Page 61 of Dark Things
We pull into the parking lot, and the usual clowns are outside, standing around with their thumbs up their asses. Nothing but lazy fucking shields for when shit goes down. Expendable meat sacks.
Haunt gets out first and opens my door before falling behind me to watch my back. As we approach, Rook, whose real name is Carlo, straightens up and opens the door to the slaughterhouse for me. He glances between Haunt and I, but the other guard is staring at me like I’m a fucking animal at a zoo.
I stop and stare back, but he doesn’tbreak eye contact. A low growl sounds behind me, but I hold my arm out stopping Haunt from stepping in.
“He new?” I ask Rook.
“Yeah, he started last week,” he says, nodding. Rook has been an ally for Haunt and me for a long time, it’s how we know his real name. Stan’s mercs use call signs and then if only you’re close enough to be considered friends, you offer your true name as a sign of trust.
Rook elbows the guy in the side. He swings his head toward Rook but then snaps it right back to me.
“Hmm…what’s your name, buddy?” I ask, crossing my arms across my chest.
“Mitch,” he snarls.
“Not your real name, you idiot, your call sign,” I say, sighing.
“Dozer.”
“And do you know who we are, Dozer?”
Haunt, steps closer to my back, his hand resting on my hip. It’s a possessive move, but it also puts his hand closer to the gun in my holster.
“I know who he is, but you’re just another whore like the rest who come through here,” he says, crossing his hands behind his back, no doubt a hand on his gun.
A smile stretches over my face, but Haunt pushes further into me. I can feel the heat coming off his body, and the vibrations of anger rolling through him.
“Yeah, that’s it. Just another whore. Ghost’s whore, right, baby?” I turn my head up to stare at Haunt. Ican’t see beyond his neck, but I can imagine the fire glowing in his eyes.
“Rook, when is the next fight night?” Haunt asks, not taking his focus off of Dozer.
“Tonight, sir,” Rook answers, his grip tightening on the knob.
“Make sure he’s there,” Haunt says, before stepping back and guiding me with his hand on my back through the door.
There’s no one in the front room, and as soon as the door slams shut, I hear the shouting on the other side. Haunt cracks his neck before walking ahead of me past the plastic curtain separating the two areas.
He holds it open for me, and I smile, but Haunt’s expression doesn’t change. Before we see anyone, I put my hand on his forearm, halting him from going any further.
“He’ll be even more pissed if he sees you all worked up. Take a breath. We can deal with Dozer later. I’m sure his enlightenment is going to leave a lasting impression.”
Haunt closes his eyes for a moment before facing me. The fire is gone, and sadness replaces it. “I hate when they call you that.”
“I know, but the pigs aren’t going to go away because you want them to.”
Before he can answer, a bellow rings out in the cavernous room. “Get your fucking asses over here.”
I purse my lips before schooling my features and walking further into the space.
Stan is standing next to Vince and I want to pull my gun and explode both of their heads, but then I think of Magnus and my hand steadies.
Once we get in reaching distance, Vince makes a move to grab me, but my knife is at his dick before he can make contact.
“I don’t give a fuck who you are. I’ll cut your fucking dick off before you get anywhere near me. I’m not an eighteen year old girl anymore, Vince,” I growl, the venom dripping from every word.
“Enough! Vince, go see that things are set up for tonight,” Stan says.
Vince steps back, giving me a wide berth, but Haunt is the one to step in his path. His arm goes back, and the punch lands on Vince’s jaw before he realizes Haunt moved.
