Page 81 of Carver’s Crusade

Tony steps farther into the kitchen, completely calm, completely at ease. His eyes roam over all of us like he’s already calculating exactly how this ends.

“You ladies look like you’ve had a rough night.”

Min moves subtly between him and the rest of us.

Amusement flickers across his face when he notices her stance.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he says lazily.

“You should leave,” Min replies coldly.

Tony ignores her completely.

Instead, he crouches beside Nancy’s body and studies her for a moment before shaking his head.

“Shame,” he says. “Nancy was useful.”

“How was she useful?” I ask him.

“Doesn’t matter,” he replies as he stands while brushing imaginary dust from his jeans.

“Looks like you ladies could use some help. Luckily, I know how to dispose of bodies. But you’re going to owe me. Big.”

Nobody says a word.

The confidence in his voice makes my skin crawl. He acts as if he already owns us, like he’s in control.

“You’re a sick son of a bitch if you think we need you,” Tanya snaps.

Tony chuckles.

“Oh, don’t look so offended. We can help each other.”

“You were here for Mia,” I snap.

The words crack through the room like a gunshot. Every woman snaps to attention as reality settles in.

Tony’s eyes slide to slowly mine. The eyes of a predator. “Smart girl. Where is she?”

The fury around me detonates instantly.

“You were here to buy Mia, weren’t you?” Ashlyn spits.

“You monster,” Caitlin breathes.

Min’s expression becomes murderous.

Tony lifts both hands slightly like we’re all overreacting.

“Relax. The kid would have been fine. We just wanted to have a little fun. It isn’t like we would have killed her. Not like what you bitches did to her mother.”

Something inside me snaps.

Before he can react, I yank the taser from my waistband and jam it against his chest.

The crack of electricity explodes through the room. Tony convulses violently before he slams backward against the wall. He then crashes to the floor with a strangled yell.

“Yes!” Tanya shouts.