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“I’m not a fighter!” Tony exclaimed.

“No? Shame. Neither were some of those you took, but that didn’t stop you,” Locke stated casually.

His men covered the furniture with more plastic sheeting, and Tony began looking around in panic. A grin crossed my lips.

“Seems Locke has his own ring,” I commented.

Tony shot me a scared look just as Locke let loose with a hammer blow. He silently beat Tony, barely breaking a sweat. As we sipped our whiskey, I saw the realisation sink into Tony. He wasn’t escaping this.

Locke stepped away and took a wet towel from a guard. He wiped his brow and leaned on his desk.

“Now answer my questions. Every time you fail to, one of my men will punch your kidney three times until it fuckin’ explodes. Do you know how painful that is? No? Well, Joshua Hanson did. Meet his big brother, Greg. I’m sure you understand; Greg is really pissed someone murdered his baby brother.”

Tony looked up from where he lay and blanched at the towering man with murder in his eyes.

“Once we’ve finished with your kidney, it’s your liver. Then Greg will punch you until your rib shatters and pierces your lung. You’ll experience every single injury Joshua suffered. Greg is experienced at delivering that. That kid died screaming, and so will you. Except, do you know why they call me The Psycho?”

Tony looked up at Locke and shook his head. “I like to slice and dice. So, when Greg’s screwed your kidney, I’ll peel your skin from your leg and wrap it in salt.”

Nice. That was beyond fucked up, but I liked the idea.

Locke held up a jar. “When Greg’s exploded your liver, I’m going to skin your other leg and encase it in a bag with these little beauties. These are Asian Lady Beetles. They will eat the raw meat of your leg. I can’t imagine what that might feel like. You’ll have to tell me.”

Tony moaned in fear.

Locke laughed. “Don’t worry. I have other shit planned for you. You’re going to pay for Joshua’s death.”

“What do you want?” Tony cried as tears tracked down his cheeks.

“What’s your role?”

“I don’t have one!”

Greg slipped on knuckled dusters and punched Tony’s kidney. He screamed. Locke continued to relax, ass on his desk as he studied his nails.

“Same question,” he said calmly.

I settled in as Tony shook his head. This was going to take a while.

“Washington. It was Washington!” Tony screamed as he squirmed on the sheeting. Two hours had passed, and as per his word, Locke had carried out the punishments. Tony’s hands were cuffed behind him, and his screams were grating on me.

“Bullshit,” I said immediately.

“Washington wants back what he gave away. He’s making moves,” Tony cried as he shook his legs. The man had blacked out several times, and I could only imagine the pain he was in.

“Bullcrap,” Tiny backed me up.

Locke held up a hand.

“No, it’s not. Washington is setting up Salisbury to take the fall for this,” Tony insisted. “Please stop them; I can feel them eating me!” he screamed the last word.

Locke turned and looked at us. “James Washington.”

“He’s talking bullshit. Washington doesn’t want back into this world,” I declared, knowing I was right.

“How certain are you? You’re his close allies. Maybe you’re here to cover for him,” Locke said quietly.

“Stop the shit, Locke. That cunt is lying and you know it,” Tiny stated.