Page 46 of Ruthless Angel

The room spun several times, and then my eyes closed, staying that way. Unconsciousness claimed me, dragging me deep under. Needing to escape this room in this house, I happily succumbed.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CASH

“You need to calm down, Daire. We’re finally getting somewhere. That’s a good thing.” I braced myself, expecting to get punched.

Daire sat to my right at a table in a busy sports bar. He was on his third drink. Since he’d been getting double shots, it was more like his sixth. We’d all been a wreck since we discovered Clover missing. No doubt Daire had been the worst.

I didn’t think he’d slept more than a few hours since we lost her three days ago. Or was it four? I could barely think straight. I’d been surviving on Red Bull and prayers to a God I didn’t believe in.

Blaze wasn’t doing any better. He’d stopped eating. Other than coffee and weed, he hadn’t consumed much of anything.

“Those goddamn Sinners are corrupt as fuck. What kind of cunts charge ten grand for info on a human trafficking ring? They should want to help.” Daire clenched his hand into a fist.

He’d almost killed Riot when he told us how much their help would cost this time. It had taken both Blaze and I to hold him back. We’d barely succeeded.

The Sinners had been able to do some digging. They discovered an underground auction in the city. A place where humans were sold to the sick fucks looking to purchase. That had to be where Brady planned to take Clover.

According to the Sinners, only those with the password got in. For another five grand, they got us the password and the location. The next auction was scheduled for tomorrow night. We’d missed out on tonight’s auction. It had ended hours before the Sinners got their intel.

I worried that Clover would have been sold tonight. Finding her would be so much harder if someone had taken her to another location. Going forward, we would need to attend every auction until we found her.

There was only one problem. None of us were able to attend without being spotted right away by Brady and anyone else he may be working with. We’d killed some of his men. Not all of them. He wasn’t stupid enough to work alone.

“We need to go to Raina and the Gods,” Blaze said, watching Daire chug back his drink. “We need to send in someone who won’t be recognized.”

“And where are we supposed to get the money to buy Clover back?” Daire countered, his lip lifting in a vicious sneer. “We can’t walk into a place like that and shoot our way out. Not without getting us all killed. A girl like her won’t be cheap.”

Our bank account had taken a few hits lately, especially with the Sinners earlier. We had a decent chunk of cash left, but how much would it cost to buy a whole human being? Hell if I knew. That wasn’t my line of business.

“That’s why we need to go to Raina. She’ll pull some strings. She’ll help.” Shoving a hand through his disheveled hair, Blaze sat back in his chair and sighed.

He wasn’t wrong. We were fucked if we didn’t get some help here. I was able to swallow my pride and go to Raina. I wasn’t so sure about Daire.

A drunken man on his way to the restroom stumbled, banging into Daire’s chair and jostling him about. Daire was on his feet in an instant.

“What the fuck is your problem, asshole?” he shouted. “Watch where you’re fucking going.”

“Suck my dick, motherfucker. It’s not that big of a deal.” The drunk guy got dangerously close to Daire, bringing them face to face.

I saw it coming before Daire smashed a fist into the man’s face. He didn’t stop with one hit. It took two punches to put the guy on the floor. Daire dropped two more into his face before Blaze and I hauled him off.

“Get off me. I’m going to kill that piece of shit.” Daire took a swing at Blaze who blocked in time to avoid a broken nose.

Wrapping an arm around Daire’s neck, I put him in a tight headlock. If I had to choke him out, so be it.

Together Blaze and I dragged Daire toward the exit. He fought and flailed, trying to punch anyone and anything within reach. Once we were outside, I threw him against the side of Blaze’s Camaro.

Pinning Daire in place, I pressed an arm across his throat. “Listen to me right fucking now. Your bullshit isn’t helping Clover. All you’re doing is slowing us down. Do you want to find her or not?”

I waited for him to nod.

“Good. Then stop this unhinged shit and get in the car. We’re going to see Raina.” I dragged open the car door and shoved him inside.

Blaze and I exchanged a knowing look. We’d spent years intervening before Daire did something stupid. In some cases, right after he’d done it. We were used to his nutbar behavior. This time felt different though. Daire was slipping in deep to a dark place. If we didn’t get Clover back, I didn’t think we’d get him back either.

We drove to the Gods’ house with a ranting Daire in the back seat. Thankfully, it was a two door car. The crazy fuck couldn’t leap out and run amok down the street.

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