Page 44 of King of the Cage

Sol complied, literally sitting without a glance behind her to make sure there was a seat. She still had her tongue sticking out.

I felt sick. A tear escaped my eye and slid down my cheek, but I couldn’t look away. It was like Sol was gone, and all that was left was an empty shell that resembled her.

“Relax now, lassie. Be comfortable,” Bran said heavily.

I swiveled my teary eyes to Doc.

“When she comes round, she won’t remember this, or the last few weeks, if the recovery presents like Quinn. Maybe it’s a blessing,” Doc started.

“A blessing?” I repeated, anger bubbling up inside me. “It’s not a blessing to have your free will stripped away, or your memories… It’s not a blessing to lose control of yourself and your life… because some motherfucker decided he wanted a real-life blow-up doll. We should have killed him,” I swore.

“We will,” Bran interjected, his tone soothing. “We will… and I’ll make sure you’re there, if that’s what you want, selkie.”

I nodded stiffly. It was what I wanted. I wanted to see the life drain from Enrico’s eyes, consequences be damned.

I stared at the vial on the table. Bran had taken it off Enrico.What the hell is this stuff?I swiped it and turned it over in my hands.

No. Fucking. Way.

The logo stared at me, taunting me.

The logo on the drugs. The brand on a dead girl’s wrist. The mark on a young prostitute… Enrico’s date to the wedding.

“I’ve seen this before,” I muttered flatly.

“Where?” Bran asked.

But I was already pulling the curtain in front of my murder wall back and grabbing the picture.

Bran narrowed his eyes at the wall plastered with cold case and crime scene photos but didn’t comment.

“Here. She was a Jane Doe, found in Central Park two years ago. Her case is unsolved, but she had this branded on her arm. I met another girl with it last night, she was there as Enrico’s paid-for date.”

Bran stared at the photo and handed it to Doc. “Did you get her name?”

I swallowed hard. “Alice. Just Alice. She wouldn’t tell me her last name.”

“I think it’s pretty safe to say that this is all connected. The brand, the girls, the drugs… we need Enrico to talk before we kill him. He has to have answers.”

I had gone back to pacing beside the windows. Bran reached out to stop me, holding me still by my shoulders. I felt so restless, I vibrated. I wanted to do something, now.

“What are you going to do about the drugs?” I asked Bran.

“Find out who’s making them and end it.”

“Why? Isn’t that something the O’Connors might like to capitalize on? Looks like a real moneymaker to me. Men like you get rich, men like Enrico get a willing girlfriend, or punching bag, whichever he feels like that night, and women? They get fucked, like always… but hey, maybe they won’t remember, and it’ll be a blessing.” I cut my eyes to Keiran, who had the grace to glance away.

“If you knew me at all, you’d know I was a fucking terrible businessman. I’m the bane of my da’s existence, and the truth is, I don’t fucking care. I’m going to find the producer, the brainchild behind this unholy shit, and end them. For my sister, and you, and your friend, and all the women who live in this city and deserve so much more than the men who live here with them.”

His tone was rough, demanding even, but I didn’t find it intimidating or annoying, not this time. Instead, I heard the emotion behind his words. He really meant it. He didn’t care about the money.

His hands were curled into fists. He was upset.

He looked right at me. “There are lines that shouldn’t be crossed, and I fucking know where they are. A man’s life should mean something… even a man like me. Got it?” His gaze was steady and true.

I nodded, a new respect flourishing for this unpredictable man.

“Got it, and I’m going to help… and find Alice in the process. Got it?” I stuck my hand out toward Bran.

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