CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Az
I rubbed the heel of my hand into my eye as I stood at the counter pouring coffee. My sleep schedule had gotten severely fucked up over the last couple of weeks, and being up and dressed this early seemed cruel. I hated moving meetings up.
"Want it on a sandwich, Az?" Craig asked behind me as he pulled plates from the cabinets to plate the eggs and bacon he was frying.
"Nah, I'll just grab something later. I'm too tired to be hungry."
"Your loss, bro," Craig replied. "Good morning, ladies. Eggs and bacon coming up."
"Up awfully early, aren't you girls?" Joey said, far too chipper for this time of day.
"Tory's alarm went off, and then we smelled breakfast. Can I get some pancakes? Please?" Tiffany whined as she took a seat at the island.
"You can kill the puppy dog look, Tiff. Yes, I can whip some up after I plate Bunny's food." Craig said with a laugh.
"Bunny?" Tiff asked, arching a brow. Craig just shook his head and turned back to the stove.
"Are you wanting to go back to the center today, Sweetheart? No one is rushing you, but if you're ready to get back up on the horse, then I'll be with you the whole time." Joey circled his arm around her waist and squeezed gently as he offered to be her bodyguard for the day.
"I–I'm not sure. I know I need to eventually… I just…" Victoria trailed her sentence, looking like she was searching for the rest of it.
"Hey, like he said Princess. No rush, okay. They'll survive without you for a while." I said with a shrug, finishing my coffee and grabbing my suit coat from the back of the chair. "Alright, I'm out. Call me if I'm needed." I made my way through the gathering crowd in the kitchen.
A hand caught my arm as I started down the gallery hall. Turning around, I found Victoria standing closer to me than was entirely necessary. I arched my brow at her in question.
"You… uh. Here." She said, grabbing my tie.
On instinct, I jerked back. "I'm not sure being strangled is how I want to start my day, Princess."
She made an annoyed sound as she pulled a little harder on my tie. "It was crooked Az-hole." She pushed the knot to the center of my collar and patted my chest before stepping back. "There, now you look moderately presentable."
"Right... Thanks." I replied, suddenly feeling awkward in her presence. "Well, I need to get going. Uh, see ya. I guess."
She snorted softly before turning back toward the kitchen, waving her hand over her head as she strolled away. I wasn't sure why I'd suddenly become a bumbling idiot. Something about her fixing my tie had muddled my brain. I was still trying to sort it out when I reached the garage.
"What. The. Fuck!" I bellowed as my eyes landed on my Porsche.
Paint was splattered across the hood. Leighton's barely legible scrawl had written Az-hole in the center as if it were the display piece for an art gallery. The 'hole' was in suspiciously better penmanship than Leighton's writing. My eyes scanned the area around my car, landing on two sets of partial footprints, much too small to be L's.
"No wonder she was being nice. She and Leighton ruined my fucking car." I hissed to myself.
"Oh! There you are!" Leighton called out, a grin plastered on his face as he bounded toward me. "I was hoping I would catch you before you left. I'm glad you found my present."
"L, you fucking… If I didn't have to make this meeting, you'd be taking her to get repainted with a fucking black eye." I growled at him, texting Rich that I was taking his car for the day. "It's coming out of your pocket, asshole."
"Worth it. I'd pay double just to see this look on your face again." Leighton's voice was practically gleeful as he got on his bike and started it up. "Maybe you can get a few swings in on our guest tonight to work it out."
"You're not off the hook for this, L. I just don't have time to deal with you right now." I shot back, climbing into Rich's Impala.
Leighton was still laughing as I pulled out of the garage and headed to the office.
By the time I returned to the manor, I was exhausted. The last several days of next to no sleep, followed by a full day of conference calls and dry meetings, had me aching for my bed. Rest was still several hours off, though. Colin McDoyle had information that I wanted to hear in person.
Loosening my tie, I made my way from the garage into the dining room. When I strolled in, the guys and Victoria were already seated around the table eating dinner. Ignoring the plate Craig had obviously set out for me, I moved to the coffee maker and started a fresh pot.
"How was your day, dear?" Leighton asked in a high-pitched voice.
"Fuck off, Leighton," I grunted, not bothering to wait for the coffee to finish brewing before I stuck my cup beneath the drip.
"Grab me a cup while you're at it," Rich said, nodding toward the coffee pot. "Since we're all here now, we need to discuss tonight's work."
"Should I be here for this?" Victoria asked.
"This involves you too, Sweetheart." Joey murmured.
I rolled my eyes and finished filling mine and Rich's cups before I sat at the table. Rich snagged his cup from in front of me before turning his attention to Victoria.
"If it was closed business, Princess, we wouldn't be starting the conversation over dinner." Rich said with a grim smile. "We said we'd involve you when it concerns you, and that's what we're doing."
"Just fucking tell her already." I grumbled.
"We have a guest at our house that we need to have a chat with," Craig offered.
"A guest? I'm not sure I'm following." She frowned.
"What these guys are pussyfooting around is that we have a Jackal in the basement of our house and we know he has information we need. So, we're going to torture it out of him. Or, Joey is at least." I supplied.
"Only if we have to." Joey assured her. "He may spill without us doing anything at all."
"Yeah, he's been sitting down there for, what, a couple weeks now?" Leighton cackled.
"Are you sure he's even still alive?" She asked, her big brown eyes moving between each of us.
"Princess, we're professionals. We know how to keep our guests alive and loosen their tongues at the same time." Rich scoffed as he took a long draw on his coffee.
"Okay, so let me get this straight. You have a man in your basement and you might torture him, but you might not. All because he knows something about me? I'm not sure I understand why I need to know any of this."
"Do you want in the loop or not, Princess?" I snapped.
"She doesn't know what in the loop entails Az-hole," Craig shot back.
"We can't put her in training wheels for this. She's either in, or she's not. She can't straddle the fence." I responded, running my hand through my hair.
"Will you stop talking around me and tell me what the fuck you're getting at?" Victoria shouted, slamming her palms against the table.
Rich considered her for a moment before he leaned forward and spoke. "We're giving you the option to come with us, or stay home and take our word for it when we tell you what we find out."
Joey turned his body toward her, grabbing one of her hands. "Before you answer, Sweetheart, you need to know that if our guest doesn't break easy… You'll see a side of me that might make you want to never see me again."
"So, pulling out fingernails and teeth and chopping off fingers. I have seen mob movies, ya know." She replied.
"Not the same in person, Sweetheart. Just… remember what I said about this being what we do, not who we are." Joey's voice was soft as he spoke as if he was worried she would bolt from the room.
"Jesus fucking Christ. Cut the chick flick shit." I groaned before turning my glare to Victoria. "There's no shame in being too weak to handle what we do, Princess, but we don't have time for you to hem and haw. So, decide now if you're in or out so the men can get to work."
Her nostrils flared as she held my stare. "When do I need to be ready to go?"
"Now." Rich cut in before I could answer and stood from the table. "You're not going to like what you see, Princess, but there's no time like the present to figure out what you've signed up for."
The two men we had stationed to watch Colin dipped their heads respectfully before heading upstairs to escape the acrid scent of piss and shit that permeated the air. The dimly lit basement exuded an oppressive atmosphere. They'd already shackled him to a metal chair in the middle of the unfinished basement with his hands and feet tightly bound. I heard Joey murmur some reminder to Victoria about not liking what came next before he strolled toward McDoyle and tapped the lone hanging light overhead so that it swung back and forth.
The light caused the different basement sections to be momentarily illuminated as it swayed. In the corner a cramped and dilapidated cell that would have barely offered the chained man any respite during his time here. Its walls bore the marks of past desperation. The polished concrete floor of the open room was purely utilitarian, and the rust-colored drain in the center served as a grim indicator of the room's purpose.
The air hung heavy, damp, and putrid, without the benefit of natural light or fresh air. It wouldn't take the Princess long to figure out that this wasn't the first person we'd held down here, and it likely wouldn't be the last.
Craig shifted toward the Princess in my peripheral, but I kept my eyes pinned on the man who had answers we needed. His clothes were filthy and hung loosely from his slim frame. His head was tilted toward his chin, causing his greasy, matted hair to fall forward over his eyes. Joey squatted down on the polished concrete floor just in front of Colin.
A cruel smile spread across Joey's face as he grabbed Colin's chin and made the restrained man look him in the eye. "Been enjoying your stay so far, Colin? Because I must say, it's been a delight to have you."
"Fuck you, Innocenti." Colin spat a glob of saliva, jerking his chin from Joey's grasp.
Joey laughed low and slow as he wiped the spit off his face before standing and delivering a harsh backhand to Colin's face. "That's not how a hospitable guest greets their hosts."
"I can't say the accommodations deserved anything else. One star, man. One fucking star."
"Ah, I see. Well… I'm sure we can arrange something more comfortable if you have something worthwhile to tell me in return." Joey said, putting on a look of mock consideration. "Do you have something to tell me, Colin?"
Colin laughed sardonically. "Yeah, I do. Shitters busted." He said with a sarcastic grin. "And don't even get me started on the room service."
From a dark corner of the room, Leighton's mildly amused voice interrupted their banter. "Stop fucking playing with him, Little Brother. It stinks down here, so just make him sing already."
There was a slight break in Joey's demeanor as he cast a worried look in the Princess's direction before he shook his head, and the cruel grin reappeared on his face.
"Alright, you heard the man. And you'd better believe you will be singing tonight. Your life depends on it. And this is your one offer to do it the easy way. Or we can do it my favorite way."
"Suck my dick, Innocenti." Colin laughed, his eyes roving around the room. "Or better yet, how about you send that pretty thing hiding behind Dougherty to do it real sloppy the way I like?"
Joey's face contorted in genuine anger as he stood. "The hard way it is, then. Put him on the ground for me, boys."
Rich motioned for me and Leighton to do as Joey asked while the younger Innocenti strolled to the far wall where he stored his tools. I could hear him rummaging around in his things as Colin struggled against us. The man was weak from weeks of starvation and dehydration, but that didn't stop him from putting up a fight. Leighton seemed to know what Joey planned, and he motioned for me to hold Colin while he began securing him to the floor, flat on his back.
My eyes nearly bugged out of my head when I finally stood and caught sight of Joey. He had a fully caddy bag slung over his shoulder and a toolbox in one hand. With his other hand, he tossed a golf ball to Leighton.
"Hold real still." L cackled when he placed the ball gently on Colin's pursed lips. "Wouldn't want him to miss."
Without another word, we both slipped back to our places along the wall. Joey casually sat the toolbox and caddy bag on the concrete floor by Colin's feet. He made a show of picking through the clubs until he finally selected the wedge. I risked a glance at Victoria, curious how she was handling everything as Joey casually lined himself up like he was on the green.
I expected to find her recoiled into Craig as she watched the scene play out, but I was surprised to find her leaning forward ever so slightly. In the dim lighting, I could see her chest's rapid rise and fall, and how her pupils were blown out didn't look like it was just due to the lack of light. I blinked several times, turning my head back to Joey and Colin. Now wasn't the time to let my mind linger on how her lips parted slightly or how she eyed Joey with acute interest.
"Let's see if my game has improved." Joey said as he drew the club back.
"Fore!" Leighton yelled as Joey brought the club down for a brutal swing. The sound of teeth breaking and Colin's yell of pain filled the basement as the ball fell from his face and bounced uselessly away.
"Damn, looks like I still need some work to make par. Let me try again." He growled, raising the club a second time. He looked downright feral in his anger.
"He needs his jaw to talk, Little Brother," Rich said quickly before he could smash his club into his mouth again.
Joey jerked out a nod and repositioned himself by Colin's knee. He didn't bother placing another golf ball on the man's body as he lined up for the next swing. Bringing the club up, then paused for just a second. Humming slightly to himself, he shifted his feet slightly and brought the wedge down in another brutal blow. Colin yelped in pain.
"Putter." Joey demanded, holding the club out toward us.
Victoria took a small, eager step forward, and my mouth fell open in shock. Craig grabbed her arm, pulling her back to him as Leighton pranced to swap out the clubs for Joey.
"Stay with me, Bunny. Let them work." His voice was barely above a whisper as he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close.
Rich stared at her, just as stunned as I was. Neither of us seemed to be able to tear our eyes away until the sickening crack of Colin's knee snapping echoed through the basement.
"Ready to talk yet?" Joey crooned. "My game just seems to be getting worse and worse, so might wanna speak up now while you have a chance."
"I don't know about that, Innocenti. Keep practicing and I'm sure your stroke game will improve." Colin spat, blood trailing down the side of his face.
Joey looked up at Rich momentarily, and I caught the second his eyes landed on Victoria. Something in his angry expression shifted, and a feral, hungry look replaced it as a smirk lighted across his face.
Colin rolled his head in our direction, following Joey's gaze. A vicious, blood-stained smile spread across his face. "Your dime piece is looking pretty needy. If you send her over here to ride my cock, I might just find my tongue loose."
Joey ripped his eyes away from Victoria with a rage-filled roar. Colin's comment seemed to have caused something in him to snap. He swung the putter wildly at Colin's prone form, landing blows with little precision. Blow after blow rained down, the sound of the club connecting with bone, creating a symphony of sickening sounds. Colin writhed on the ground, unable to escape the brutal beating, screaming until his body finally went limp.
Joey finally stopped, his entire body heaving with each breath he took. "Talk." He demanded, landing a swift kick to the side of Colin's head.
Colin whimpered in pain, his head lolling to the opposite side as he choked and sputtered on his own blood. I was surprised he was conscious after the way Joey laid into him. One arm had been bludgeoned until the skin had torn away, revealing the muscle and bone beneath. His leg laid at an awkward angle, the knee so far beyond repair that he'd be lucky to walk again if he survived the night.
"Talk. Or I will kill you and find someone who will," Joey growled, dropping onto his haunches beside Colin's head and forcing him to face us.
Colin sucked in a gurgling breath. "Rinaldo." He wheezed painfully. "Someone… sold… your girl… to Rinaldo." He paused to drag in another stuttering breath. "The fire… Supposed to grab…"
Colin's body shuddered with a wracking cough, and blood pooled around his lips.
"Supposed to grab, what?" Joey demanded, moving to rifle through his toolbox. "Her? Why?" With a switchblade in hand, he turned his attention back to Colin.
"Delivery." Colin wheezed. "We were… it… we set Casadei up. To get the.. Girl. She's… his… property… now."
I reeled backward as if I'd been hit, and guilt coiled in my gut at his words. I'd known on some level that Victoria wasn't responsible for my sitting in jail for six months, even if she'd been the one to finger me as her attempted kidnapper. I'd been too angry to accept what we'd learned since placing ourselves as her bodyguards. Hearing it confirmed that she was just the scapegoat, that I'd have gone down even if she hadn't escaped her attempted kidnapping, was enough to turn that rage inward and flood me with regret. I'd made her hate me and deserved every drop of vitriol from her perfect lips.
"That was a real pretty song, Colin," Leighton said, sounding almost bored. "You got an encore for us?"
Colin lay on the floor wheezing for a moment. "Go… to hell…" His voice was barely audible above the gurgling sounds of his breathing.
"Put him out of his misery, Little Brother. Let's get the fuck out of here." Rich clipped, waving his hand dismissively.
In one swift motion, Joey crouched down by Colin and opened the other man's throat. Colin's eyes bugged out momentarily, and he gurgled frantically before he finally stopped twitching and lay still. His death rattle sounded loud in the quiet that followed.
"We'll see you there," Joey said, wiping his knife on Colin's shirt.