Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
ANITA
The address was for an abandoned gas station on the side of the road in a shitty part of town. Things weren't looking so hot for Wes. At this rate, I was going to make his wife a widow.
Stepping out of the Jeep, I walked over to where Wes leaned against his SUV. "You have five seconds to tell me why I'm here before I kill you for wasting my time."
Wes knew I didn't throw out empty threats. I made promises, but that didn't stop him from snickering. "I'm surprised you came alone. I thought for sure Sloane or Nyx would've tagged along to keep you under control."
They tried. It didn't end well for either of them. We weren't prone to fighting amongst ourselves, but my fuse was shorter than usual, and I was taking it out on those around me.
"Your time is up."
Wes held his hands up. "Mason Dunkin."
The cocksucker’s name stopped my forward progression. "What about him?" Wes had to see I was at the end of my rope. One wrong word and I was going to destroy a relationship seven years in the making.
"I pulled off a miracle. He's being released on a technicality in an hour. I figured you'd want to be there to pick him up."
That was the best news I had since learning Mason resurfaced. "Why the hell didn't you just tell me that yesterday?"
"And risk you fucking things up because this is too personal?" Wes shook his head. "I know you, Anita. You don't think straight when it comes to Nova. This is my way of saving your ass from yourself."
I couldn't decide what pissed me off more. His statement or the fact that he was right. "Let's just get a move on."
Wes didn't budge. "Not until you tell me your plan."
Was he fucking serious right now? "My plan is to pick Mason up. I can do that with or without you."
I turned around and stomped off, but Wes' words stopped me before I could get in my vehicle. "Actually you can't. He's being released into my custody and only my custody. It was part of the deal I made."
Fuck Wes and his controlling tendencies. He was tying my hands, and I didn't like it one bit. "Is there a reason you're being such an asshole right now, or do you have a death wish?"
I never talked to Wes this way. I had no idea what came over me lately, but everything pissed me off.
For some insane reason, my attitude didn't bother Wes. He continued to lean against his vehicle without a care in the world for the daggers I was shooting his way. "I already told you. I'm saving you from yourself. You might hate me right now, but you'll thank me later."
I seriously doubted that.
"Now call your teammates and have them come meet you. I know you're going to want to take Mason back to your compound, and I'm fine with that, but I'm not leaving you alone with him."
"And here I thought you were going to demand to come with me," I snarked.
"I know better than that. If you haven't told me the location of your compound by now, you never will."
He was right. No one but the four of us knew where we lived. It was how we preferred it.
Taking Wes' advice, I shot off a group text to the team and told them where to meet me. None of them answered, but I didn't expect them to. They would show up for me just like I would for them.
"Let's get this over with."
"Leave your vehicle here. I'll bring you back to it."
I shot Wes a look that made most men quiver in their boots. "I don't appreciate all the demands."
"That's because you don't play well with others."
That was probably the most accurate statement. But I wasn't the only one. "And like you do?"
"I never said I did. But I'm not about to bite the hand that feeds me."
I hated that saying. Instead of answering, I stormed over to the passenger side of the SUV and climbed in. Wes had the nerve to chuckle as he climbed in after me. "You realize the only thing keeping you alive right now is the fact that I need you."
Wes turned his infamous dimple on me. "I know."
"Put that damn dimple away," I huffed. "Your charm doesn't work on me."
"Has anyone ever told you, you have a winning personality?"
I glared at him. "You would be the first."
"I'm shocked. I thought for sure you would've been crowned Miss Congeniality by now."
There was that damn smile again. Would it be wrong to smack it off his face?
Probably.
"How the fuck does your wife put up with your shit?" A few minutes with him and I was considering all the different ways to end his life. If I were forced to spend any length of time with Wes, he wouldn't be breathing.
"Orgasms. I give her lots and lots of orgasms. Plus she's a fan of my big cock. Some might even say she uses me for sex, and they wouldn't be wrong."
OH. MY. GOD. "I'm sorry I asked."
"No reason to apologize. I happen to enjoy talking about sex."
But I didn't, and if I didn't keep my mouth shut, the conversation would never end. Fortunately for me, the drive to the prison was short, and it would appear Wes was done torturing me for the time being.
"Wait here while I get Mason."
I was more than happy to listen to him if it meant no more talking about sex, and I finally got the one thing I craved for so long.
After ten minutes, I got impatient and decided waiting outside the vehicle was better than roasting inside despite the AC on blast. Fresh air would do me some good.
I was leaning against the passenger side door when I caught a glimpse of Wes and Mason making their way across the parking lot.
The first thing I noticed was the difference in the way Mason walked.
He no longer resembled the scared little mouse who once dated my best friend.
No, this man was a hardened version. More muscle.
Leaner. He looked more like what I would expect the son of a don to look like.
"Ah." Mason smirked as he got closer. "Now it all makes sense." He stopped a foot away from me. "Hello, Anita. It's been a long time. How've you been?"
Without even thinking about where we were, I snapped my fist out and clipped his jaw.
Mason scrubbed his palm along the side of his face and shifted his jaw back and forth. Most likely checking to see if I dislocated it. I was sad to see that wasn't the case. Next time, I would need to hit him harder.
"That good." Mason chuckled. "I guess I shouldn't be surprised by the less than friendly welcome."
"How about we all get in the vehicle and take this party somewhere a little more discreet?" Wes eyed me like he was one move away from stopping me from knocking Mason out completely.
He wouldn't be wrong. I was itching to get my hands on Mason. One hit didn't even come close to the punishment I wanted to dish out.
I was slightly surprised when Mason slid into the backseat of Wes' vehicle without any prompting. I thought for sure he would put up some kind of fight. Unless he was waiting until our next stop. Anything was possible. Mason was a known flight risk.
"I take it you don't have plans to drop me at the closest bus station and let me go on my merry little way."
I hoped like hell that wasn't a question and certainly not a serious one at that. But I did feel the need to respond to him anyway. I turned around so he could see just how grave my answer was.
"Nope, but I have a nice accommodation set up for you at my place."
"I'm sure you do." Mason settled back into the seat. "I can't wait to see what you have planned."
It threw me off how casual he was acting toward the entire situation. It was almost like he no longer cared what happened to him. Live or die, it didn't appear to matter.
By the time we got back to the deserted gas station, my team was waiting for me.
"Oh look, the gang’s all here."
I whipped around and glared at Mason. "No, because the gang was supposed to include Nova."
He had the decency to wince.
"What the hell is going on?" Sloane demanded as soon as I opened the door.
"Wes did us a favor. Now get Mason into the Jeep. I want to get back on the compound as soon as possible."
Sloane wanted to argue. I could see it in her eyes. She wasn't fully convinced Mason had anything to do with Nova's disappearance.
I looked over at Wes. "Thanks for the gift but don't call me again unless someone's dying. And even then, I'm not sure I care."
Wes didn't take offense. He didn't glare at me or call me out for being a bitch. He simply waved and left like nothing major had happened.
"I'm riding with you." Apparently Nyx drew the short straw and was forced to babysit me on the ride back. So be it. I wasn't going to do anything stupid while we were out in the open. I would wait to unleash my fury until Mason was strapped down in our torture room.
"Let's go."
There was no need to gag Mason. He sat in the backseat with his hands tied in front of him and a burlap sack over his head. Not once did he make a sound since I sat in the Jeep to leave. It was almost like he had resigned himself to his fate.
"Why didn't you tell us you were meeting Wes this morning? It isn't like you to keep so many secrets."
Secrets were costly. It was one of the many reasons I was so strongly against them. But lately, the thought of sharing every little detail was becoming a nuisance. I didn't know what that said for us as a team.
"He didn't tell me why he wanted to meet. I figured I would see what he wanted first and then go from there."
"And what's your plan for Mason?"
I glanced in the rearview mirror to the man in question. He hadn't moved an inch during the drive. "To torture him until I get the information I want."
I didn't have the patience to leave Mason to stew as long as I wanted. This confrontation was a long time in the making and dragging it any longer would likely torture me more than anything I could do to him.
"And here I thought you were going to leave me alone all day." Mason leaned over to look around me. "Just you? Where's everyone else?"
Mason was tied to a chair. His arms were locked behind him and each leg was strapped down.
"We both know I don't need any help dealing with you but don't worry. I'm sure they will stop in at some point to keep me from killing you too soon."
There was already a bruise forming on his jaw from where I hit him earlier. His face would look a hell of a lot worse by the time I was done. I had a pair of brass knuckles with his name on them in my pocket.
"This is a waste of your time. I don't know anything."
"You don't even know what I'm going to ask."
Mason rolled his eyes. "We both know why I'm here, so let's just get this over with."
I can't kill him yet. I can't kill him yet. I can't kill him yet.
I chanted the words in my head over and over again. I was catching on to Mason's game. He was going to piss me off so I would end this quickly. I refused to give him that. I wanted to prolong this for as long as possible.
Digging my hands in my pocket, I pulled out the brass knuckles and slid them onto my fingers.
"Some things never change." Mason glanced down at my hand. "I see brass knuckles are still your favorite tool."
"Why mess with a proven track record?"
"I'm only going to say this once. I don't know anything."
"We'll see about that."
I took out years’ worth of frustration on Mason's face. I rained down punch after punch. I listened as bones cracked and metal met flesh.
I didn't bother stopping until I was forcefully pulled off him.
"Enough!" Sloane threw me backward. I barely caught myself before I could slam into the metal wall. "Are you trying to kill him before you even get started?"
"I barely touched him." Adrenaline was pumping through my veins. Making my muscles swell and the need for even more blood.
"Are you serious right now?" Sloane threw her hand out. "Look at his damn face."
Blood dripped from a cut above Mason's eye. He had a bloody nose and a split lip. To be honest, his face looked like mincemeat, but it didn't stop him from running his mouth. "Is that the best you got?" The words were slurred, but he got his point across.
"See, he's fine."
I wiped the blood from my brass knuckles off on my cargo pants before shoving them back in my pocket. Grabbing the knife from my thigh, I began to rotate the blade between my fingers.
"Tell me where to find Nova's body."
Mason attempted to spit blood from his mouth, but it merely dribbled down his jaw. "I don't know. I didn't know seven years ago, and I sure as hell don't know now."
"I don't believe you." I got in his face and snarled.
"That sounds like a you problem."
He was a cocky bastard, and it was starting to piss me off.
Let's see how he feels about this.
I shoved my knife into his thigh. Careful to avoid anything major. I didn't want him bleeding out before I was done with him.
Mason hissed in pain. If I didn't hate him so much, I would be impressed that he managed to keep from screaming. The old Mason would've whined like a little bitch.
"Let's try this again." I twisted the knife and watched closely as he grimaced. "Where is Nova's body?"
"It doesn't matter what you do to me. I'll never have the answer you're looking for."
I glanced over my shoulder to where Sloane was leaning against the wall watching me. "Let's see if he feels the same way after a day of no food or water."
His tune would change. They always did. It was just a matter of finding out what their breaking point was, and if there was one thing I was good at, it was finding a person's weakness.