Page 157 of Trigger

“I do, and it’s just between my dick and—”

“Enough!” Tye shouted so loud that everyone flinched. “This isfucking serious. I’m not risking a hair on Carter’s head if you don’t stopfooling around.”

Everyone in the car turned deadly silent as I parked in the backalley that couldn’t be seen from the club.

“Everyone knows what to do, yeah?” Tye said, surveying oursurroundings. “Now let’s get this show on the road.”

He gave me a small nod before exiting the car, and the rest of usfollowed. Luz headed to the club, dressed in my pants and Vicky’s Chanelblouse, which she left in my place without me knowing it. Luz found it in mycloset while snooping around and flaunting his ass to Bazooka, who wouldn’tgive him the time of day. The blouse looked ridiculous on him, but he claimedhe had to look glamorous if he wanted to seduce “the psycho killer from hell.”Bazooka followed him ten steps away, pretending to look interested in somewomen across the street. When they both disappeared into the club, Tye and Iwent separate ways, hiding in the shadows.

“All good?” I said in a low voice, fixing my earpiece.

“Peachy,” Bazooka answered, with music blasting in the background.“The little shit is dancing with the strippers, and half of the club is staringat his ass.”

“Okay, that’s what we were aiming for,” Tye said. “Any baldbastards coming his way?”

“Not presently.”

“Okay, keep us posted.”

Fifteen minutes later, there was a disturbance on the line, andBazooka was cut off.

“Bazooka?” I whispered. “Can you hear me? Bazooka?”

Silence.

“I don’t like this,” Tye said. “I’m going in.”

After he entered the club, I ran up to the building, holding mygun at low ready. Five minutes later, the door opened, and a drunken couplecame out. Three more guys followed them, looking wasted.

“Tye?” I whispered into the earpiece. “Have you found them?”

Silence.

What the fuck is going on?

I was about to go inside when I heard the noise in the back alley,sounding as if a trash can had fallen to the ground. Then I heard Luz callingme.

“Carter. I’m here.”

I rushed toward the voice with my gun raised high only to see Luzstanding at the far end of the alley. Despite the dimly lit surroundings, Ispotted a knife at his throat and a slim, bald guy standing behind him. Ahandsome guy, just as I guessed, but his eyes were blank as if he was deadinside.

“I’m sorry,” Luz squeaked, but I wasn’t looking at him. I waslooking at the man behind him.

I raised my hands in surrender. “Don’t hurt him. I’ll do whateveryou want.”

The guy behind Luz sneered.

“Do you want to know the funniest thing, cop? I didn’t even likeSophie. What I like in a woman… what I crave… are fat thighs.” He inhaled withhis eyes closed as if he was reminiscing about some pleasant, long-forgottenmemory. “Fat, chewy thighs are my favorite. And a worn-out cunt. Sophie hadneither. Pity.”

“Look, the rest of the gang will be here at any moment,” I lied,going through my options in my head. “How about I lower my weapon, you loweryours, and we figure things out before the others come and ruin our day?”

He eyed me, contemplating my proposal.

“Hmm… okay,” he said finally. “Lower your weapon, or the boy hereloses an artery. Then we can talk.”

When his knife nicked Luz’s skin and he winced in pain, I loweredmy gun to the ground.

“There it is. See? The gun is on the ground, and you’re incontrol. Just let him go.”

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