Chapter 32
Zoe
I know I’m totally milking this thing with Max, but there is just something about that tick in his jaw, the ripple of the muscle, that just gets my blood pumping.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m pissed at him. At first, I hate to say it, I felt rejected.
When he sent me to bed like a child that night, after he was clearly toying with me, it was shitty.
Why bring me to his little freaky sex dungeon, to get me all hot and bothered?
Why open up and explain the nickname to me, to just shut back down?
So, for the last two weeks I have iced him out, but today…
I saw a little crack in his exterior when I refused to give up the front seat.
I want his control, I crave it. Even ache for it.
I don’t heel to anyone; except Max it seems. However, I refuse to let up. I want him to break. Lose his own control that is holding him back, I want him to destroy me. To destroy my own exterior. So, I will continue to push, and press, and refuse, and stomp my feet like a petulant child.
He stared at me all through lunch, clenched his jaw as I spoke quietly with Dean in our own conversation. It's driving him crazy, but I can see that he is too proud to admit it. I’m also positive that’s why he had me tag along with him and Dean rather than Teddy and Brandon.
Meeting Angelo was different, and something I wasn’t expecting. He had a warm grandfather presence about him. I could tell at once that he cared about the brothers. He even seemed warm to me, despite my snarky response when he asked me how I got involved with them in the first place.
“Can I ask you a question, Dean?” I ask, in as soft a voice as I could.
“You just did.”
Ignoring his snark, I ask anyway, “You came in my mouth and on my face a while back, just once. But you haven’t made any moves since. Can you tell me why?” It’s a ballsy question, and possibly a risky one, but it’s something that’s been bothering me.
Max coughs, and Dean clears his throat as he shifts his hands on the steering wheel. “Wow, Harpy I am thoroughly surprised. Of all things that could have come out of that pretty little mouth, that wasn’t on the list.” Max scoffs, as he adjusts his position on his seat.
“Dean?”
“I didn’t know you… Would you like me to, considering…” Dean trails off, and I’ve never seen him so obviously nervous.
“Considering the size?” I fill in the blank, vividly remembering just how big he was. “I’m well aware of how big you are, it doesn’t put me off in the slightest.” I say nonchalantly and keep my eyes looking out of the window, watching buildings pass us by quickly.
“Okay.” He says simply, his knuckles now white with the way he’s gripping the steering wheel. “Only if you think you can handle it.”
I let my lips stretch into a smile, saliva pooling in my tongue just thinking of how full he could make me. “You know just how much I can handle.” I reply, referring to how we were so equally matched on the sparring mat.
Nobody says anything else for the rest of the ride to the gambling ring.
The air in the car turned thick, but not in anger or awkwardness, but a palpable lust that has me already ruining my panties.
It’s good to know that Dean didn’t lose interest in me, and that he still wants me just as much as I want him.
But knowing that it’s just another dig towards Max is just a bonus.
They go about their normal routine when we pull into a parking lot of what looks like a gas station. I quirk an eyebrow, but nobody says anything.
They lead me through the front doors, flanking me so as to leave no blind spots.
I stay totally confused once we enter the gas station, and the little bell above the door chimes when it swings open.
It’s a normal corner store. An attendant is at the front counter in a color-coded uniform, there are isles of snacks, and fridges with sodas and beer.
I look around with my brows creased, until they lead me to where the restrooms are, and into a supply closet between the bathroom doors.
“I have to tell you, if this is where you wanted to kill me, this probably isn’t the best way to go about it.” I mumble.
But the words reach deaf ears when Max pulls back a false wall that opens to a long steep stairwell. “What the hell?”
“Let’s go, we have a job to do.” Says Dean as he leads us down.
Once we reach the bottom we find another door, this one is metal and when a little eye flap opens on the opposite side it quickly shuts and the door swings open. “Welcome Mr. Karma's.” The broad doorkeeper says, then his eyes land on me. “And… err. Miss Karma?” He says it as a question.
“This is Z, Silas.” Max shakes his hand and gestures to me, “Or you can call her Miss Karma, whichever she prefers. She’s going to be taking care of our cheater problem today.”
This is news to me, I knew I wouldn’t have clean hands, but I didn’t know I’d be taking the reins today.
“Silas.” I nod to greet him, but I keep my hands to my side.
“I’ll answer to either.” I’m trying to get better at staying a mystery to the large personnel under the Karma’s.
For the sake of safety, but also to show dominance.
The Karma’s respect my strength and my abilities, hell they don’t even question the fact that I’ve adopted their very name without prior discussion.
But in a well-known, prominently male group, I know I’ll have to prove myself in ways outside of bloodshed to earn the hired help’s respect.
“I’ll show you our problem.” He nods and turns on his heels to bring us through the room.
I have noticed that every person on the Karma payroll is willing to turn their backs to us, showing a significant amount of trust for us.
Maybe it’s knowing submission, but I’ll vote on the latter.
The space was a lot nicer than what I had predicted.
Which was foolish of me, because it’s clear that the Karma’s do all things in style.
It looks like a regular casino. Black jack and roulette tables, and booths in the corner shadows for darker bets being made-- the only thing missing are slot machines and loud music. Cigar smoke is swirling all around us in thick ringlets, and the smell of whiskey and beer is vibrant in the air.
I catch the eyes of many patrons, mostly just curious, some are a bit wary; no doubt from the spread of the newest spit-fire redheaded Karma.
Brandon told me sometime last week that news of me has spread like wildfire through their ranks, and the city is becoming aware of me as well.
I haven’t decided if it’s a good or bad thing yet.
For the sake of drawing out the Cambions leader it could be great, but I don’t like the idea of the people accepting my hit knowing my whereabouts. Catch 22 and all that jazz, I suppose.
Silas brings us through a door, and it looks almost like an industrial kitchen with bright fluorescent lights and metal equipment surrounding us.
My eyes zero in on a man tied to a chair that matches the decor outside.
He looks just barely roughed up, like he put up a fight when they snagged him, but nothing more.
Another show of respect, letting the Karma’s take care of business, and not overstepping.
“Good work, gentlemen.” Max dismisses the two burly men that were standing over the tied-up man. “Silas, we’ll take it from here. You can go back to your post.”
Silas and the other two men make a quick exit, not sparing the bound man or us another glance.
“Z, this is Tiger Barlow. He’s been caught counting cards and placing bad bets with a few of our other patrons. But worst of all he has been cheating the house.” Max introduces the man who has still refused to lift his gaze to us, keeping his focus on the tiled floor beneath him.
“Do we have an idea of how much he’s stolen from us?” I ask, tapping the barrel of my gun under Tiger’s chin, coaxing him to look up.
“An estimate of thirty grand.” Dean answers.
I hum and circle Tiger, to untie his gag. “Tiger,” I tut my tongue, “When do you think you can pay us back?” Max cuts his eyes at me in question, but I shoot him the same stare to dare him to question me. He doesn’t.
“Uh, I can’t. I mean I can, but it’ll take a while.” Stutters out Tiger.
I let a disappointed hiss roll off my tongue, “That’s not good enough, Tiger. I’m sure you’ve heard by now what I do to thieves.” And it’s this exact moment that I realize that I haven’t slipped into the numb, right now I’m just Zoe.
“I heard, but please, you don't understand. He made me do it, he threatened me, and I needed to get him the cash.”
This piqued my interest, “Who?” I stop in my tracks, directly in front of him.
“I don’t know his full name, but I think he went by K? KH maybe? The leader of the Cambions.” He breathes out, as if sharing this information will convince us to spare his life.
“How were you involved with the Cambions?”
“Uh...” He sputters, “I just bought this one girl, just for a few hours it was nothing. But I couldn’t pay up.” Now the pieces of the puzzle slide into place.
“Thirty grand is a pretty high price for just a few hours, Tiger. I think you’re leaving something out.” My blood begins to heat, and I feel the rage burning at my fingertips.
“I swear, it was just a few hours.”
I crouch down so I’m eye level with Tiger, “You killed her, didn’t you?”
“W-what?” His head snaps up, looking to Max and Dean for safety, but it’s clear they aren’t the ones to provide that. “No, I didn’t!” It sounds like he’s trying to convince himself more than us.
I know a liar when I see one, they all have these eye twitches and it’s like they never notice it.
“I say we get a handle on him, and let Teddy take care of him.” I step away to get a full visual of Tiger.
I don’t turn to the men, knowing that they’re aware that I’m speaking to them.
Turning my attention back to Tiger, locking my eyes with his, “I said this once, I won’t be so kind as to offer you a quick death to a thief.
Much less a child abuser. I’ll let Teddy take care of you as he sees fit.
” He tries to let out a scream of protest, but I take the butt of my gun and rick it into the crown of his head, effectively disabling him for the time being.
“Great job, Harpy.” Max gleams, as if he has been my mentor or something.
“I wasn’t looking for your approval.” I roll my eyes, and shift my focus to Dean, “Dean, can you carry him out?”
Dean nods and we make a fast exit back to the car, barely sending a nod in Silas’ direction.
Dean keeps Tiger bound then gagged in the trunk space before getting back in his driver position. Max takes the passenger side again, and I slide into the back.
“I need a phone.” I break the silence about half way into our drive back to the manor.
“For what?” Max asks.
Sucking my teeth in annoyance, I decided to answer him, “So I can keep in touch with all of you. Like right now, I’d like to tell Teddy about what we are bringing home.”
“That would be redundant, considering I’ve already told him.” Max shrugs and doesn’t peel his eyes from his own phone screen.
I scoff and slam my back into the seat, purposely throwing a fit.
“Well, I took care of the problem, and it was my idea to let Teddy finish him off. It’s a gift for Teddy from me, not work like if it comes from you.
” I grumble out, and the cherry on top is when I kick the back of his seat… accidentally-on-purpose.
“I’ll think about it.” He barely gives a reaction. He might think that trying to ignore my behavior will make me quit. But he has no idea just how petty I can be.
I have only just begun.