Page 45 of Death Wish

White screamed as pain ripped through his body.

Jesse clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle the noise. Wouldn’t pay to have a nosy neighbor call the cops.

A minute later, he flicked a glance at Rayne who released her grip. White moaned, beads of sweat trickling down his face. “Let’s try that again, White. Why are you in Sayulita?”

He cursed at Jesse and Rayne. Another round of pain had him sobbing.

“Answer the question and the pain stops. Why are you here, White?”

“I’m looking for someone, all right? That’s all. Nothing to do with you, like I said. Now get out and leave me alone.”

“Who? I want a name.”

For a few seconds, White debated telling Jesse what he wanted to know but gave in quickly enough when Rayne rested her hand on his shoulder. “My girlfriend. Nobody you know. She ran off on me. Got to teach her a lesson and drag her back home where she won’t ever get away from me again.”

“Your girlfriend have a name?”

“Simone.”

“Why did she run from you?”

“Because she’s stupid, that’s why. She got angry because I knocked her around a little and she turned me in to the cops.”

Knocked her around a little? Simone had landed in the hospital for several days because of this creep. Jesse wrestled with his temper and finally beat it down enough to think clearly. “How did you know she was in Sayulita?”

“Got a friend. I’m glad I found her again. I’ve got plans for that woman.”

“You’ve been tracking her. How?”

“Told you. A friend.” He laughed. “Somebody really has it in for my woman. Everywhere she goes, someone narcs on her.”

“Who?”

“What’s all the interest in my personal life? It ain’t got nothing to do with you.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You have any other business in Sayulita, White?”

A sly look came into the other man’s eyes. “Maybe. What’s it to ya?”

“We know your background. We know you’re into drugs and guns. Looking to make a connection in Mexico?”

“Oh, I get it. You’re the competition, aren’t you? Well, you won’t get nothing from me.”

Rayne sighed again. “Wrong answer, Trevor.” Another two minutes of pain and pressure, and White begged for her to stop. “Answer the man’s question or I’ll increase the pain.”

“You don’t want that,” Jesse said. “Too much of that pressure will damage the nerve and cause permanent paralysis.” Definitely not true but good old Trevor didn’t know the truth. “Are you looking to make a connection in Mexico?”

White glowered at him. “Why do you care? It’s my business.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

“I got to make a living, don’t I? It’s easy money.”

“It’s illegal.”

A snort. “So? Lots of people deal. Just providing a service to the customers, ya know?”

“You’re selling poison to kids and adults.”

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