Page 97 of Manic

He's tied to a chair, hands bound behind his back, but even in this state, he's trying to maintain his tough guy facade.

His eyes dart between us, a mixture of defiance and fear evident in their depths.

Rio snarls, but the tremor in his voice betrays him. "You'd best let me out of here."

Dwight steps forward, a cruel smile twisting his features. "Rio, you're not gettin' outta here my boy, at least not alive."

I watch as a flash of raw terror crosses Rio's face before he manages to school his expression.

It's gone in an instant, but we all saw it.

The tough act is crumbling.

Rio protests, his voice strained. "I'm just doin' my damn job!"

Fenrir moves closer, his presence filling the cramped space.

When he speaks, his voice is low and menacing. "I know you are, which is why I'm giving youonechance, and if you fuck it up I will hunt you down like a rabid dog and make sure I'm slow as hell killing you. Then, I'll hunt down every man in your family and kill them so your name dies with you. Catch my drift?"

Jesus Christ.

I've seen Fenrir in action before, but the cold brutality in his voice makes even me want to take a step back.

I can only imagine what it's doing to Rio.

Rio swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. "Look, I'm not tryin' to die for this fucker. I have a little one, and we have a baby on the way. I gotta be there for my daughter."

The mention of his family hits me harder than I expected.

A smirk plays at the corners of Fenrir's mouth. "Good," he says, his voice deceptively calm. "Then I want you to tell me everything you know."

I watch Rio closely, wondering what he'll do.

Will he crack under the pressure, or will loyalty to his boss win out?

As the tension in the room builds, I can't help but think that whatever happens next is going to change everything.

Rio's eyes dart between us, like a cornered animal searching for an escape.

But there's no way out of this basement, and he knows it.

I can see the moment he makes his decision, his shoulders slumping in defeat.

"All right," he says, voice barely above a whisper. "The Patriot's got this rundown house in Betton Hills. It's where he meets all his dealers."

I lean in, my interest piqued. "Go on," I urge, my voice low and steady.

Rio takes a deep breath. "He gives us the product there, tells us how much to charge, how much we gotta move each day. It's... intense."

Ivar, who's been quiet until now, steps forward.

His brow is furrowed in disbelief. "Hold up," he interjects. "He's giving you a quota every day?"

Rio nods, a bitter laugh escaping his lips. "Yeah, and it ain't no joke. That's why I moved my girl and our daughter outta here. She's pregnant with another little girl, and I wasn't about to let him hurt any of 'em."

I feel a chill run down my spine at his words.

We all know the Patriot is a sick son of a bitch, but Fenrir digs for more information, his voice hard as steel. "Why do you think he'd hurt your family?"

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