Chapter 28 #2
It fed the devil in me, making me want to force so much more terror into him before he finally begged to die.
Moving over slowly, I brought the flame beneath his arm, passing it over his ribs and underarm.
He didn’t even try to suppress his screams this time. They tore out of him in high screeches loud enough that the men outside the room—and probably down the hall—could hear it.
The smell of burned flesh filled the air. It was almost sickening.
But I enjoyed Benjamin’s suffering far too much to care.
I turned the torch off, held it down at my side, and asked, “Who else was involved?”
“No one. I promise.”
“Don’t fuckin’ lie,” I bellowed.
Lighting the torch again, I lifted it, ready to sizzle his other side. Before I could, he broke.
“Okay, okay. I’ll tell you!” he whimpered.
After turning it off again, I took the torch back to the table and placed it down. Leaning my hip against the metal, I ran my finger along the tip of a clip-point skinner knife.
“Ray, Byron, Michael—”
“Enough,” I clipped roughly. “I already know about them. They’ve seen their end. But you, brother—you won’t be seeing yours for a little while longer.”
Twirling the knife in my hand, I made my way back to the piece of trash.
“Please. No more. Please.”
Torment and Reaper snorted while I chuckled darkly.
“You think your pleas will get me to give in? Get me to stop? How long have you been selling teens? How long have you put your filthy fuckin’ hands on young ones?
” Shaking my head, I stopped in front of him.
How could I have missed this? Maybe it was my fault believing Benjamin wasn’t cunning enough to pull off this type of sick operation.
Or could it be that I just never understood the depths of his depravity?
“I don’t believe you’re the mastermind behind this scheme.
” He couldn’t be. There was something I was missing still. “Who do you work for?”
“No one!” he cried.
I brought the knife forward and carved into his skin.
More screams filled the room, but this time laughter joined them as Torment cackled through his: “You’re pathetic, cousin.”
Benjamin shook his head. “Shut up. Just shut up.” He went on pleading and begging while I worked.
I finished carving the R into his flesh before stepping back to admire my work. The word TRAITOR was engraved across his chest, swollen, red, weeping and dripping with blood. It was beautiful.
Then I leaned in close and whispered, “I’ll ask again. Who else is involved?”
“I can’t” was all he said back.
Without hesitation, I pulled my fist back and punched him in the face, feeling the crack of his jawbone against my first. Teeth and blood flew from his mouth.
“I’ll ask you again, Benjamin. Who else was involved?”
He spat off to the side before drawing in a shuddering breath. “I refuse.”
“Fine.”
Two hours.
Two wonderful hours of torture, and the fucker still wouldn’t tell me who was in charge.
I never expected this type of tight-lipped loyalty from him.
He was always the first to betray someone if it meant saving himself.
Hell, he’d sung about our cousins quickly enough.
But I did also find out they were just some of the low-level men in this plan, promised by my brother that they’d stand at his side when they got rid of me and took control of the organization.
Over my dead body.
Plus, I was sure Torment and Reaper would never let that happen.
Throwing the bloodied knife onto the table, I turned to examine my handiwork. Blood ran from all the open cuts I’d slashed across his body. Chunks of flesh lay around his feet, and bruises and charred skin covered most of him.
The room reeked of burned flesh, now mixed with the strong smell of smoke from Reaper’s cigarette and a rich coppery scent of spilled blood.
In a low voice, I asked for the last time, “Who else was involved? I know you’re not smart enough to plan this, brother. Just tell me.”
Coughing and spitting blood, he let out a half-assed chuckle. “I’m going to die either way. So no.”
Without another word, I snatched up one of the bloodied knives and stalked back over, making sure I had his eyes before slicing it across his neck. Blood gushed down his chest and dripped to the floor as I watched the life drain from his eyes. His body went limp in the ropes.
I knew he wouldn’t give me what I wanted, and I was tired of giving him more time than he deserved.
I had somewhere else I wanted to be.
Someone else I needed to see.
My doll.
Torment and Reaper both moved toward me.
“Reaper, cut off his left hand and put it in a box. I want you to personally deliver it to his wife and kid. I want them out of my community and never to be seen on my streets again. They can leave with what’s in their bank account, but that’s it.
Then assign men to monitor them. I want to know where they are at all times until we clear them from any involvement. ”
Reaper grunted. “Got it.”
“What’re you gonna do?” Torment asked.
He didn’t specify what he meant, but I understood.
“When Gwen is ready, I’ll have her explore every aspect of Benjamin’s life and find out who we have to deal with.”
I should’ve had her delve into his life earlier so that maybe I could’ve prevented this.
But a part of me wanted to keep her away from my brother as much as possible, especially after what’d happened at our first dinner.
But maybe it was time to bring her in to run checks on every member of my organization to see if anyone else was tied to this.
He nodded. “I’ll dispose of the rest of him. Get home to your family, boss.”
That was exactly where I wanted to go.
But first, I needed a shower and a change of clothes.