Page 12 of Blood Ties
"Brass shells."
"Yup. These guys were clearly amateurs and not as smart as the last few guys who managed to sneak their way into our other properties without notice. That's the problem with hiring junkies to do your dirty bidding. They were too busy wasting time, shoving as much product into their bags as they could." He shakes his head, laughing. "Anyway, one is no longer breathing, and the other is chained in a cellar."
The doors open and we enter a massive space filled with leather furniture and a large TV on the front wall. On the opposite side is what appears to be a metal door latch closed. "He hasn't told us anything we need to know yet and you are the best when it comes to getting men to talk. I thought since you’re here, you could work your magic."
My lips stretch into a smile. "I can definitely give it a try. It has been way too long. First, we need to move him to an inclined surface and then I'll need a small towel, along with a bucket of water."
Isaiah grins, placing his hand on my shoulder. "I guess you did come for a father-son bonding moment after all."
As he turns around to open the latch on the steel door, I reach for my buzzing phone to check an incoming message.
Able: It wasn’t easy, but it's done.
Easy is the last thing I ever expect when it comes to a man like Marcus. Chances are he is well aware the tracker is there and is simply allowing me to have my moment for his own amusement.
I can only hope.
Chapter 6
Marcus
I'm only halfway through today and already experiencing a downward spiral. The darkness sneaks its way in even in the broad daylight. I sit up in my chair, tapping my pen against the desk, trying to distract myself from the sudden tightness in my chest. I close my eyes, taking deep breaths and feel around inside my desk drawer for my pills.
Staring at the capsules in the palm of my hand, I'm unable to distinguish who's consuming whom at this point. I don't recognize myself without them and know who I am even less when on them, becoming a shell of myself. I wash them down the back of my throat with a glass of water, hating how numb they make me. Only five more hours until I can break free from the emptiness. Soon I'd feel everything wonderful for a little while, and nothing else will matter.
A knock at my office door has me sitting up straighter in my chair. "Come in."
Carlos stands on the other side with his brows bunching together. "There was an incident with one of your men. He was found tied up in the back of the trunk of a random car. It caused quite the scene when he started screaming while a family was pulling out of a parking space."
He runs a hand through his hair. "Luckily we were able to talk them out of calling the police. I highly doubt they want the cops knowing there was a man in their trunk, no matter how he got there."
"Where was he when this happened?"
"He said he heard a suspicious noise and walked toward it. One minute he was circling the parking lot, the next he was waking up in a dark small space completely restrained. I searched the whole perimeter and came up empty handed."
"Why wouldn't they just kill him like they've been killing everyone else?"
"Maybe it wasn't the same men who've been targeting us. After all, no brass was left behind."
My eyes widen. It doesn't make any sense. "I'll have some of my men check the building and cars. Make sure nothing was missed. People don't just go around knocking out guards and putting them in trunks with no purpose."
"Good idea. I may not have much of a lead on that situation, but I may have one regarding our other problem."
"What do you mean?" I stand up from my chair.
"Isaiah called not long ago letting me know he got the man in the cellar to talk."
"What did he have to say?"
Carlos's smile stretches from ear to ear. "Turns out, the man he works for happens to be a brother to one of the men killed at the mansion, a Mr. Williams. He said even if we let him go, he's as good as dead for not getting the job completed and for being caught."
"Where is he now?"
"In the cellar. I figured he can continue to be of use to us. He will need to check in with his boss, letting him know the job was done."
I nod. "I'm guessing Isaiah is already on it?"
"Si." He stands up straighter. "This man apparently has the same twisted desires as his brother. There's a probability of him having a boy trapped in one of his many beach houses. The rumor is, he’s the brother of one of the men Joey helped rescue. If the theories are correct, Jackson wants to kill the man himself after setting his brother free."
