Page 105 of The Butterfly Killer

He let Burns go.

Did he think about what Burns might have done to get free from Diego? Yes. Did he imagine Burns on his knees, throat stuffed with cock, his eyes teary as he choked?Yes.

He shoved himself up from the chair. The smell of death and blood didn’t make him lose his growing erection. Most times that was what fueled it. The adrenaline was one thing, but when it paired with the sheer power trip of taking someone’s life…well, Mercer kept those thoughts to himself. He’d been to the mandated psychiatrist enough to know these weren’t normal.

But Mercer liked not being normal. He was better than normal.

Burns came back after surveying the area. “Cortez is gone.”

Mercer nodded as he searched the men and found his badge, gun, and phone.

“He knows where Palmer is. Any idea who ‘Miguel’ is?”

“Miguel? If he’s important, he’s been able to stay off the map this long.”

Mercer dialed Chief William’s personal cell. “I think we just found our original Butterfly Killer.”

The phone didn’t even ring once before Williams picked. “—ell me you found something.”

“Sit down, Chief. We’ve got a lot to fill you in. But first, tell your guys to come pick us up.”

“He’s as trained as a puppy,” Miguel mocked as he smoked in the backseat.

Marcus was forced to endure the smoke while he sat beside Miguel. The car filled with smoke fast with the windows rolled up. The car wasn’t big at all. There was barely enough room for his arms and legs. He didn’t know how Roman was dealing with it and he was driving.

Miguel leaned forward, resting his elbow on top of the driver seat. “It’s a big risk to take a cop.”

He took a long drag. His eyes were on Marcus. Narrowed, peering into him like he was searching for the special piece that made sense as to why Roman was interested in him. Marcus doubted he would be of much interest to Miguel.

Half of the reason Marcus had appealed to Roman—as Marcus was starting to realize—was that he was the missing piece in replicating his father’s entire work.

Miguel didn’t know that. To him, Marcus was another pig. Another body to gut. Though, he wouldn’t waste his talent on someone like Marcus.

“What’s so special about you, huh?” Miguel leaned over. He inhaled, smelling loudly. He laughed when Marcus flinched.

“I know he didn’t kidnap no cop just to get to me.” He got closer, breathing on Marcus’s neck. “I would have taken my time with you. I’ve broken many pigs down before. They alwayssqueal.”

Marcus stared at the road. He knew not to give Miguel anymore attention. It was feeding him. The cartel had been supplying this man, inflating his ego, for so long he wasn’t coy. Marcus believed if it wasn’t for the cartel cleaning up his messes, he would have been caught a long time ago. All this time Marcus thought TBK was a mastermind when in fact he was an overzealous man-child who was very much getting on his fucking nerves.

Juan couldn’t talk—bless his soul—and had wedged himself against the other door, shivering as he seemed to try not to nod off. His eyes were unfocused. Marcus could tell even if he was looking at the man’s reflection in the car’s side mirror.

The tongue cutting had been recent by the state of the wound. It had stopped bleeding so either Miguel had cauterized it or it had been long enough that it stopped bleeding on its own. But by the way Juan was acting, it didn’t seem like his body was handling it so well. It wouldn’t be the first time Marcus had heard of someone dying because their tongue had been cut out.

Behind them, Miguel’s partner was following in Roman’s car.

Marcus didn’t know if Miguel was dumb for leaving them un-cuffed or if it was a show of dominance. Was he saying they weren’t worth tying up? He’d take them out before they could overpower him or escape?

“Turn here,” Miguel jerked his head to the left.

Roman knew where Miguel meant. It was a small driveway that lead to the back of very expensive high rise offices. They went past these offices and were stopped short by a gated area.

The gates opened as if they were expecting the two cars. Roman didn’t even have to let his foot off the gas. The car rolled through the gates and toward the large mansion looking out of place next to all the corporate buildings.

Marcus’s brows furrowed. He wanted to look back at Miguel, but he knew he wouldn’t find any answers there. He also didn’t want to chance Miguel having a loose hand and shooting him in the face.

Roman pulled up to the front of the house and stopped.

“What now?”

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