Page 27 of Wild Card
“I won’t need one.” I drop him back into his seat and storm back out, making my way across the rotted wood walkway until I get to room four. When I put my boot through the door to kick it open, I hear a piercing scream come from inside that sounds as if it came from a female. There’s some movement in the dark, and when I feel around the wall for a light switch, I flick on the light and see the guy I’m looking for lying ass-naked on the bed, looking like a deer in the headlights. My eyes divert to the floor, where there’s a terrified girl curled up and clutching the bed sheet around her body.
“Get outta here,” I tell her firmly before looking back at the kid. He’s without doubt the guy I’m looking for. He’s got the tattoo on his hand, and guilt all over his face.
“Who the fuck are you?” He looks up and scowls at me, and I waste no time gripping his throat and pinning him to the headboard. His little piece of ass wastes no time either; she gathers up her clothes and scurries outta the room.
“My friends and I wanna have a little talk with you,” I tell him, suddenly realizing that I’m not wearing my cut. This piece of shit will have no idea who I am. Keeping him pinned with one arm, I reach into the back pocket of my jeans, take out my cell, and scroll to Byron’s number.
There’s loud music in the background when he answers, so I guess the club’s gotten a little livelier since I left.
“You better have a good excuse for what you’ve interrupted, Wild Card,” Byron growls at me, and I’m starting to wonder if there’s any pleasing this man.
“Oh, I got a good reason.” I grin darkly at the scared kid in front of me. “Tell Taint to grab a cage and meet me at the motel just off the freeway. I got a little treat for him.” Hanging up the phone, I look the little rat deep into his eyes. “You could save yourself a lotta pain and risk of permanent damage if you tell me now who you're dealin’ for.”
He says nothing, keeps his lips firmly shut as the sweat seeps from his pores.
“I’m new in town, so I don’t know much about our club enforcer, but I do know that, right now, he’s real angry about somethin’. You get to be the person he takes all of that anger out on.” I see the fear in his eyes, even if he is trying desperately to hide it.
“I can…I won’t tell you.” He speaks so quietly I barely hear him.
“You think that, but trust me, you will.” I wink at him, and he starts thrusting his body and kicking his legs. It makes me have to apply a little more pressure around my fingers and choke him. “One of the kids you supplied tonight nearly died. That boy was Sheriff Underwood’s son,” I inform him. “You're just a kid tryin’ to get by on earnin’ a few extra bucks. Are those few bucks really worth endurin’ what's gonna happen to you over the next few hours?” I ask, but he remains tight-lipped, refusing to speak. “That boy could have died tonight. Do you have any idea how dangerous this shit you're selling is?” I yell at him, and he quits fidgeting and stares back at me blankly.
“Maybe he took a bad one; it happens sometimes.” He shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “People come to me cause they want a good time, they know what they’re buying. Ain’t my fault if they can’t handle it.” His answer infuriates me, and I see the stash he has on the bedside table and get an idea.
“A bad one, huh? And how many bad ones d’ya think are in the batch?” Using my free hand, I pick up one of the baggies and bring it to my mouth so I can open it with my teeth.
“What… What are you doing?” he asks, starting to struggle and looking all kindsa nervous.
“Number one rule in marketing is to always know what you're selling.” Tipping the pills onto the nightstand, I take one and hold it up between my thumb and finger in front of him.“I’mma have you try a couple of these out for me.” I give him no time to argue before I force it inside his mouth, holding my hand over his airways so he has no choice but to swallow. He tries to resist, but I’m too strong, and he has to make the choice between suffocating or swallowing.
“That's a good boy. First one down.” I take a glance across at the rest of 'em.
“Man, how many are you gonna give me? I’ll be trippin’”
“That’s the idea, ain’t it? To have a good time?” It’s my turn to shrug now, and I watch his skin turn paler as he realizes what shit he’s in.
“You should thank me; you’ll wanna betrippin’when my friend gets his hands on you.” I laugh to myself as I pick up another pill.
“You can’t…how can I give you information if I’m buzzed?” He tries climbing up the bed, but I hold him steady.
“Maybe that’s the waytoget the information.” I slide my hand up to his jaw and press his cheeks together to purse his mouth, and the pussy shakes his head defiantly. “Please…Please don’t,” he begs, and I laugh at him as I tease the pill against his lips.
“I’ll…I’ll…I’ll tell you.” He swallows thickly, and I laugh at how easy he was to break as I place the pill back down and wait to hear what he’s gotta say.
“The guy I answer to is called Randall; he lives in one of those bungalows on Church Avenue. He’s…He’s not from around here, and he’s dangerous. No one fucks with him.”
“We’ll see.” I release the kid now he’s served his purpose, standing up and tucking his stash into the back pocket of my jeans.
“Hey, where you taking that? I need everything accounted for, or Randall will–”
“You don’t need to worry about Randall no more, kid.” I start moving toward the door so I can report back to Byron, and when I see one of the club's cages turn into the parking lot, I’m impressed at how quickly they responded. Taint’s gonna be pissed that he doesn’t get to fuck up the kid’s day himself, but this sorry son of a bitch made it too fuckin’ easy. I hear the cage pull up outside with a screech, and when I see Taint get out and start charging across the parking lot toward me, he’s already breathing like a bull.
“Where’s he at?” he asks.
“Sorry to break it to ya, but he already ratted.” I see the frustration on Taint's face when he hears me. “I got a name and a location. I’m taking it to Prez now.”
“You interrogated him?” Taint questions me, looking ready to carve my throat out.
“Didn’t have to, I just threatened to force those pills he’s been selling down his throat.”
