Page 62 of The Devil's Pawn

“I really don’t enjoy this part of the process.” I raise the weapon, landing it across his neck, while Jared whimpers beside him.

“He’s lying,” Enzo throws in with a chuckle. “He enjoys it. A little too much.”

I curl my lips into a vicious smile. “Yeah, he’s right. I kinda do.”

And instead of bringing the knife back toward me, I slam it into Victor’s outer thigh. His agonizing scream turns piercing as his flesh gives way and the blade fully enters him.

“Yes, I know it hurts. Hang in there.” I pat him on the shoulder, leaving the weapon where it is.

Marching back a step, I retrieve the other chef’s knife from the coffee table.

“But the good news is…” I shout over his noisy cries. “Your artery is still safe. It’s important to see the positives. That’s what my father used to tell us. You know, the one your boss killed.”

“Oh…oh my God!” Jared’s eyes widen with shock. “You really cut him.”

His chest drops faster and faster with every breath. He can’t seem to tear his attention away from his friend’s thigh. Well, I don’t actually know whether they’re friends, but it doesn’t really matter, does it?

“Of course I cut him. What did you think we were going to do here, buddy?” I ask, shuffling over to him with the knife still in my palm. “Braid each other’s hair? Because I don’t know how.”

His exhales fall quicker now, his breathing shallower as the tip of one of the knives slithers closer to his eye. He can’t look away; his wild stare rips through his eye sockets.

Victor still cries, his whimpers getting less pathetic by the second.

“P-ple-please don’t do this.” Jared’s inhales rattle frantically, his eyes glazing over.

“Okay, sure, pal.” I clamp a palm over his shoulder and squeeze tighter, hoping to break something. “How about you tell us where they’ve stashed the kids first, hmm? You can’t possibly be okay with children being sold?Raped?”

“I don’t know anything. I swear!” He shakes his head, moaning with fear. “I don’t.”

“Hmm.” I back away. “So you’ve never heard of any trafficked kids and women stashed somewhere? You’re saying you have nothing to give me? The guy who helps them handle their money has no idea they buy and sell innocent children?”

“Yes! I swear! I don’t know shit about no kids.”

“You believe him?” I ask Enzo, glancing at him to my left.

He lifts up his shoulders, shaking his head. “Nah. He probably likes little kids, that sick fuck.”

“Is my brother right? Do you touch little kids? Are you protecting yourself?”

“No, no, no.” His face pales, chin trembling. “I don’t do that. I never touched anyone when—”

His eyes grow like their own planets as he realizes he’s let something slip that he shouldn’t have.

“When what?” My footsteps reverberate through the room as I walk back over to the other guy, my eyes on Jared as the knife lands sharply on Victor’s cheek and slices across.

“Ahhh!” Victor screams as red droplets sail down the side of his face.

“This will be you soon, except a lot worse,” I warn Jared while his face contracts in terror.

“Please! I don’t know anything!” he tries to convince me.

But it’s too late now.

“You still don’t want to talk?” I lift the knife in my hand and slam it into Victor’s other thigh, but this time, I slice the artery nice and clean, then pull out the blade.

“See, he’s about to die. Slowly,” I tell Jared, who’s crying now. “Is that what you want to happen to you?”

“You don’t understand!” he wails. “I’ve got a family. I’ve got two young daughters. I can’t say shit. They’ll kill them all or sell them. Please, just kill me.” He peers up at me with tears lining his eyes. “Just do it.”

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