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“Simple. Theo swore me to secrecy. He was already interested in my brother the night I put a bullet in his head, which was how he witnessed me shooting him, then he came to me afterward. He even helped me dispose of his body. Theo never told me why he was interested in my brother, and I never asked. But I’m guessing the fact you have this picture means you know, so now it’s your turn to fill me in on where this came from.”
“Simple,” Roxanne says, mimicking Bowser’s words from a moment ago. “This came from beyond the grave, and my sister recognised your brother as one of the men from a compound she was held at after she was kidnapped.”
“But that was ten years ago, Roxy. That means—”
“Your brother was in deep even then,” she says, cutting him off. “I want the names of everyone, Bowser. They might be dead but if there’s something that connects them to Rogers and James then I’ll fucking find it.”
“Fuck! Fuck!” Bowser slams his fist down on the small table causing his bottle to wobble before it topples over and rolls off the side, making a dull thud as it hits the carpeted floor. His chair follows the bottle to the floor as he surges up and storms off, disappearing into a room and slamming the door.
Roxanne begins tapping the bat on the floor, lost in her thoughts.
“Roxanne, what is it?”
Snapping her eyes up to me, she says, “It just feels off. Theo was a shrewd, calculating man, and he would never make a decision without good reason. So why the fuck didn’t he shut this shit down sooner. Why let it go on?”
Her phone rings in her pocket, and pulling it free from her jeans, she looks at the caller ID. Her mouth turns down in a ‘I don’t know’ look with a shrug of her shoulders as she answers it.
“Hello,” she says shortly, turning to pace the room.
I hear a faint voice reply, then Rox spins round, looking right at me as she pulls the phone from her ear and puts it on speaker.
“I told you I’d be in touch soon, Roxanne, and I’m a man of my word. Now then, we didn’t quite get time to finish our conversation while you were snug in your little jail cell, but I do believe I have your full attention now, or perhaps you need a little incentive. Star has grown into a beautiful young lady, so much like you at that age but not so rough around the edges.”
I shake my head at Roxanne as she opens her mouth to respond.
“Where is she, James?”
He chuckles down the phone. “Why, she’s exactly where you left her this morning to go on your little ride along with the Lawlers. Hello, boys,” he taunts down the phone, and I see Roxanne’s knuckles turn white on the handle of the bat, her nostrils flaring.
“You leave her the fuck alone,James!”
“Roxanne, Roxanne, I’m not concerned about you or your threats. Do you honestly think that you have anything that can touch me? Now, just like with Theo all those years ago, I’m going to give you an option. It’s a simple choice between your sister or the two men, at least I’m sure it’s only two men, that you’re fucking.” He pauses as though expecting a response to his accusation about the men she’s sleeping with, but she doesn’t bite, and so he continues, “Very well. You hand over your sister to Rogers, and I’ll make sure that the Lawlers live…behind bars of course. I’ll make it worth their while. As long as they survive, I’ll provide them with work and even the occasional pussy to fuck. Although, they’re resourceful and I’m sure they can earn themselves a couple of bitches inside.” Another dark chuckle rumbles down the line, but Roxanne cuts it short.
“Are you stupid?” she asks, and James’ laughter ceases instantly.
“Excuse me?” he asks affronted, and I can just picture his eyes narrowing, lip curling up.
“Do you need me to repeat the question? It must be hard at your age, losing your hearing, your mind and the ability to fuck…people over.” The pause is perfect to allow him to get her double meaning, and she doesn’t stop there. “Now let me giveyoua choice. Resign, hand yourself in and testify against everyone involved in your sick little club or I’ll bring it all down and make sure you rot in a pile of your own excrement for the rest of your miserable fucking life. How does that sound,Father?” The silence on the other end is palpable, and I’m not sure if he’s even still there.
“Very well, Roxanne, you made your choice. I hope you’re ready to watch everyone you love die, then I’m going to let Rogers have you.”
“I think I’ll pass, and besides, aren’t I little too old for Rogers, you sick fuck.” She doesn’t wait for a reply and ends the call, tossing her phone onto the table. Raising the bat, she swings it at the wall. Again and again until dust fills the room and there’s a hole the size of a crater in the wall. When she stops, I step forward and wrap my arms around her. I know she doesn’t need me to hold her up, but I need her to know I will.
After a moment, she steps out of my arms and faces everyone. Even Bowser came out but didn’t say a word as she smashed a hole in his wall. After seeing that, I imagine he’s grateful it wasn’t his head.
She snatches her phone off the table, but Zak stops her. When she looks at him, he already has his phone to his ear and is checking in with Kavanagh. She holds her breath until he nods to let her know that Star is fine.
“I think we should meet with Laskin,” she blurts out.
“Why the fuck would we do that?” I snap back, not in the least inclined to agree to that.
She actually cocks her hip, resting a hand on it, then points the bat at me. “Because the man called you and tipped you off and clearly knows shit we don’t. And in case you’ve forgotten, we hold the life of his daughter and grandchild in our hands. Makes sense that he’d be open to talking to you. Nothing like a common enemy, Maddox.”
Zak now finished on the phone, says, “She’s got a point. He might be able to help us. At the very least we could take out Bonner, the slimy little fucker.”
“Fucking hell. I can’t believe I’m agreeing to this but fine. I’ll set up a meet at The Watch—”
“No, Maddox, not there. Too many eyes. I have somewhere, but I need to make a call first.” Zak and I exchange a look, which Roxanne sees.
