Page 86 of His Other Half

Chapter 32

Paco

The time from the firstcut made on Paco's body to the last blurred in his head. He could no longer tell if it was night or he was living the same day.

Blood coated every inch of his body. A body that no longer hurt, but killed him.

Unable to lift his face off the floor, it took all he had to open his eyes and look for Josie.

Shaw's threat that he had Josie in his possession, and she would be brought here, kept him fighting for consciousness.

He wouldn't let Shaw put his hands on her.

The thunk of footsteps, vibrating the wooden floor, roused him. He struggled to get his roped hands underneath him and push up. Pressing his back against the wall, he wheezed, total exhaustion gripped him. The pain around his ribcage brought out a new level of hate in him, providing him with a burst of adrenaline to keep him awake.

He glowered at Shaw, locking on the knife in the other man's hand. Any more cuts on his body and he wouldn't make it much longer. He wouldn't have any blood left to keep him alive. Already, he could barely keep his eyes open.

Shaw grabbed a wooden chair and dragged it into the middle of the room and straddled the seat, letting his arms dangle over the back in front of Paco. He refused to ask about Josie.

He knew the game Shaw played.

Any form of communication or movement would guarantee him more pain.

Torture was a way to get what Shaw wanted. Paco had done the same thing, many times against Tarkio's enemies.

But he was stronger than Shaw estimated.

He saved any energy he had left in case there was any truth to what Shaw was promising. Josie would need him.

"She'll be here in ten minutes." Shaw's stoic face showed nothing.

He couldn't tell if Shaw lied to get a reaction out of him or if he was telling the truth. Stay away, Josie. If there's any way you can hear me, stay the fuck away.

"Over the years, your club has taken many men off Blackfoot land." Shaw's tone never went higher or lower. As if reciting the nightly news, he continued. "Many ghosts will haunt the mountains."

"You'll be one of them," said Paco, not recognizing his voice or if his swollen lips permitted the words to be understood.

Shaw shrugged, a sign he was untouched by the threat.

The man had an attitude reminiscent of the murdering fucker who'd taken his sister, whored her out to every dickhead on the street, and murdered her.

Penny had meant everything to him.

His sister was the only person who'd loved him. As her twin, he promised to protect her. The foster system wrote her off long ago. He'd made her a promise. It was the two of them against the world. They were supposed to be there for each other forever.

Twins.

They'd come into the world together. Nobody was supposed to take her away from him.

But, she'd slipped out of his reach. He was too late. He hadn't saved her.

Penny, I can't die. Not now. Josie needs me. Help me. Help me stay alive.

If there was still a connection running from him to her, he needed his sister now more than ever. Josie needed him.

"Once I'm done with you, I'm sure Josie would like if I brought her friend here." Shaw twirled the knife in his hand. "I believe Cami will comfort her while I decide whether I'm going to keep Josie or sell her for a bigger profit than her father received."

Paco struggled to get up with his hands tied. Cami was pregnant. He'd be killing an innocent baby.

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