Page 24 of The Associate

“Mmm,” Sal says. “Are you going to do it tonight then? Why the rush to get him there?”

The way he talks sounds like I had interrupted him, like he is in the middle of something important.

“I was just going to watch and follow tonight, but when I caught the little asshole trying to rape the waitress, I had to do something tonight,” I growl. I can tolerate a lot of things, but a man intending to hurt an innocent woman is not one of them.

“Ok, so why the phone call?” He’s accepted what I am doing and why, but now he is curious because I never call in the middle of a job.

“Well, while I am waiting for him to regain consciousness, I need to call to see what we are doing with the body afterwards.” I pause. Carlos’s head is lifting again, his breathing picking up. “But I need to know quickly, he’s starting to wake up now.”

“Okay, okay. Well this is to send a message to Ricochet. Blackmere uses those tunnels frequently when they are trying to get into our territory, so, once you are done, leave the body there and get your ass back home.” I like the sound of his plan. “And Viper. Don’t get caught.”

With a click the line goes dead and I watch Carlos as his eyes flutter open, panic setting in as he realises where we are.

“What the fuck!” He begins to struggle against the leather restraints. “What do you want with me? Money? It’s money, right? I can give you money.”

He continues to struggle but the cuffs will only be cutting into his skin. The imbecile is still trying to free himself.

“I wouldn’t do that.”

He jumps at the sound of my voice.

“And I don’t need your money.”

He freezes, his eyes squint, trying to pinpoint where I’m standing. “Wh-who are you?” His knuckles become white as he holds a death grip on the arms of the chair.

“You’ll figure it out soon enough.” Even though I am still hidden in the shadows, I smirk in his direction.

“No, no, it can’t be. I did nothing wrong!” he yells, although his voice is shaky; he turns his head in all directions. Panic shows across his face. It is like he is an owl.Hoot Hoot, motherfucker.

“It was all my brother, get him, hurt him. Not me.”

I step out from my cover of the shadows. Rolling up the sleeves of my white dress shirt, my head tilts to the left, watching. As soon as he sees my face, his eyes widen. That only makes me smile harder than the smirk I am already wearing.

I love it when they recognise me. The monster inside thrives on this feeling.

“My reputation precedes me, I see?” I step closer to him.

He shakes his head. “No, no, no! Why me?”

“You’ve been a bad man tonight and we need you to send a message.” I lean forward, resting my hands on my knees so that I am eye level with him.

He starts nodding. “Ok, ok, just let me go and I will pass on the message you have,” he begs, but, deep down, he knows the message is going to be his body, lifeless.

“You and I both know that only one of us is walking out of here alive.” I click my tongue. “You not breathing is the message.”

He starts struggling against the restraints again. “No, no, please!” He shows weakness by crying now. “Please! You don’t have to do this!”

“Stop! You are not escaping. Stop trying!” My patience wears thin as he struggles frantically against the restraints.

I take hold of a scalpel that is sitting on the silver tray and regain my composure. “Young Carlos, you of all people know I have to because your brother has been a naughty boy.” I slowly circle him until I am standing behind him. Leaning forward, I continue. “He should know that he can’t just send threats to steal my boss’s daughter, to say that she will be his to do as he wishes, and not think that we wouldn’t retaliate.”

I hold the scalpel to his cheek, applying a slight amount of pressure to leave a little cut. A small bead of blood trickles down his cheek as he hisses at the sting. “And” — I walk around to his right side — “you are the perfect message to send him, because it just shows that even his own brother is so fucking stupid to go out without a proper security detail. You made this way too easy for me.”

Placing the scalpel on the tray, I assess what else is left to work with here. “Please! I will tell you anything, just don’t kill me, please!” A tear escapes his eye and mixes with the blood that is now running down his face, onto his shirt.

“We will see.” I take a small hunting knife in my hand and twirl it around. It is beautifully balanced. “I need to know what Rico is planning.”

“I-I don’t know completely.” He watches me, another tear rolling down his cheek.

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