Chapter 2 #3
“Pay for what exactly?”
“Putting your fucking nose where it don’t belong.”
Before Thomas could say any more, one of the bigger men stepped up behind him and slammed the butt of his gun against the back of his head, knocking him to the ground.
He tried to get back to his feet, but the man kicked him hard, forcing him back down.
The guy was about to kick Thomas again when one of the guys announced, “Hey, man, hurry this shit up. We need to get the hell out of here before the cops show up.”
Like he was waiting for his cue, Mathews stepped out of the shadows and said, “The cops are already here.”
For a split second, I thought he was actually there to help me, but then I noticed the men’s expressions.
They didn’t look like they were afraid of him.
They didn’t look worried that they’d just been caught roughing up a cop.
Instead, they looked liked one of their buddies had just walked up.
Thomas glared at him as he snarled, “I should’ve known you had something to do with this. ”
“Damn right, you should’ve known.” Mathews walked over to Thomas and knelt down, grabbing him by the throat and squeezing tightly as he growled, “You seriously thought I was gonna let some pencil-pusher cop like you take me down? You really think he would let you look into him without any blowback? Surely, you’re smarter than that. ”
I had no idea who Mathews was referring to, but I got the feeling that he was the man behind whatever trouble Thomas was investigating. Thomas once again tried to get to his feet as he said, “You won’t get away with this.”
“Sure, I will. I always do.”
“Let the girl go, Mathews. She’s got nothing to do with this.”
“You’re in no position to be giving me orders, Long.
” Mathews reared his fist back, slamming it into Thomas’s jaw, this time knocking him completely out.
I couldn’t think. I couldn’t breathe. I could only stand there and watch as the man motioned his hand to one of the others and ordered, “Put him in the truck.”
Doing as they were instructed, two of the guys came over and dragged Thomas to a truck that was parked several feet away.
I could hear the men talking amongst themselves, but I couldn’t make out what they were saying.
I was too freaked out. I could feel the sweat drench my skin, the rapid beating of my heart vibrating in my ears, and the tension taking hold of every muscle in my body.
My fingers curled into a fist, my nails dug into my palm, and my breath quickened.
Air flooded in and out of my lungs at such a rate I feared I might pass out.
I tried to settle myself by slowing my breathing and forcing myself to think, but all of my efforts were lost when I heard the man ask Mathews, “You take care of the security cameras?”
“Already told you I did,” Mathews spat. “Assholes didn’t even notice when that shit went black.”
“All right, then.” The guy looked over to me. “What do you want us do about her?”
His eyes skirted over to me. It was at that moment I knew things were about to go from bad to worse. Without so much as a blink, he answered, “Get rid of her.”
“No!” I shouted as I tried to break free from the man’s hold. “Thomas already told you. I had nothing to do with this.”
Before I could say anything more, I felt the man’s fist slam into my ribs, causing the air to rush from my lungs.
He hit me again—hard enough to crack a couple of my ribs—and my knees buckled from the pain.
I didn’t have a chance to shield myself before several of the men gathered around and started wailing on me like a punching bag.
I’d never been in a fight or even hit someone before, so I didn’t know how to react. I could only take the beating that they were dishing out. It was as if I were a rag doll as I dropped to the ground and tried to keep myself from passing out while they continued to kick me in the side and head.
Thankfully, it stopped as quickly as it had started.
Every inch of my body ached and throbbed, and my chest felt like it was caving in on me as I lay there trying to take in a breath.
Everything was spinning when I felt someone’s hand tangle in my hair, pulling hard as they dragged me across the parking lot.
When they’d gotten me over to one of their cars, the guy released my hair and dropped me to the ground.
Once they’d opened the trunk, one of them lifted me up and tossed me inside.
I was barely conscious, but was aware enough to hear Mathews say, “Finish her off, then take her over to Stilettos. Toss her into one of their dumpsters.”
“Why there?”
“Hell, look at her. She’ll have people out there looking for her, and when they find her in that fucking dumpster, it’ll take the heat off you and put it on the Sinners.”
“Got it.”
My breathing was shallow, and I was losing consciousness when I felt a jab at my gut, followed by searing pain. I felt a second jab in my chest, and that was it. Everything went black.