Page 29 of Obsessed

Or maybe not. My buddies haul me into a room. They sit me down hard on a chair that is sitting in the middle of a half-filled storage room. They untie and retie my hands behind the back of the chair and secure my feet to thelegs.

"Again, not what I expected when I paid those huge clubdues."

My smart ass comment is quickly put to rest by another fist. My head snaps back, but my chin is still numb from the first blow. There is no doubt in my mind that the guy is taking it easy on me. His fist is the size of a fucking boulder, and his arms look like treetrunks.

It's harder to talk with my aching jaw, but I mutter out a question. "Are we waiting for theboss?"

"I prefer Mr. Freestone." The deep voice comes from behind as the light from the corridor momentarily makes the shadowy storage room glow. The door snaps shut, dousing the light. Freestone's stride reminds me of a slow stalking panther stepping through the trees to catch his prey. He's wearing a dress shirt and slacks but decided to skip the tie and overcoat for his stockroom interrogationparty.

Without being told, the biggest of the two, the guy with the boulder sized fists, quickly pushes a large box out from the stacks along the walls. He pushes it so it's just ten feet in front of me. Freestone sits against it and crosses his arms and legs. I want to pound the arrogance off his face. I want to tear his fucking head off for what he's done to Ten. But I can't even let on that I knowher.

I don't realize I'm clenching my teeth until a pain shoots through my swollen jaw. I relax, hoping it will help me stay focused and ready for whatever they throw at me. Fistsincluded.

"Well, I'm bored just looking at you," Freestone sneers. "So let's cut to the meat of it. You're too cocky to work for the pharmaceutical companies, so I'm going to assume you are an undercover cop." I avoid showing a reaction. "Why are you harassingus?"

"Not harassing anyone. Any harm in wanting to be part of the fun? Or should only rich guys get to fuck prettywomen?"

His dry laugh makes me curl my fists. "Yes, you poor pathetic man," he drawls. "I'm sure you've had it rough. Tell me why you're here and I'll think about sending you back out in the world so you can tell all the other importantlawmen."

I lean back to relieve the pressure in my arms. "Do you really have to ask? You're running a high-end whore house." It's his turn not toreact.

"I give homeless women a chance for afuture."

I nod. "That you do. Only they have to be willing to fuck grabby old rich men to work toward that future. So I wouldn't reach for that guardian angel's halo just yet. Think you might still be stopped at the pearlygates."

Freestone stands up and paces around the room. "I'll bet there's a big folder about me sitting on your desk that contains almost nothing of importance. Kane Freestone. Biomedical degree, chemist, too insane to work for the pharmaceutical companies. The mad genius. Isn't that what they have written in that folder?" He stands in front of me and staresdown.

"There's a little something about murdering billionaires and kidnapping homeless women too. Right under the mad geniusstuff."

His cool demeanor cracks a tiny bit. His eyes flicker with anger. "I don't know a fucking thing about any murdered billionaires and the women comewillingly."

"Yeah? What about thedrugs?"

"Whatdrugs?"

I stare up at him. "Every woman in this place is high. They have so many needle marks, They look like humanpincushions."

"I think you'll find the injection the women are taking is not included on any illegal druglist."

"Or any approved list either," Iadd.

"We'll see. Besides, you're out of yourjurisdiction."

"The murders happened in my city. You're taking the women off the streets I keep watchover."

"Yes, that city ofyoursis doing a great job taking care of its citizens," he says snidely. "Anyhow, it seems you put yourself in grave danger just to bring down a high-end escort service. Bravo. Or maybe you had something orsomeoneelse in your sights when you made this stupid decision. In fact, if you did, then I will actually have just a little more respect foryou."

There's a million ways to interpret his words but only one really stands out. I have to ignore his goading. "Don't know what the fuck you're talking about. I came here to connect the dots between you and the murders. Bringing this shady club down is just the icing on thecake."

I catch the slight motion of his head, but his guard has me in a stranglehold before I can react. Not that I can do much except sit and take it. He squeezes my neck until I see stars in front of my eyes, then releases me. I suck in abreath.

"You aren't going to choke it out of me," I grunt with a handful of coughs. "Because I don't know what the hell youwant."

Another flicker of motion and a fist plows into my stomach to push out the breath I just grabbed. It takes me a second to recover. The bindings bite at my wrists as I struggle to work my handsfree.

"Fucker," I say to the guard from the side of my mouth. "It's easy to nail a guy who’s strung to a fucking chair." I look back at Freestone. "Your pitbulls are wasting their energy. I've got nothing else. You already know why I'mhere."

"And thewoman?"

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