Page 41 of CJ

“What made you change your mind about us meeting up?” she asked.

“You seem like an interesting woman,” he lied.

“Is that so?”

“Yep,” he said, brushing back hair from her face. She swallowed, suddenly very nervous. “I hope you like roast chicken.”

He started to bring the glass to his lips, and four men emerged from the bedroom. Irena stood, dropping her drink on the floor.

“I wouldn’t drink that, brother. Mata Hari dropped a nasty powder into it,” said CJ.

“What is this? Who are they? Is this some sort of gang rape?”

“Do not flatter yourself, lady,” said Jalen. “This is an intervention of the ultimate magnitude. My guess, based on our data, is that you are Irena. Sister Alana is dead, and sister Mikella, she’s sitting somewhere safe, hoping that you’re getting the information that she needs. How am I doing so far?”

“Who are you?” she asked.

“I think that’s an interesting question, considering the fact that you and your sisters are responsible for at least four deaths, possibly more, and if we’re not mistaken, you’re attempting to steal goods designated for U.N.-sanctioned programs.”

She stared at the men and then took her seat once again. She wasn’t getting through the five men in front of her. This was the end of the road for her.

“You seem to know a lot about me, but I still don’t know about you.”

“You knew me,” said Leo. “You targeted me because you knew where I worked and what I worked on. How did you know that?”

“A woman can’t reveal all her secrets.” She gave them a coy smile, and Tiger circled behind her, gripping her neck with his hand. Her face began to turn purple, and panic started to set in.

“Listen carefully. I don’t give a fuck that you’re a woman. I’ll kill you no matter what. You’re screwing with innocent lives, and I want to know why. Now, I’m going to release your throat long enough for you to get a breath and talk. If you don’t, I’ll end your sorry-ass life here and now.”

He let go of her throat, the color quickly returning as she coughed, scooting away from him.

“You’re animals!”

“Says the woman that killed her husband,” said CJ.

“Men have been killing their wives for thousands of years and making up excuses to justify it. Did you know that in the Middle Ages, a man could kill his wife if she didn’t take proper care of his home?”

“This isn’t the Middle Ages, and your intentions with those men were never honorable. Where are you sending the cargo? And, more importantly, where is your sister?”

“She’ll kill you,” said Irena. “She’ll kill you before you ever get close to her.”

“I would imagine she’s going to be seriously pissed when she finds out that we killed your father. Well, not us in this room. We’re too young. But others that we work with,” said Tiger. Irena stared at him a moment, then looked at the other men in the room. She shook her head and started to laugh.

“You believe that will upset her? You thought it would upset me? I should be thanking you. All of us should be thanking you. Our father provided for us, but that was all. His intentions were always very clear. He would wait until we were old enough and marry us off to one of his business associates. What they did with us after that was not entirely his business.

“Mikella was only eleven at the time of his death and already planning how to kill him when he returned. Believe me, my sister and I were on board with her plan. So, thank you, gentlemen, for killing him. By killing him, you made his business associates feel concern and empathy toward us.

“We had childhoods filled with uncles who brought gifts. Clothes, jewelry, money, all so that we would never forget who he was. I assure you we did not forget. Least of all, Mikella. She will become him.”

“Where is she?” growled CJ, taking a step closer.

“Fuck this,” said Tiger. He grabbed her purse and found her cell phone. She continued to smile as if she knew some magical secret. Tiger just grinned at her, tapping his own phone and then touching it to hers. A few moments later, he grinned at the men.

“Done. Her call log, contacts, and messages are now downloaded to my phone. Including a recent message from big sis.” The panic on Irena’s face was worth it for the men.

“Tell us where she is, or we’ll send a message that’s going to make her very upset with you,” said CJ.

“You have no idea what you’re about to unleash.”

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