Page 110 of Never Enough

KA-THUNK! Chink!

It took everything within Nemo not to make a sound as the belt buckle bounced off his already ripped-apart back, then hit the floor. He wasn’t sure which hurt worse, the metal ripping apart new flesh or ripping through the flesh that had already been torn open before, some of it multiple times. It seemed like when these people wanted their pound of flesh, they wanted it literally. Eventually, he’d scream in pain. He wasn’t really sure why he was holding out. The outcome wasn’t going to change, whether he screamed or didn’t. He figured part of it was just the perverse pleasure of not letting them know they were breaking him. They weren’t even asking any questions. They were just beating the shit out of him because they could.

He knew Tribe needed time to figure out where he was. When the Kaders had taken him into the second tunnel, theyimmediately took his watch, pulled out his earbuds, and ripped the gauges out of his ears. He was thankful they didn’t think to scan for other piercings. That would have really hurt. Then they scanned him with some sort of device, which located his tracker in his hip. They immediately dug that thing out with what felt like a fork twirling pasta. Then he’d been thrown in an armored truck of some sort and hadn’t seen anything until he was let out on the inside of another mine.

If he would just pass out, they’d stop. He’d get a break for a bit. He considered his next action carefully before proceeding. Provoking them would not only get him that break, but it would allow the guys more time to locate him through his second chip.

Contingencies for contingencies. Never gonna tell Waters he’s a paranoid SEAL ever again.

“You know,” he said during a lengthy pause, “if that’s all you and your sisters are capable of dishing out, I could show you a few techniques a torture specialist taught me.”

There was a muttered oath in Egyptian, the whistling of the belt slicing through the air, and a burning fire ripped across his shoulder. They had popped both of them out of their sockets before each beating, so this added layer of fire was just extra special.

The next thing he knew, he was lying on the floor, his eyes opening… sort of… to a blank dirt wall. He pulled himself upright into a sitting position, still facing the wall. When he had caught his breath, he used the wall to help him stand, which was no small effort, and then he leaned one shoulder against it. On a silent countdown in his head, he threw his entire body weight on his opposite shoulder against the wall. He grunted as the left shoulder popped back into place. Then he repeated the process for the right shoulder.

Because of his injury at birth that allowed him to pop his shoulders in and out at will, Flame, TB’s woman,teased him he had firsthand secret knowledge of what her wolf shifter characters felt like during their change. To be honest, it hurt less than it used to. Or maybe after all these years, he was just used to the pain. Whatever the reason, he’d used it to his advantage many times when he needed to change his body’s shape to fit into tight places.

He dared to reach behind him and see if he could tell how bad his back actually was. He hissed in pain at the sting of his touch. When he pulled his hand away and looked at it, it was caked in dirt and blood.

“Well, if I get out of this, it’s going to suck recovering from the infection.”

“Don’t worry, young man,” a polished voice behind him assured. “Infection will not be a problem because you’re not getting out of this.”

“Good. I hate needles, I can’t swallow pills, and I’m allergic to antibiotics.” Gently, Nemo swiveled around to see who he was talking to. “I thought I’d be talking to one of my new besties, but they must be off braiding each other’s hair and having a pillow fight without me. Who are you?”

The man appeared to be in his late fifties. His hair was black, but so black it was clearly colored to cover the gray that most likely was there naturally. He was well built, although certainly not as he would have been in his thirties or forties, and he wore what was clearly a bespoke suit. He pulled his cuffs clear of his gray suit jacket, making a show of checking his cufflinks, and then looked up to introduce himself. “I am Pharaoh Kader.”

Nemo called up every piece of strength within him to sit down nonchalantly on the ground. He pulled his knees up, crossing them at the ankles, and leaned his elbows on his raised knees, allowing his hands to dangle in front of them. It hurt like hell to do it, but he refused to show that to this asswipe. Theystared at each other for a long time. Finally, Nemo asked, “Don’t you want to know my name?”

Kader shrugged. “I was looking for the one named TB. I was hoping for the one named Waters. I have specific issues with both of them. Apparently, I’m settling for you. Who you are is inconsequential, and what you are is merely a means to an end.”

“If I’m so inconsequential, why are your two goons smacking me around all the time?”

“Likely, they are bored while we wait. I do not ask because I do not care.”

“What do you care about then?” Nemo asked.

The man replied, “Your friends have something I want. They will either give it to me in exchange for you, or you will die, and then I will take what I want another way.”

Zahra and Ka-Bar’s son.

Nemo chuckled. “But if I’m dead, you’ll have nothing to exchange.”

Kader smiled. “You will be dead either way, young man. Even if they give me what I want, you will never see the outside of this mine. Nor will your little thief friend back in Zimbabwe.”

Okay. Gem’s not here. Good to know. The question is, where is she?

Nemo schooled his features and his body language. It wouldn’t do to let Kader know that Gem meant anything to him.

“Pfft. That tiny little shit? Not even worth my time.”

The man in the suit smiled at him. “I know you would have me believe that is true. However, I also know it to be the exact opposite. My son, Hemeda, told me of your last words to her. Hopefully, she put no trust in them as they were an untruth.”

Nemo tried another tactic. “You’re wasting your time. Myemployers won’t trade anything for me. When we go out on a job, we know no one is ever coming for us if we’re captured or injured.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But what about Miss Dawson? Will they leave her to the same fate? You men, despite your mercenary ways and uncivilized tactics, have a soft spot for women, even ones you have no connection to. If you bring about no results, perhaps a threat to her will.”

Nemo laughed out loud. “She means even less to them than she does to me. My friends are already long gone since we missed our check-in. Sorry, Kader. You lose. There’s no rescue in the works, and there will be no trade of any kind.”

---