Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Thane
Leo walks around, clearly having been here before. He moves around with such confidence, I’m sure he knows where to find every secret nook and hideout in this place.
I follow Leo to a bedroom, stopping at the door. My eyes take in Curtis, asleep in his bed.
I can’t understand how he thinks it’s appropriate to have his own apartment here. This place is vile and disturbing. Not to mention it gives me the actual creeps.
Walking over to him, I rip the blue and white comforter back. His eyes shoot open at the sudden loss of warmth and comfort it provides.
Curtis jumps awake, startled. Before he has a chance to realize what’s happening, I grab the front of his shirt and drag his sorry ass out of bed. He's too shocked to even recognize me.
While I grab Curtis, Leo races into the small dining area. I’m suddenly grateful he’s here. The anger burning inside me is taking over my senses, so having him here is sort of a blessing. As long as Leo is around, I won’t think about killing this piece of trash. At least for now.
Leo pulls out a chair, and I toss Curtis into it. The chair flies backward, but I catch it by gripping the arms before it tips all the way back.
Curtis, the worm he is, raises his hands to protect his face. It’s funny how he thinks that’s where he’ll be hit first. I can think of a million things more painful than a punch in the face.
He looks petrified as his gaze jumps between me and Leo. When Curtis finally returns to his senses, he drops his hands and gasps. “Leo? Thane?” he asks, finally recognizing us.
His mouth remains open in shock until Leo tosses a glass of water in his face.
Curtis chokes on the liquid. He coughs as most of the water goes into his mouth.
That’s what he gets for acting like an idiot and forgetting to shut his damn trap.
Not to mention the list of other vile shit he’s done, but that topic is still ahead of us.
“Good, it looks like you’re finally awake. Took your damn time,” I growl at him. Curtis rubs a hand down his face, wiping the water off so it now drenches his shirt.
“What is this about? Why are you here?” he barks at us.
I find it funny that Curtis thinks he has the right to demand answers from us. If anything, it’s time for him to shut the fuck up and comply with our demands. I didn’t come here to play games or joke around.
Gripping the arms of the chair, I lean in close to his face and sneer. “We’re looking for your brother. He killed my maid and gardener. More importantly, he attacked my Omega,” I snap at him. He should understand now that this isn’t a matter of silly pride or dominance games.
“He did what?” Curtis chokes out. He blinks at me like an idiot. I’m not completely sure, but he appears shocked at the information. As if my words confuse him.
“Harlow! My Omega!” I emphasize each word. “Where is that no good piece of shit hiding?” My grip on the arms of the chair becomes so tight that the wood cracks.
Curtis shakes his head as he raises his hands in a defensive gesture. “I… I… don’t…” he stutters, glancing at Leo. “Don’t you know?” Curtis asks him.
To anyone else, his behavior may seem normal, but I know what he is trying to do. He’s shifting the attention, the blame, to someone else rather than coming clean.
“Would I be here if I did?” Leo deadpans, rolling his eyes.
Curtis's brows furrow. The worst part is that he really does look confused. I hate it—I want him to say he knows where I can find his brother and what that bastard has done.
“Last I heard, he was picking up some girls from the vamps,” Curtis stammers out, glancing between Leo and me again.
I want him to face me. To look me in the eyes while he tries to lie to me. I let out a loud roar, grabbing his attention. “Yes, Harlow! He came after my Omega and nearly killed two of my other mates. So you need to tell us where he is!”
Curtis seems to think. I’m beginning to wonder if this is yet another dead-end.
“Your daughter, Bree, has caused me quite the headache. She’s been cutting deals with Corbin for Talon, which put my mate Leon’s head on the fucking chopping block.”
“Wait! Who told you Bree’s my daughter? And what has she got to do with any of this?” he snaps, eyes wide.
I should have seen this coming. I really should have. How can Curtis be so smart and so dumb at the same time? Does he really have no idea who told me these things when Leo is standing right beside me?
I point to Leo, and Curtis shakes his head in denial. A wide grin spreads across my lips as I lean in even closer to add, “Plus, I spoke to her at Talon’s club before we came here. I’m quite impressed. She helped me learn a few interesting things.”
“Leave my girl out of this. It has nothing to do with her! That Talon has been pimping her out for god knows how long! He has her fucking brainwashed!” Curtis spits at me.
“And my mother?” I snap at him.
He blanches, mouth opening and shutting again as he glares at Leo. I turn to grab a knife from the block on the counter. Just as quickly, I turn back and plunge it into his leg. His scream is loud and visceral, but quickly cut off by Leo’s hand.
“Now, I have questions, and you will answer,” I smile at him, twisting the blade in his thigh.
Curtis grips the arms of the chair and stiffens as muffled screams try to escape past Leo’s hand. Tears roll down his cheeks as he nods his head. I let go of the blade, and Leo uncovers Curtis’s mouth.
“Corbin is going to kill you for betraying him! I tried to tell him you were a weasel!” Curtis spits at Leo.
I backhand him. His head whips to the side, blood spraying out of his mouth as his teeth cut through his lip. He growls, pinning me with a glare so pathetic a child could imitate it before spitting out more blood.
“Your mother was trying to shut us down. What did you expect us to do? And she stole my Omega!”
“You alerted Corbin that she would be the one picking up Harlow,” I snarl at him.
“That bitch had it coming. She almost did it, you know. She almost got the laws changed. One signature was all she needed, just one. I warned her. She just had to walk away, leave it be. I would have left the past behind, but she had to try to blackmail me instead.”
“I thought she tried to blackmail Corbin?” I say, and he nods.
“Corbin laughed her off, told her no one would believe her. So, she came after me. I couldn’t risk Bree. She wanted me to convince Corbin to sign the petition, which would have shut us down.”