Page 183 of Her Defiant Warrior

“You don’t get to play today, Ivan.”

He frowned. “What the fuck are you talking about? I’m the one who gets information. Not you.”

“Ah, but she’s more delicate, and if you do the swinging, you’ll bust her up inside and we’ll never get our answers. If I do the swinging, she’ll just be in a lot of pain, and probably won’t bleed out before we have a chance to find out what we need to know.”

Lainey couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

“Wait a minute. Did you put apples in this thing?” the woman asked.

“Yeah,” Ivan shrugged.

“You dumbass. Those are too hard. We need oranges, or grapefruit. They have some give.” Lainey watched as he untied his knot and took out the three apples. He re-tied the pillowcase and shoved it at the woman. “Here.”

Lainey trembled.

“Are you going to tell me where the money is?”

Lainey nodded vigorously. She had no idea what the wench was talking about, but she needed to stay healthy. Now she understood what Matt had been talking about. These were the terrorists. The clackling or something. But it was all going to be okay, because she knew down to her bones that Matt would rescue her. Now she needed to stall for time.

“You know what, sweetheart? I don’t believe you. I think you’re scared, and you’d lie to me right now. What I need to do is tenderize you a bit, and then I’ll get your cooperation. I’ll try to stay away from major organs as best I can. I want you to last for a bit.”

The woman took one end of the pillowcase and swung it backwards, then brought it forward, and it landed on Lainey’s hip. Lainey screamed behind her gag.

“Oh, that’s nice,” the woman said. “That looked like it hurt. Let’s do that again.” She pulled back the pillowcase and hit Lainey’s upper thigh, and Lainey screamed a second time. Once again, it sounded like a muffled gurgle.

“Oh yes, this is fun,” the woman smiled. She looked over her shoulder at Ivan. “No wonder you wanted to do this.”

She turned back to Lainey. “You’re going to end up telling me everything you know, right down to what you got on your first birthday.” She took another swing. This one hit Lainey in her stomach.

Lainey didn’t know how long it took, but finally, her fondest wish came true, and she passed out.

26

“What’s your plan of attack?” Brax asked as they sped along the streets until they got to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel that would spit them out toward the peninsula.

“I don’t have one,” Mateo admitted. “I’m just headed for Lainey’s condo.”

“Is it like yours, or does it have someone manning the front desk?”

“Someone is manning the front desk, but he’s barely awake most of the time. Anyone could get past him. But Lainey told both shifts I was on her approved list.”

“Sounds good. Are you loaded up?” Brax asked as he motioned toward the toolchest in the back of Mateo’s truck.

“Damn right I am, but I don’t think we’re going to be able to walk in with rifles without causing a stir.”

“Pistols?”

“And knives.”

“Try calling her,” Brax suggested. “Or has she blocked you?”

“Amazingly she hasn’t.” For the first time in the last three hours, Mateo felt a grin forming.

“So, there’s still hope,” Braxton said.

“That’s been my take.” Mateo took his phone out of the side pocket of his cargo pants and handed it to Brax. “She’s number one on my speed dial.”

“I thought after our time together at Gideon’s place, I was number one. I’m hurt,” Braxton teased.