Page 183 of Never Die for a Sinner
Smokey grunts in response, pacing around underneath Dale like he’s a hanging filet mignon.
“That’s a-that’s—”
“A bear,” Christian finishes for him. “In case you couldn’t tell.”
I kneel back down in front of Dale, taking his chin in my hand and squeezing until he stops spinning. He sputters, struggling to breathe from the angle he’s been dangling at for the last ten minutes.
“Now tell me, Dave—”
“His name’s Dan.”
“Oh, right,” I smirk. “Doug . . .”
“Fuck you!You aren’t going to feed me to a fucking bear.”
“Well, that depends. We’re going to play a game of Russian Roulet . . . only with a bear. You tell me the truth, and I don’t shoot. You lie, this revolver has one shot, and I’m going to point it directly at the line holding you over Smokey’s pit. Whether you fall in and become a chew toy is up to you.”
“You’re a sick fucking bastard, you know that?”
I shrug.
“Funnily enough, that’s what my girl says you are.” I grin at him, a genuine toothy grin so he can see how fucked he is. “Shall we begin?”
“Help!” he screeches the moment I stand and walk back a few feet out of the clearing. “Somebody help me! He’s going to kill me.”
I almost roll my eyes. We’re at least ten miles from any civilization. No one’s coming to save Dale.
“Smokey’s pretty hungry, Dale.”
“And pissed off,” Christian murmurs, joining me with an amused look in his eye. “You see, Smokey can’t hibernate, Dale. Not like the rest of them.”
“Which makes him a very angry boy.” Smokey huffs in response.
“Shut the fuck up and let me down from here!”
“Alright, Dale. Question one. What were you going to do to my girl when you caught her?”
“Fuck you!”
I’m so sick of this fucking guy.
I raise the gun, point it directly at the only rope stopping him from being Smokey shit, and pull the trigger.
Blank.
Honestly, I’m glad. The fun continues.
“I was hired to follow her!”
My grip tightens on the gun, and I have half a mind to shoot him where he hangs.
That wouldn’t be nearly as painful, though.
“Very good. You’re learning.”
“Please,” he whimpers. “Don’t do this—”
“Question two. Who hired you to follow her?”
