Page 44 of Death Wish

White lay on the bed, a large lump under the covers, snoring peacefully.

Not for long. Grateful he hadn’t picked up a companion to warm his bed for the night, Jesse slipped into the room and walked to the side of the bed. On the nightstand, White had laid a pistol. Tsk, tsk. Wonder where he’d scored a weapon so fast.

Didn’t matter. He wouldn’t be able to use it against Jesse or Rayne. Jesse confiscated the Glock 19 and slid it into one of his cargo pockets.

When Rayne was in place on the other side, Jesse shook White hard with his gloved hand. “Wake up, White. We need to talk.”

“Huh? What?” He blinked a few times, then squinted up at Jesse. “Who are you? How did you get in here? I’m going to sue the owner of this dump. He promised me this was a safe neighborhood.”

Jesse snorted. “Didn’t you know? Nowhere in Sayulita is safe.” He yanked the covers off. “Out. Now.”

“Who are you? What do you want?”

“Only to talk if you cooperate.”

“And if I don’t?”

“You don’t want to do that.”

“Get out. I’m calling the cops. If you’re smart, you’ll disappear before they arrive.”

Jesse grabbed his arm in a painful grip and jerked him out of bed. “Let’s go.”

“Ow! Hey, that hurts. Let go of me.”

“Hey.” Rayne motioned toward the wall across from the foot of the bed.

He glanced over his shoulder, and his blood ran cold. Photographs of Simone covered the wall. Furious, he turned his glare on Simone’s slimy ex-boyfriend. What had she seen in this guy? She was worth a thousand of this man, easily.

“We’re going to chat, White.” He propelled the stumbling man into the kitchen where Rayne set up a chair. Jesse shoved Simone’s ex onto the seat, and Rayne secured his hands behind his back with a zip tie.

“Hey, what’s going on here? What do you want?”

“That’s not how we play this game. I’m the one who asks the questions. All you have to do is answer them and we’ll be out of your life.” Not one hundred percent accurate but close enough for Jesse.

“What do you want?” White yelled.

“Answers.”

“To what? I ain’t no encyclopedia, man. I don’t live here, you know. I’m just visiting. Whatever you want, I can’t help you.”

“Why are you in Sayulita?”

A scowl. “None of your business, dude, but it ain’t got nothing to do with you. So, chill, all right? Cut me loose, and we’ll forget this ever happened.”

“Told you he’d want to do this the hard way,” Rayne murmured.

White glared over his shoulder at her but there was no way he could see her face clearly. Her back was to the window, and no light shined in the room. “I ain’t talking to you.”

“Too bad. I’m sure your conversation would be quite stimulating.”

“Shut up.”

Rayne looked at Jesse, eyebrow raised in a silent question.

He gave a slight nod.

The other operative gave an exaggerated sigh. “You shouldn’t show disrespect to the people who hold your life in their hands.” She reached down and squeezed the pressure point between White’s trapezius muscle and his collarbone, digging in hard with her thumb.

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