Page 64 of Princess Broken

“I’ve told you everything I know,” Enzo says. “Honest. You guys were at the meeting. So I heard.” He looks between us in panic. “I wasn’t there. I have no fucking idea what happened. I do know most of the DEFTA team survived. Only flesh wounds. No stakes. None landing anywhere lethal, anyway. Ask anybody.”

I can tell he’s racking his brain to find tidbits he’s left unsaid. If we’re not careful Enzo will start to make things up. That’s the thing with torture and threats, take either too far and people will spout nonsense to make it stop.

I push back off the wall, and Enzo slumps like he’s trying to turn himself inside out. Blade pulls back his knife from the guy’s eye, but keeps the weapon in his hand.

“Well, boys.” I clap Phil on the back. “Do you think Enzo’s told us all he knows?”

Phil’s practically twitching with energy. He pulls a grenade from a large pocket on his pant leg. “See this here?” He holds the explosive weapon toward me and points to its side. “Says it right here: Property of Enzo’s Asshole.”

Holding the pin, he turns toward Enzo. “I’ll pull the pin first. It’s kind of pointy. Wouldn’t want to cut you while I’m shoving it in.”

“I’ve told you everything I know,” Enzo says, his voice trembling. “Honest.”

I put my hand on Phil’s arm, hoping he’ll leave that pin in the grenade—and Enzo’s pants pulled up.

“Where can we find Mariano?” I ask Enzo.

“I dunno,” Enzo says. “His office?”

“Where can we find him—” I deepen my voice “—alone.”

Enzo shakes his head. “If I knew where to find him…” His voice trails off.

Moving at the speed of light, Blade draws his sharp knife along Enzo’s cheek. “Know what kind of knife this is?” Blood trails from the wound to darken one side of Enzo’s face.

But the vampire doesn’t move, doesn’t dare. Instead he appeals to Blade with his eyes.

“This knife is called a skinner,” Blade tells him. “Brand new. Hey! I could practice on you. I mean—” he stares at the blade as he flips it back and forth under the light “—it’s designed to skin deer, but learning on a vamp would be perfect. Your skin will grow back and so I can keep practicing until I get the technique down pat.”

“Okay, okay.” Enzo swallows hard.

“Okay what?” I ask.

“I know some place you might find Mariano alone.”

Blade moves his knife a few millimeters off Enzo’s face, as blood drips down the snitch’s cheek.

“I’ve heard he sometimes meets up with that asshole security head from DEFTA,” Enzo says. “Diederik. And when they meet, Mariano goes alone.”

“Where?” I grab Enzo’s balls. Doing it through his pants is just as effective and three thousand times less disgusting. “Where and when do they meet.”

“At a Russian bath house.” Enzo’s voice is tight.

“Where’s this bath house?”

“In Philly. I don’t know the name of it. Honest.”

“And when do they meet?”

“How the hell would I know?” He winces. “If I knew, don’t you think I’d tell you?”

Still holding his balls with one hand, I pat Enzo’s blood-covered face. “Thanks a lot, buddy. Good chat.”

Enzo nods, his face twisted in fear and pain, his body trembling.

I lean forward as I tighten my hold on his balls. “If we find out you’re lying, or held anything back…”

“I’m not. I’m not. Fuck, Crusher. Believe me I’m not.”

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