Page 56 of Shai

“Clock is ticking.” McIntyre’s voice was like nails down a chalkboard,

particularly given the note of triumph it contained, as if he knew full well he had me over a barrel.

“How do I know you haven’t killed Taylor already? I’m not doing a

trade for a dead man. I want to speak to him.”

McIntyre tutted. “Has anyone ever told you that you’ve got trust issues,

Shai?”

I hated my name on his lips, and I had to fight the urge to hang up. If I

did, I had no doubt he would gut Taylor like a fish, though. “I want to speak to him or there’s no deal.”

“Fine. I’m a generous man.” There were a few quiet murmurs, McIntyre

too far from the phone for me to be able to pick up on anything more than the odd word.

A couple of minutes passed before McIntyre spoke again. “You’ll have

to excuse him if he’s not very easy to understand. My men got a little over zealous when it came to welcoming him. It seems his jaw is broken.”

I gritted my teeth, fighting against another surge of rage. “Put. Him.

On.”

“Shai? Is that you?”

Taylor’s words were slurred, McIntyre apparently not having

exaggerated his physical state. “It’s me. What happened?”

“I got sloppy. I’ve been fucking a woman who lives on this side of the

river. I thought I’d been careful enough, but I was wrong. Sorry.”

Even knowing that McIntyre would be listening in and taking great

pleasure in it, I didn’t bother to hold back. “You fucking idiot! How many times have I told you not to think with your cock?”

“I know, and it’s my mistake, my fault. I’ll take the consequences. Don’t

do the deal. You can’t give this fat bastard the satisfaction of getting what he wants. He—”

Whatever he’d been about to say was lost in a loud groan, McIntyre no

doubt wreaking his revenge for Taylor’s audacity of calling him a name. He might still be breathing at the moment, but a few more insults like that and he wouldn’t be for much longer. Not unless I accepted McIntyre’s deal and gave him Elijah.

“Do we have a deal?”

“I need more time to decide.”

“He must be a really good fuck. Funny, I can’t imagine the Elijah I knew being amenable enough to spread his legs for you.”

“I can be very persuasive.”

“I bet. You’ve got five minutes. When I call back, I want an answer. No more stalling, or Taylor loses his tongue.”