abra turns the guy over and shines a light on his face. Mikel. Golubrev’s former henchmen.
Abra lifts the man up and tosses him over his shoulder as Zip leads the way to the Farm. As we walk, I pull out my phone and send a message to Hex, who replies that he’s on his way. The Farm is a simple square made of cement blocks. It sits away from the clubhouse and hidden within a circle of trees. The trees have been here for centuries and used to guard a small, dilapidated shack. We tore it down and replaced with something sturdy and, more importantly, soundproof.
Inside the Farm, Abra hangs Mikel from the chains hanging from the ceiling. He leaves Mikel fully clothed for now. Whether he stays that way is up to Mikel. Hex, Lake, and Pirate enter just as Abra finishes.
“He’s out?” Hex asks.
“Not for long,” Abra says as he picks up the nozzle on the spray washer.
“Wait a minute,” Pirate says, picking up Mikel’s phone that Abra tossed on the table. He holds the phone up to Mikel’s face to unlock it, before stepping away and leaning against the wall.
Abra turns on the spray, soaking Mikel with cold water until he sputters awake. His eyes dart around the room until they land on Hex, who’s grinning.
“Welcome back,” Hex says, causing all but Mikel to laugh. “Guess you missed us more than we missed you.”
“Fuck you,” Mikel spits, making us laugh again. He scowls but remains silent. I guess he’s waiting for our next move. He’s not the only one. I’m uncertain what Hex’s plan is regarding Mikel or what he hopes to learn from him. Other than how he found his way back onto our property.
“No thanks. Let’s get started,” Hex says, glancing at Abra, who nods and heads toward the table that holds many of his torture tools. He picks up the serrated hunting blade before turning back toward Mikel.
“Do your worst, I’m not talking,” Mikel says and I admire how he shows no fear.
“Oh, we don’t need you to talk,” Hex says. “Didn’t I say? No, I guess I didn’t. You see, we didn’t bring you here to torture information out of you. You have nothing we need. No, you’re a gift. From my father.”
Mikel frowns at Hex in confusion. I blank my expression and see that the others have as well.
“Your father?” Mikel finally breaks down and asks.
“Maxim Zoloth. He’s my father. Didn’t you know? You work for him, right? Worked for him even while pretending to work for Nero Golubrev. I know all about you being Maxim’s spy. He told me you were useful, but he agreed to hand you over to me.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? I don’t work for Maxim,” he denies.
