This makes me laugh, full belly, manic laughter bubbles from my chest. “A daughter?” I shout. “You have a daughter? But you’ve been delivering young girls into the sex trade?” I let out a low whistle and looked at the brothers who were standing in various positions around the room. “Makes my daddy dearest look a little better huh?”
Nobody responds, “Tough crowd.” I mutter to myself.
“So, Deangelo, to my understanding you were partnering up with Jax. Smuggling out product from our warehouses and drugging victims to pass on to the Cambions. Is that correct?” I circle him like a hawk, making sure each step of my heels echo in the room.
“Yes.” Deangelo whispers. So, in response I swing the bat into his left kneecap that is followed by a satisfying crunch.
“Great, thank you.”
Deangelo screams and wails while rocking in his chair that’s bolted to the concrete floor, “Why?” He cries, “I answered the question!”
“I didn’t like your answer.” I shrug and point my metal weapon. “Who were you answering to in the Cambions?”
“I—.” He stutters, “I’m not sure. I only communicated to someone who went by the letter K.”
I pull the bat in the air ready to swing again but he screams, “Wait! Wait, there’s more!” So, I pause, waiting for his answer but he just takes a deep breath.
“Deangelo, do I strike you as a patient person?” I ask, genuinely curious if he thinks I am.
“No. But K, he knows who you are. He was ordering the hits on The Sparrow.” He explains.
“I already knew the Cambions were ordering the hit. Tell me something new, and I might spare your current all-in-one-piece knee.”
He doesn’t answer immediately so I huff a sigh, “Five.”
“Okay hold on.” He sputters.
“Four.”
“Okay, I know something. I do. Please.”
I yawn, “Three.”
“He knows what you look like!” He yells, “And he has told people your name. Not a lot of people, but some people know that you’re Zoe Hera. Daughter of Kahl Hera.” He cracks.
There it is. Now we are getting somewhere.
“Do you know who accepted the current hit?”
“It’s an open call. At least thirty people have claimed it. As long as they deliver you alive, they get five million dollars.” He slumps, clearly giving up.Weak.
“Why do they want me alive?” I ask, not being as menacing as I was previously.
“I don’t know. But that’s a requirement to get the money.” He looks up at me, and I can see in his eyes he is willing to beg for his life. Unfortunately for him, I don’t have a sympathetic bone in my body. And I sure as hell, do not respect a man whobegs.
“Are there any more moles in our operation?”
“Not that I know of.” He begins to sob, knowing that he is now close to his demise.
“One last question, Deangelo. Why did you do it? Why betray us?”
He’s quiet again, but I know he won't answer this. He won't be able to answer because there isn’t a good enough excuse, and I won't give him the chance. Before he can look back at me, I bring the bat down to his skull- shattering it with one swift blow. He’s dead before his head even drops, and I toss the bat to the ground now that this part of the job is complete. The metal bat makes a loud clanking sound that echoes loudly in the concrete room, and it’s like everyone in the room is holding their breath except for me.
“So,” I start. “There are at least thirty people that have a target on my back. And for some reason it’s personal with the Cambions new leader. Brandon can go through Deangelo’s bank statements to see how he was getting paid for bringing thegirls in. And if Deangelo’s family wasn’t directly involved, let’s make sure his children are safe and taken care of financially if necessary. It’s not their fault they had a shit dad.”
I lean over Deangelo, and I begin to carve my sparrow insignia into his cheek. I typically do it in the palms of my victims’ hands, but Deangelo here seems to be fresh out of those. I make quick work of it and pocket my switch blade after I wipe the blood on his lap.
I clean my hands off on a nearby rag and turn to exit, “And Teddy,” I call out from over my shoulder. “If you can cut off their heads for me?”
