Page 57 of Bad Rio

Chapter Twenty-Four

“I’m gonna crush yourskull.” Taller by several inches, heavier by thirty pounds, Rio gripped Tim’s shirt collar and shoved him up against the warehouse wall. The fabric bunched in his fist and was gripped so tightly the older man’s face turned red.

Choking, Tim wheezed.

Becca stood in the shadows of the open doorway where Tim couldn’t see her. At his obvious pain, she grimaced, but kept her arms tightly crossed.

Tim held both hands high. He was already sweating. “No, don’t—”

“Then I’m gonna break your arms.”

“Stop—I—”

“Next comes knee-capping.”

“Who are you—”

“Then I’ll sellyouinto sexual slavery. How’s rape every day and all night sound? Your life will become just like those girls you’re hauling at night.” Rio shook the other man. “Sex slaves.”

“No, no, they’re not!” Tim tried and failed to dislodge Rio’s fist from his neck. “They’re going to work as maids and kitchen help.”

Rio banged Tim on the stucco wall. His face close enough to Tim’s that their noses nearly touched, he bared his teeth. “Maids and cooks don’t need to be shackled. Now before I beat the ever-lovin’ shit out of you, tell me where they’re going. And the drugs and guns.” He shook Tim again. “Where?”

“To Juarez,” Tim babbled. “We deliver the stuff—pick up more girls.”

“Where do the girls end up?”

“I don’t know! Some here in the U.S. Some in other countries, I guess. People want maids—”

Rio grabbed Tim’s throat and smashed the side of his head into the wall.

Tim’s head wobbled and his eyes fluttered shut. He began to sink down the wall, but Rio hauled him back up. “Don’t,” Rio said through gritted teeth, “Say. Maid. To. Me. Again. I don’t like liars. Tell me another whopper and I’ll smash your teeth so far back into your head they’ll end up chewing up your brain.”

Semi-conscious now, Tim moaned. Blood ran down the side of his face onto his shirt. An egg-sized contusion rapidly rose on his jaw.

With clenched teeth, Becca watched it all and felt conflicting emotions roiling inside her. Many years of good memories ofUncleTim now fought with the reality of his illegal, immoral activities. The mix was both bewildering and enraging. Keeping her arms tightly crossed, she was determined not to interfere because now everything had changed. Her past memories counted for nothing.

“No, you don’t,” Rio told Tim. “You don’t get to pass out.” Hauling him over to a three-foot concrete ledge beside the dock, Rio shoved him into a sitting position, and kept his hold on the other man’s shirt.

Becca came out of the shadows. She touched Rio’s sleeve and he straightened, but didn’t let go of his prisoner.

“Hey, Tim.” She moved close. “Surprised to see me?”

With effort, Tim raised his head and looked into her face. His eyes widened. “Rebecca? You’re alive?”

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