AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Not here, Mad. It’s bad enough that Rocky dragged this fucker in here”—he raises an accusing brow at Rocky, although he couldn’t have known what just went down—“They could still be watching the place.”
Rocky looks like he wants to say something but thinks better of it when I shake my head at him.
“I’ll explain later,” Zak tells him before turning back to me. “Let’s get him the fuck out of here, but not to our usual spot either.” Zak is careful not to reveal too much in front of Marchant. You can never be too careful in this world.
I continue to stare at Marchant for a moment, watching him as he attempts to lift his chin and not look intimidated, but he fails and drops his gaze as mine narrows on him.
I nod to Rocky, who gives a tug on his hair, and I grasp Marchant’s chin in a firm hold. Bending down, an inch from his face, I say, “I hope you made sure to say goodbye to everyone you love this morning ‘cause the next time they see you, you’ll be wearing concrete fucking boots and minus a tongue.” I shove his face away. “On your fucking feet. You’re going to walk out of this place with a smile and like we’re old friends, right?” He doesn’t answer straight away, so I signal for Rocky to give him some encouragement.
Taking hold of one of his hands, Rocky bends it behind his back, latching onto his pinkie finger. As he begins to pull it back, Marchant screams. I feel the first lick of excitement at the sound. Feeding the rage, the monster, within me.
“Fuck! Yes, yes, alright. Please,” he sputters out, and Rocky releases his finger.
“If I were you, I’d save all that energy and pathetic begging for later ‘cause you’re gonna need it.” Rocky hauls him back to his feet, patting him down and straightening his clothes for him. It’s almost like saying you’re going to your death, so you should at least look respectful.
“Ripley, shut this place up and go home for the night. Tell the girls they’ll still get paid, and I’ll call you in the morning,” Zak tells him as we make our way out the back.
Marchant shuffles along behind me with Rocky bringing up the rear. As we near the exit, I hear a sharp inhale of breath, then Rocky whispering to Marchant to behave his-fucking-self and maybe I’ll make it quick. It brings a wicked smirk to my mouth knowing it’s bullshit.
Marchant picked the wrong person to mess with. And he certainly picked the wrong fucking night to screw up.
I’m going to enjoy making him fucking sing.
ChapterTwo
Roxy
My arse went numb several hours ago, and now the cold, hard concrete floor could almost pass for a soft cushion. My head is back, resting against the wall, and my eyes are wide open, staring up at the ceiling.
The nausea has subsided, but the pain and hurt from Noah’s betrayal still rests like a lead weight in my stomach. I can’t even begin to describe how I feel about Mitch. If Noah’s betrayal is a lead weight, then Mitch’s is a tonne of gold bullion. Nice to look at, pretty and everyone’s dream, but the reality is nothing more than a heavy heart.
I close my eyes unable to stare another second at the streak lightening crack in the ceiling. That crack is the personification of how my heart looks right now. Only mine bears a hundred of them.
The guy in the cell next to me starts up his comical rendition ofLocked Upby Akon again, and I groan as he begins to tap out the beat on the wall beside me.
“Hey, prick,” I yell, banging on the wall to my right. If I can hear him—unfortunately—then he can damn well hear me. He cuts off halfway through the chorus.
“Did I get the words wrong?” he asks, like I didn’t just insult him.
“Nah, but how about you shut the fuck up.”
“Fuck you, bitch,” he fires back, finally catching on.
Despite his snappy retort, he doesn’t start singing again and silence ensues. More time passes, and still I sit here waiting for someone to come and explain to me how the fuck I’m being arrested for Theo’s murder. I haven’t even been offered a phone call. Not that I have anyone to call. Well, Jess, but I really can’t afford for her to go getting arrested, not when she is protecting Axel and Eva.
I certainly am not calling Mitch. The guy who’s always been there for me. The guy who apparently knows Maddox and Zak enough to have fucking called to warn them the cops were coming.
How?
How is this possible?
My thoughts are interrupted by the clunking of the door as it swings open. I raise my head from the wall to see Smithy standing a step inside the door. Just behind him is another officer, one I’ve only seen a couple of times.
Smithy offers me a small smile as our eyes meet, and I can see how unhappy he is about whatever he’s here to do. I don’t acknowledge it, not because I don’t appreciate it, but because I can see the officer behind him watching us closely.
“On your feet. Time to be interviewed.”
“About fucking time.” I’m aware I’m being a bitch, but it’s all I’ve got left at the moment. This is me. When I’m backed into a corner, the walls come up, locking into place, and the claws come out ready to strike. It’s what holds me together while everything around me falls apart.
