Page 25 of Draven

Rick nods, seemingly unaffected by Draven’s snappy attitude. “A word first.” He cocks his head, and we follow him through two sets of double doors, then turn left at the end of a long hallway.

Rick opens the third door along before gesturing for us to enter. The windowless room is sparsely furnished with a table and four chairs, but along one wall, a mirror gives away the hidden room behind. Draven has spotted it, too, although his bored expression tells me he isn’t the least bit concerned that our interview will be observed. By Rick, I presume.

Draven pulls out a chair, jerks his chin for me to sit, then pulls out another for himself. Rick sits opposite us both.

“Hit me with it,” Draven says.

Rick frowns. “With what?”

“Lecture number three hundred and seventy-five.”

Rick snorts a laugh. “Why bother? You’ve ignored the other three hundred and seventy-four.”

“Because you’re an optimist, Rick. Always have been.”

Rick’s nostrils flare as he expels a breath. “All I’m asking is that you don’t use any kind of physical intimidation. I’m already concerned that seeing you again will set Moretti off on his ‘sue the force’ mission. I don’t need you giving him any more ammunition. I agreed to this because we’re friends, and you’re a terrific resource who has helped me clean up my caseload on several occasions. But at the end of the day, if you fuck this up, I’m the one who’ll take the fall.”

Draven makes a calming motion with his hands. “Chill the fuck out, Rick. If that vein in your forehead gets any bigger, you’re gonna have an aneurysm. I’ve already told you I won’t lay a finger on him, and I meant it. I admit, I went a touch too far at his arrest, but that fucker deserved everything he got. I’m done with him now. All I want is intel to help Louise find her sister. And given how close you are…” He curls his lip in a sneer. “I’m guessing you want the same thing, too. Yes?”

I hold my breath because he does sound jealous. He does. Maybe Rick has picked up on it, too, and that’s why he said “Interesting” a few minutes ago. There’s a part of me that wants to bounce up and down in glee, and another part that’s urging me to hold back. I still don’t fully trust that Draven’s not on some kind of a revenge quest, and until I do, I can’t let myself get in too deep.

“Okay, I’ll go get him.” Rick gets to his feet. “Remember, I’m watching you. Anything physical, and I’ll throw your ass in jail.”

Draven barks out a laugh. “Good luck with that.”

Exasperated, Rick huffs and leaves the room, slamming the door behind him.

“Aren’t you two supposed to be friends?” I ask, frowning at their spiky exchange.

“He’d think I’d been cloned if I was nice to him.” He twists in his chair, the metal legs scraping against the cheap tile. “Now, listen up. You’re gonna hear some stuff, but you mustn’t react. You hear me, Lola? Not a flicker, a twitch, or blink of an eye. You assume a blank stare, hands in your lap. I want you to look almost bored. Can you do that?”

A ripple of concern creeps up my spine, and the fine hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My assessment was dead-on. Draven kept the details of his plan purposely vague, and I’m about to find out why. He won’t punch the guy. He’s given Rick his word, and for all Draven’s faults, when he makes a promise, he sticks to it.

“What are you going to do?”

“Let’s just say that Moretti needs a reason to tell us what we want to know, and I’m going to give him that reason.”

I clench my hands into fists. I have a bad feeling about this. A knot forms in my stomach, and my throat narrows.

Draven waits for me to look at him, and when I do, he wraps his large hand around my much smaller one. “Trust me, Lola.”

I dampen my lips, then swallow. “Don’t let me down.”

A scuffling sound bleeds through the closed door. Draven turns his attention toward it and rubs his hands together.

“Okay, let’s get this party started.”

Chapter 11

Draven

Seeing Moretti in chains is possibly one of the best moments of my life, other than meeting my niece for the first time. I’d spent days upon weeks tracking this guy, learning everything I could about his movements, watching with growing anger while he trapped more young girls and desperate women into a life of prostitution, then spent the proceeds snorting coke, driving fast cars, and forcing himself on any female he fancied.

Less than a week has passed since his arrest, during which time they’ve arraigned him, refused bail, and locked him up in the county jail pending transfer to a state prison facility sometime next week. Timing-wise, it’s worked out beautifully. Rick’s jurisdiction covers county, but I’d have had much more difficulty arranging this visit if Moretti had already been transferred to the state penitentiary.

The bruises my rough treatment caused during Moretti’s arrest have faded to a pale yellow, but his hatred shines brightly, pouring off him the moment he sets eyes on me. But when Moretti turns his attention to Louise, his gaze fills with hunger, and I almost break my promise to Rick. Only Louise’s sixth sense prevents me from launching across the table and beating the fucker to death. She somehow gauges my growing rage and surreptitiously shifts in her seat, edging closer to me, pressing her thigh against mine in a silent warning.

“Eyes on me, jerkoff,” I bark, already regretting bringing Louise into the room. Then again, suggesting she stay away would have probably gotten me a punch in the face and a twist of the balls.

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