Page 78 of They All Own Me

"So you think," Isaac says with a smug grin.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. I paid the ransom to the informant, she was supposed to be returned."

Dom steps forward, cracking his knuckles. "Yeah, that was our informant dumbass. We got the ransom to pay off your debt to us before more shit went south and Tatum was in danger."

"Well sorry to inform you, but that was a waste of funds on your part." Thomas snaps.

The chair Thomas is tied to scrapes against the floor as Dom tips it back, balancing him precariously. Fear flashes in Thomas's eyes - the first real emotion I've seen from him.

"Nothing is a waste when it comes to ensuring her safety, but you wouldn't know about that would you, you fucking pig?" I canfeel the tension radiating from Dom. It's been a long time since I've seen him this unhinged.

"Will someone care to tell me why the fuck I'm dealing with you three? I thought we were on the same side."

"That changed when you fucked Esteban out of the Westside deal by informing the fucking feds." Dom grates out.

Thomas turns white as a sheet. "Esteban? as in Esteban Ramirez?"

"That would be him," I say, circling him like a fucking vulture. "You're looking at his employees of the month for the last, I don't know, fifteen years maybe?"

"You should probably invest more time in doing research about your potential "investors" Senator, instead of sticking your dick in women that aren't your wife." Dom retorts.

"Look lad," Isaac says, pacing behind him. "We know you had something to do with her disappearance, whether you know you did or not. The house was trashed. Someone took her. Start fucking talking."

"I said I didn't take her!" He struggles against the zip ties. "Why would I? She's nothing but a business acquisition anyway."

My vision goes red. I grab his throat, squeezing just enough to make him gasp. "She's worth a hundred of you, you piece of shit."

"I think the sack of shit is telling the truth." Dom says, holding up his hand. "I don't think he orchestrated it. But if he didn't take her..."

"Then who did?" Isaac finishes.

Thomas starts laughing - a hollow, bitter sound that bounces off the warehouse walls. "You idiots really think you're the only ones I've pissed off? The only ones I owe money to?"

Ice forms in my gut. If Thomas is telling the truth, Tatum could be in even more danger than we thought.

"Names," I demand, tightening my grip. "Give us names, or I swear to God what we've done so far will feel like a massage."

The smug bastard just sits there. Like Tatum's life couldn't potentially be on the fucking line.

I run my hands through my hair, pacing the basement floor as the pieces click into place. "Open your mouth, Thomas. Or it will end up wired shut. I need Every single shady deal you've made in the last year so we can get here back here where she fucking belongs."

"Wait… wait… wait, you had her?" His eyes widen, then narrow. "This whole time?"

"Yeah, and she was safer with us than she ever was with you," Dom growls. "Now answer the fucking question."

Thomas laughs, but there's an edge of hysteria to it. "You want a list? Fine. The Yakuza - borrowed two million last month. Hong Kong helped launder some campaign funds. Oh, and there's this delightful little Russian outfit-"

"Jesus Christ," Isaac mutters. "You really are the dumbest motherfucker alive."

I slam my hands on the arms of Thomas's chair, getting in his face. "Which one of them would want her? Think carefully."

"How should I know? They all want their money." He swallows hard. "The Russians, maybe. Dmitri's been getting impatient."

"Dmitri Volkov?" Dom's voice is sharp. "You borrowed from Volkov?"

My stomach drops. Volkov is notorious for using loved ones as leverage. And his preferred method of sending messages involves returning those loved ones piece by piece.

"I might have mentioned something about taking her as a whore as payment, but it's hard to say my lines get a little crossed."

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