Heath
I was nearly euphoric as Danae, and I went to talk to my bosses. I had been so in my head over her, I hadn’t pushed them on the specifics of when they thought we could start the questioning.
It was early afternoon. Despite it being a Sunday, they were at headquarters along with several of our biker friends.
We found Undertaker, Sean, Griff, and Gabe in Gabe’s office.
They raised their eyebrows when they saw us holding hands, then burst into applause.
We both grinned. When it died away, I wasted no time getting to the point of our interruption.
“We wanted to ask. How much longer will our three remaining problems stay on ice?”
“We’ve waited for you to ask that question. We waited for you two to talk shit out. We didn’t want to do anything, and then if you made up, have Danae unable to get what she needed from it. Are we correct in presuming she’s, to a degree, going to join us?” Sean asked.
My mouth opened, but no words came out. She smiled and told them, “Thank you for that. And yes, we’ve agreed I need to be there. I don’t see myself wanting to be hands-on, I’ll leave that to the pros, but I need to hear what they say, and I want to ask my mom a few questions.”
“If you’re both sure, then I think we should head over there.
Danae, for security reasons, you’ll have to be blindfolded.
We can’t have you knowing the location of this place.
It’s for your protection. And we already assumed Johann would insist on being present.
He’s been briefed on the blindfold,” Gabe explained.
We were bundled into vehicles not long afterward, though not everyone came with us. Ben and Beau agreed to stay behind, as did our biker friends. They were still monitoring for chatter or any sign that anyone was coming to look for Zhāng.
Johann was in one SUV with Gabe and Sean.
Danae and I rode with Griff and Undertaker.
The location was an hour outside of Hampton.
It was in a place no one would ever suspect housed a black-ops site.
On the surface, it was a Christmas tree farm.
A small, modest house sat in the middle of it.
The real operation was underground. There was more than one way to access the property.
Once we were there and riding the hidden elevator down to the underground facility, the blindfolds were removed.
Danae and Johann remarked on the pervasive evergreen scent in the air.
When the doors opened, I saw their mouths drop open.
Some of the staff greeted us. Undertaker led the way to one of the containment areas.
We stopped outside the biometric-secured door.
“Inside, we’ll enter a viewing room. It has two-way glass, like in a police station interrogation room.
From there, all similarities end. Beyond the main room is a variety of apparatuses used to make people talk, and some are merely for psychological intimidation.
Most are there for hands-on. It’ll get loud, ugly, bloody, and you may see and hear things you wish you hadn’t.
Are you sure you want to do this? Do you want to be in the observation room or the main one?
You can move between if you want,” Sean explained.
“Take me into the main room. If it becomes too much, I’ll step out,” Danae said.
I took her at her word. Sean pressed his eye to the retinal scanner.
From there we walked right to the next door, and it was repeated.
Entering the containment area, the smell of terror hung in the air.
For me, terror was a mixture of body odor, urine, sometimes vomit and shit, and something unexplainable.
Danae’s nose crinkled. I handed her a handkerchief scented with peppermint.
I’d brought it for this reason. She gratefully placed it over her nose and mouth.
Johann never indicated he smelled it. He was used to it, like we were.
Someone had called ahead. The three of them were in the middle of the room, seated on hard chairs, their arms and legs bound to them.
Their mouths were covered. When they saw us, fear spread across the faces of Masters and his wife.
The Triad boss remained impassive. When Dallia Masters saw her daughter, her shock turned to pleading. The waterworks began.
“We’re here to finish up this distasteful matter. Know that the more honest you are in answering us, the easier this will be for you. If you force us to get creative, you won’t like it,” I said loudly.
We’d agreed on the drive over that I’d take the lead unless one of the others felt they could get answers faster or better.
The reason was that this impacted my woman the most. They’d done the same when it was Ben and Beau’s wives.
We were secure enough in ourselves not to have ego issues over who did it.
The Patriot bosses sat in the chairs situated across from the prisoners, letting Johann, Danae, and me stand closer.
Strangled moans were coming from Dallia. Huston Masters made demanding ones. Zhāng watched us. The only time I noted any chink in his impassiveness was when he looked at Danae. He wore the same lust combined with an expression of ownership.
I asked Danae, “Who would you like us to start with, baby?”
“I want to hear what Dallia has to say. She and I have unresolved issues that I’ve waited long enough for answers.”
The unobtrusive guard stepped forward and removed Dallia’s gag without being asked.
“Oh my God, Danae, you have to tell these people to stop! I have no idea why they broke into our home. They killed our staff. And now they want to do the same to us. I’m your mother. You can’t let them do this!” She was hysterical.
“Stop with the games, Dallia. You know exactly why you’re here.
You had me kidnapped. You were handing me over to that one.
You and your husband are in the filth with him.
You help Zhāng move drugs into the country.
And to export the women, girls, guns, and more out of the States.
It’s been happening for years. You sold out so many innocents to live a life of luxury that you lorded over those with less money and status.
You thought you were so much better than others, but in reality, you’re lower than the worst criminals,” Danae snapped. Her tone was ice cold.
Dallia’s crying faltered. She examined her daughter, then her face crumpled. “It’s not like that. I had no idea any of that was being done. I swear. Huston never told me. I would’ve never been with him if I knew.”
“Bullshit! You knew. We have the messages proving you did. Was being rich that important to you, that you hurt others, took lives, and tossed away your children to have it?” Danae countered.
It went back and forth for about ten minutes before Dallia finally gave up the pretense and stared back at her daughter, sneering.
“You have no idea what I gave up to be with your dad. I could’ve married anyone.
He promised me we’d still be able to have the good things in life.
He lied. After he died, I swore I wouldn’t settle again.
You’re stupid if you don’t use your beauty and body to get what you want.
You could’ve. I tried to share it with you and your brother, but you kept pushing me away. But it’s not too late. Let us go.
“If you do, and go with Bolin, you can still have that perfect life. For men like these and the others they work with, we can give them jobs. They’ll make more money than they ever imagined,” Dallia tempted.
“See, you just admitted without saying the words that you knew,” Danae pointed out. Dallia knew she’d messed up.
“How did this start? Why would Huston do this?” her daughter asked.
“He was stolen from. He trusted people, and they used him. They were ruining his father’s company.
He had to save it. That was his legacy. He was desperate when Bolin approached him with a business proposition.
Huston ran an import-export business. He knew who could be paid to look the other way.
I mean, how stupid is it to ban Cuban cigars for God’s sake?
It’s a ridiculous law. It made sense to expand using those avenues.
It was mutually beneficial to them both,” her mother sniffed.
“You mean Huston wasn’t a good businessman, and he realized he was about to lose it all.
He knew it would save his company and preserve his facade as a highly successful multimillionaire.
He couldn’t face his peers and those who knew his father if he lost everything.
His father had been a man highly respected and liked.
Wonder why the son turned out so rotten?
“Once he started down that road, asking him to allow more and more things to pass through his warehouses was easy. Guns led to more guns, then drugs, and then lastly people,” Danae sneered. Utter contempt dripped from her mouth.
“You’re a fool if you believe this man can give you the life you deserve. Go with Bolin. He’ll treat you like a queen,” Dallia urged.
“You mean he’ll sell me.”
“No, that’s not true. He wants you as his wife.
He’s been captivated with you since he first saw your picture at the house.
He asked to be introduced to you. We had you to dinner, but you brought that one with you.
Why did you have to ruin it?” Her mom snapped.
She shot visual daggers at me. I smirked.
“All I ruined was you using your daughter to save you and your husband’s worthless lives. We know about the months of revenue shortfalls. The Triad isn’t known for being benevolent. He wouldn’t have kept her.”
“Well, he would if you’d get rid of the baby. No man wants to raise another man’s kids. It’s not too late for you.” Dallia told her daughter.
I couldn’t hold back the growl her words produced in me. Danae’s hand on my arm kept me from doing something I’d never done: slap a woman.
“When did you discover what Huston was doing for him?” I asked.