Page 82 of Viper

“Then come along,” I interrupt. “But I’m going, and I’ve already taken out one man, and wounded another, so I’m not afraid to take you down. So are you coming or not? Because we’re wasting time.”

Sniper stares at me, and I can see why some of the other men seem wary of him at times. But finally he sighs and scrubs a hand over his face. “I see why Shadow gets pissed at you lot,” he grumbles. “You’re too stubborn for your own good. Fine, I’m coming, but if shit goes sideways, we’re leaving, no questions. Understood?”

We agree, but I don’t miss the look Rose sends me. We won’t be leaving until we’re damn good and ready, no matter what he thinks.

We get to Syn and Stone’s place, in the car, driving toward town, and my phone is already blowing up with texts from Viper. “Looks like they know we’re gone,” Rose remarks from her seat in the front. Sniper is driving and gives her a bland look. She ignores him. I look at the messages from Viper.

Viper: Where the hell are you?

Viper: Eden, I’m going to spank your ass so hard the minute you get back here. I don’t know what you’re up to, but you’re in trouble for putting yourself in danger. Again.

Viper: Be careful, baby girl, or I’m going to be fucking pissed.

I smirk and shoot him back a quick message.

Eden: I’m taking care of something that no one else can handle but me. I have back-up, and Sniper is with us if shit goes sideways. Just know this is for Archer. And you by extension.

I don’t have long to wait for an answer.

Viper: We need to talk as soon as you get back.

I put my phone away and refuse to worry about it. If he’s going to break things off, that’s fine, but I’m going to do this whether he wants me to or not.

When we reach our destination, Sniper points us in the right direction and then follows us up, muttering under his breath the entire time. We ignore him, but I swear I hear him say, “I’ll be bailing them out of jail before the night is over, fucking hell. Why did I come along? Should have made Shadow handle them.” I bite back a smirk as I raise my fist to pound on the apartment door a few times. Making sure it’s loud enough that there’s no way she won’t hear it.

The apartment complex is run down, but thankfully the door we need is outside and not inside where there will be possible witnesses. Finally, after another couple more pounding knocks, the door flies open and there stands Maggie. She looks like she’s coming down off a high, her eyes bloodshot, her hair hanging limply, and her skin gaunt. Fresh track marks cover her arm, and it’s the only confirmation I need of Archer’s story. “Who the fuck are you?” she spits at me. Then she looks at the women behind me, and Sniper, and fear starts to filter through. And guilt. That alone makes me want to punch her, but instead, I push my way inside, with the others following behind me. I look over in disgust at the man passed out on the couch, needle still sticking out of his arm.

“I see your taste in men has certainly gone downhill since you left Viper,” Rose remarks, disgust dripping from her words.

“Fuck you, Rose,” Maggie snaps. “What the fuck are you doing here?” Then her gaze looks to me. “And who the fuck are you?”

I give her a cold smile. “I’m your worst nightmare,” I tell her, before I lash out, grip her by the hair, and haul her back. She lets out a screech of pain, but I hiss, “Shut the fuck up before I make you.” Maggie must realize the seriousness in my voice because she stops and goes silent. “So here is what you’re going to do. You’re going to answer my questions, and if you lie to me, you’re going to not only deal with me, but Rose, and Archer’s other two aunts. Not to mention his Uncle, who I’m sure has an aversion to hurting women, but I have a feeling that with you, he’ll make an exception.” I glance at Sniper for confirmation, and he gives Maggie a look that has her whimpering. Yeah, he’s one scary motherfucker when he needs to be.

I let go of her hair, and let her straighten. She rubs her head and glares at me. “Bitch,” she bites out.

I don’t need to respond. Instead, Rose slaps her hard across the face, sending her stumbling back. “Shut up,” she bites out. “You have no idea how much I want to beat your ass and I’m holding myself back.”

I look back at Maggie. “You lie to me, and after I’m done, I’ll set her loose on you, and then Sage and Izzy will have their turns. Now, did you or did you not say to your fuckwad of a boyfriend that you couldn’t wait to get rid of Archer because he was holding you back?” The other women suck in a breath at my question.

Maggie looks everywhere but at me and that’s all the admission I need, but I wait wanting the actual words. “I-I-I-uh, I don’t know what you’re t-talking about,” Maggie stutters out.

I reach out, gripping her hair again and snarl, “Try again. Tell the damn truth or I’m going to start yanking out this hair by the roots. Ruin that dull high you’re still clinging to.” For good measure, I twist my hand, pulling at the strands and making her scream in pain.

“Yes, yes, I did,” she cries desperately. “Let go of me, you crazy bitch.”

I slowly release her, even as Rose spits, “You drugged up, cunt.” Izzy and Sage nod their agreement.

“But that’s not everything, is it, Maggie?” I prod conversationally. Fear grips her face as I stare at her. “Why don’t you tell everyone the other part? Huh? How about the part where you sold your fucking son to a Russian for drugs and money? Why don’t you start telling them that?”

Maggie’s face goes white as the room goes deathly silent. “No, no I didn’t,” she tries to lie desperately. “I wouldn’t do that. That-that was Tony. Tony tried to do it, but I said no.”

“No?” I repeat silkily, looking around the room. Spotting what I need, I walk over to the disgusting table and pick up the baggies on the coffee table. “See, I know all about the value of this stuff due to my job. I know this shit is some expensive shit, and from the looks of this place, you don’t have the funds to pay for it. I also know that if we look at your bank account, or around this place, we’re going to find stacks of cash. Cash that you need to fund your habit. So care to try again?”

“It was Tony,” she sobs. “It was him, I swear. He made me. He hurts me, beats me. Said I had to or else he’ll kill me. I swear,” she continues to sob, lying through her already rotting teeth.

“You lying bitch,” Rose seethes. I don’t even bother to stop her when she grabs Maggie by the hair and then lands a solid punch to her face. Maggie cries out, and falls to the floor as Rose continues to wail on her, Sage and Izzy standing back and letting her get it out. I head for the kitchen, calm and collected. There is a reason that I’m good in these kinds of situations. I can keep my head, no matter how angry or upset I am.

When I walk back out, Sniper has pulled Rose off her, holding her back and telling her to stop because we can’t risk leaving a body. A pity, but he’s right. Sage lashes out with her foot, kicking Maggie straight between the legs as hard as she can. Maggie groans and Sage gives Sniper a sweet smile when he glares at her. “What? She’s being a whiny cunt, so now she has a reason,” she sniffs. “And since she doesn’t have a dick for me to break, this is the next best thing.”

---