Chapter 52 #2
Addie and Monroe shared a look. They weren’t so sure.
But she knew why Dotty was getting cold feet.
Part of her wondered why she was so relaxed about this.
Well, maybe not relaxed. But she knew what needed to be done and she was okay with it.
Maybe it was because he’d had his hands around Monroe’s throat.
He’d had a knife and had been about to stab her. Yeah, that was probably it.
Dotty hadn’t been there when those things had happened. She hadn’t felt the fear of wondering if she was going to die or if her sister was going to get hurt.
She wished Dotty wasn’t involved, though. This could get her into real trouble. Well, it could get them all into trouble.
The door opened and she jumped. Cash stepped out. He glanced over the three of them.
“What’s going on? Has he told you why he came after us?” Dotty demanded.
Cash nodded. “He’s ready to talk, but I’m not sure you’re ready to see him. We had to knock him around a bit.”
“We know that,” Monroe told him, thrusting her shoulders back. “We’re under no illusions about what you were doing in there. I need to hear this from him.”
They all stepped into the room and Addie winced, but tried to hide it. Cash was standing off to one side. He hadn’t come near her, hadn’t even really looked at her. But part of her wondered if it was just because he was in a certain headspace.
Also, there was blood on his hands, literally. She could see it.
Limpy was slumped over in the chair that he was tied to. He didn’t actually look as bad as she thought he might. There was blood on his face and under his nose, and both of his eyes were swollen.
Perhaps they hadn’t had to do much to him, or maybe she couldn’t see what they had done. She studied Cash and Ralen, looking them both over. Ralen was missing his normal charismatic grin, while Cash just looked dark and angry.
She really hoped that this hadn’t hurt either of them. It couldn’t have been easy.
“Right, talk,” Ralen said, kicking Limpy’s leg.
Monroe jumped slightly, but then seemed to steady herself.
Addie really wished she could hug Cash, but the closed-off look he was giving her had told her that wouldn’t be a good idea right now.
“Fine, fine,” Limpy said in a nasally sounding voice. “I’ll tell you.”
Ralen had his phone out, and she gave him a curious look. “I’m recording this. Ink will want to hear it too.”
She nodded. It meant that they wouldn’t forget any details.
“Where do you want me to start?” Limpy asked.
“How about with who Vextar really is?” Monroe said. “Why he married me, what he was doing in Las Vegas, and how he died.”
Limpy sighed, long and loud. “I don’t know his real name. He never told me. Vextar was like a ghost. He had no past. That’s what made him so valuable.”
“Valuable to who?” Dotty asked.
“To The Team,” Limpy said.
“Who is The Team?” Dotty asked.
“The Team is no one and everyone,” Limpy said with a creepy laugh. “They’re everywhere and nowhere. And just when you expect them, they sneak up and they get you. Like the bogeyman.”
What was he saying? And why did she now have goosebumps?
“Did you hit him in the head or something?” Dotty asked. “Why is he talking nonsense?”
“Not nonsense. I’ve heard rumors about The Team,” Ralen said. “If you want something stolen, they’re the people you call. They’re international thieves.”
“They’re more than that,” Limpy said. “They can get where others can’t. Vextar, he was perfect for them. A ghost who didn’t leave a trace because he was untraceable. Too bad he was so fucking dumb. Who marries some dumb bitch while they’re on a job?”
Ralen slapped him around the head and he moaned. “Fuck, stop hitting me, I’m telling you, aren’t I?”
“So Vextar belonged to this Team?” Dotty asked.
Monroe had her arms wrapped around herself and Addie walked over to place her arm around her sister.
“Yeah, he did,” Limpy said. “This was his first big job. The one in Vegas. And he fucked it all up. Messed up his chance and mine since he was supposed to get me into The Team. Asshole.”
“You weren’t friends?” Dotty asked.
“Yeah, we were friends. But he’s still an asshole who messed everything up.”
“So he had a job for The Team in Las Vegas?” Ralen asked.
Limpy was silent.
“You might as well tell us,” Cash said. “Because we can make you hurt more.”
A shiver ran through Addie and again she did her best to hide it. She got the feeling that Cash was still concerned she was going to turn away from him. That she would be scared of him.
But nothing could be further from the truth.
She was grateful to him for doing what needed to be done.
“If I tell you, they’re gonna kill me.”
“What makes you think we won’t kill you if you don’t?” Ralen said.
Dotty sucked in a harsh breath. But Addie got it. And it wasn’t like he was a good guy. He probably would have stabbed her, plus he’d tried to strangle Monroe.
“Fine. He was there to kidnap Zinnia Danes.”
So that was the reason Vextar was there, and probably the reason why those guys had come after them in the airport. Because of the photo with the stolen car.
“Like I said, it was Vextar’s first big job,” he told them.
“His one chance to impress them. He’d been on probation up until then.
I knew him from when he worked at The Rabid Dog.
He told me how he had an in with The Team and how they were gonna give him a spot.
I’d heard about The Team before, and I knew you didn’t talk about them, not if you wanted to keep breathing.
But Vextar thought he was above the rules because they needed him.
But I’m thinking The Team doesn’t need anybody.
Vextar was certain they were going to give him another chance and maybe they would have if you three hadn’t turned up and starting asking about him.
” Limpy sneered at them and Addie shivered.
“Don’t look at her,” Cash snarled.
“Keep talking,” Ralen ordered.
“Vextar knew he had to get rid of them before the big boss discovered they were here. So he had me steal her bag.” He nodded to Monroe.
“Then we left that message in their hotel room, and trashed it a bit. We thought they’d leave and that would be the end of it.
But then those photos went up on social media.
The big boss pulled Vextar in to question him about the photos and saw the message his wife sent him saying that she was leaving.
So the boss sent men to grab you from the airport. ”
“So The Team did send men after the girls at the airport?” Cash asked.
Limpy shrugged. “That’s what Vextar said.
He escaped while they were busy. Someone’s head will probably roll for that.
As soon as he was free, he contacted me and I stashed him in one of my safe places.
I was taking him supplies when I found he’d disappeared.
Next thing, he turns up dead. Don’t know who did it, but my guess is The Team. He’d become a liability. Dumb fucker.”
“Why would The Team come after Monroe?” Ralen asked. “The photo was already out in the open. She didn’t know anything about why he was in Las Vegas.”
Limpy shrugged. “Vextar told them that he hadn’t said anything to her. Apparently, they were concerned that he had. Didn’t trust him. Can’t blame them for that. Think they probably wanted to question her, see if she knew anything.”
“Is The Team still after her?” Ralen pressed.
“How the fuck would I know? I’m not a part of them. Thanks to Vextar.”
“Then why come after me?” Monroe asked. “With a knife?”
“Thought I’d get you for them,” he said sullenly. “That maybe it would show them I’m not a fuck up like Vextar. That I can be part of The Team.”
“So they didn’t send you?” Cash asked. “You just decided to fly down to Las Vegas and kidnap Monroe? How did you find her?”
“Vextar told me where she worked. Not sure if he told The Team that. Think he kept the details about her brief. Don’t know why.”
“So you wanted to get in with The Team and you thought that Monroe was the key to doing that?” Cash asked.
“Yeah, and see where that’s fucking gotten me? Some stupid bitch sprayed my face with shit and then stomped on my balls.”
Cash got right in his face, moving so fast that she swore she only had time to blink and he was there.
“Do not talk badly about my girl. You hear me?” His voice was so dark and cold that it sent a shiver down her spine.
Cash turned to look at her, studying her closely. She hoped that she had hidden her brief fear, but she knew how easily he could read her.
It was so freaking frustrating.
“So you don’t know if The Team still want Monroe?” Ralen asked.
“No. So if I was you, I’d watch my back,” Limpy said to Monroe.
“But I don’t know anything!” she cried. “I’ve got nothing to tell them. I know nothing about Vextar.”
Limpy shrugged. “Do they know that?”
“I don’t feel so good.” Monroe rushed out of the container with Dotty behind her.
Addie turned to Cash, “What now? What happens to him?”
“Don’t worry about him,” Ralen told her as he stopped the recording on his phone. “He’ll get taken care of.” He glanced after Monroe and Dotty with a frown.
She glanced over at Cash, who stared back at her with cold eyes. She wasn’t sure she liked this Cash. He was colder, more distant, withdrawn, but she also knew that this was a part of who he was, and that she had to accept it.
She had to accept all of him.
So, she just nodded. “What do you want us to do now?”
Was it her imagination, or did he give her a look of surprise?
“Go get your sisters and get in the car and wait,” Ralen said. “We’re going to need some help for this next part. Butch sent us a contact. I’ll give him a ring, arrange it.”
Cash nodded. “I’ll wait outside with the girls.”