twenty-one #2
I lean against the wall, processing this new information.
I suspected other Valiants were involved, but it was difficult to follow every one of them without a solid piece of information.
There are a few regulars, but in total, I’m looking at around forty people over the last ten years.
All influential, and all with enough resources to pose a threat.
McAllister’s involvement explains so much. His political connections, his wealth. But if he's involved, this conspiracy runs deeper than I imagined. The Senate Intelligence Committee, defense contracts, international connections—McAllister has his fingers in all of them. It could be anything.
I check my watch. Ten minutes since Brynn began her unusual, but very effective interrogation.
Just in time for my men to step in. Ian, one of my main security experts, has already passed the reception and texted he’s coming this way.
I step outside for a second and catch him right as he’s heading toward the door.
"We're going to have two guests leaving shortly," I inform him. "Prepare the van."
As Ian leaves to comply, I hear Ashford, broken and defeated, though not revealing any other useful information, except that McAllister has an unhealthy fixation on Kharon. That gets me thinking there could be a connection between the uniform Brynn said Elias was wearing and this guy’s obsession.
Brynn has done her job well. I can hear her keep pushing him, but I don’t think she’s going to get much more out of him.
It's time to collect our prize and move to the next battle.
I step back into the room, my eyes widening slightly at the sight before me.
Ashford lies curled on the floor, his pants around his ankles, blood from his torn asshole runs down his thighs, face streaked with tears, with a visible shake in his limbs.
Ray kneels a few feet away, his expression vacant with a look of shock and horror as he stares at his blood stained dick.
Both men are broken—not physically as much as mentally.
Amazing what the right kind of torture can do to some men, especially since I bet they both considered themselves alphas. Pathetic.
I see Brynn tuck her gun back into her waistband, covering it with the hem of her shirt as she steps over Ashford’s trembling body to approach me.
“So Senator James McAllister is our man. Or at least, the next link in the chain,” she says, and I feel the pride in her voice for her achievement.
“McAllister,” I repeat the name that’s now burned into my mind. “I’m gonna rip the head of that fucking snake.”
“You know him?”
“He’s one of the Vailaints. He’s been a regular of Kharon for years,” I feel my jaw tighten, and I try to hide it, not letting her see my anger. “He kept an eye on me while I was trying to get you out. Made things more difficult. Nothing I couldn’t handle, though.”
“At least, we know where to look now.”
“Yes, we do,” I answer, pulling out my phone.
“404. I need you to cross-check all observers and Valiants’ records for connections to Senator James McAllister.
” I pause, allowing him time to write this down.
“Run his name against every shell company, every corporation we've identified. I need this done yesterday.”
I hang up as Brynn steps away from me to check on the girl. Her eyes are clearer now, the shock is wearing off, replaced by something I know all too well. Revenge. What Brynn did to them isn’t enough. She wants her own revenge.
I also can tell from the look in Brynn’s eyes that she wants to help her get it.
I take one of the extra guns I carry around, then offer it to Roxanne, grip first.
“Do you know how to use this?” I ask.
She takes it without hesitation, her hands wrapping around it with surprising ease. “My dad was a cop; he taught me how to shoot.”
“Good,” my attention goes to Ashford and Ray.
“We’re leaving two of my men outside the door.
They’ll take these two after you’re… finished with them.
” I look back at her, making sure she understands what I’m saying.
“Do whatever you want to them, but don’t kill them.
I need this one alive,” I signal towards Ashford.
“Confirm that you understand because it’s your ass on the line if he shows up dead. ”
“Yes... yes, I understand,” she hurries to say, eager to get started on her own revenge. “What about the other one?” she asks, unsure what to do with him.
I just shrug. I’ll have to dump them at some point anyway, so if it’s now or later, doesn’t really matter.
“You don’t have to stay,” Brynn tells her, giving her a chance to change her mind. “You can leave now with us.”
But she shakes her head, determination settling over her features. “I want my time with them first.”
“You’re in charge now,” I say, gesturing Brynn to the door. “My men won’t enter until you’re ready to leave and call for them. Just remember, whatever happens in here stays in here.”
Her lips curl into a smile. A deranged one. The shit they did to her must’ve fucked her in the head pretty badly. “Good,” she replies, walking toward a small table where a variety of whips, clamps, and dildos of various sizes are carefully arranged, each more intimidating than the last.
She goes straight for a dildo so large that it makes even me wince in sympathy.
Yeah, I can’t watch this.
“Ouch,” I mutter under my breath, walking toward the door.
Brynn follows me, closing the door behind us and instructing my men outside.
“Wait until the woman is finished. Then take both of them—if they’re both alive—to where Whitlock is being held.
Keep them alive and able to talk, but don’t worry about comfort.
” I wait for them to nod that they understand.
Then continue. “The girl leaves whenever she wants. Give her enough money for a hotel, food, clothes—whatever she needs. And a little extra to last her a couple of months so she can start fresh.”
I’m not usually humanitarian. I don’t bother with tiny people and their tiny lives, especially after I get what I want, but the girl seems important to Brynn. And Brynn is important to me. That simplifies the equation.
We walk back to my car, not forgetting to throw one last look at the assistant, who needs to keep her mouth shut if she wants to live. The second I get McAllister, this place burns.
“They’re all as good as dead after I get McAllister and extract everything we could use out of them.
It’s gonna look like an overdose.” I explain, leading Brynn into the car.
“I know McAllister. He’s a tough bastard.
Not tough enough, though, to be in Kharon without the protection offered by being a Valiant, but it seems he’s tough enough to put all of this together. Whatever the fuck this is.”
“Good,” she smiles, trying to seem stronger than she really is. “I was getting bored with the easy ones.”
“You continue to surprise me,” I say from my driver's seat as I start the engine and pull out of the alley.
“Is that a good thing?” She asks.
My hand slips to her thigh. “It’s a dangerous thing,” I correct her. “But then again, I love danger.”