Page 71 of Sapphire's Gem
I knew what I was asking. It was a lot. As near death as Wylde was reported to be, it would drain Stitch. She’d lock onto his life force first and stabilise him. Once she had Wylde steady, she’d heal Cassidy to the point he could hold his own. Then she’d work on Wylde. While Stitch healed Cassidy, Wylde would be tethered to her own life force. It was dangerous for her. If he were circling the drain, he’d quickly leech her strength and weaken her.
Stitch would only ever heal a sister in circumstances like this or someone who’d paid a fortune for her services. And I do mean a fortune. This would put Stitch on her back for at least a week while she recovered, and I would ensure she was paid for her recovery. Stitch shook her head, reading my mind, and I didn’t argue. I’d move the money into her account later today.
I rarely spent anything, so I had my own personal fortune sitting in a bank gathering interest. Fortune also played with my money, doubling and tripling it, just as she did with everyone else. I could easily pay Stitch and not notice a dip. Even though she was my sister, she was still providing a service. Wylde wasn’t my man. I hadn’t claimed him. But Stitch was stepping up and not asking questions.
I watched through the glass windows as they entered the waiting room and took two seats at the rear. Hatton’s head twisted, and he stared straight at them. Stitch closed her eyes, and I knew she was searching for Cassidy and Wylde.
Strangely, Hatton’s eyes flicked to the clock and then back to Stitch. His shoulders sagged a little, and I swear some tension left his body.
I wanted to stay and watch; Hatton had captured my curiosity, but Belladonna stole my attention.
“We have a lead.”
“Let’s hit the bikes,” I ordered. A prospect had brought mine to the hospital. I glanced over my shoulder one last time before heading out.
???
“You shot two cops,” I hissed as I swung a heavy pipe into my palm.
“They’re cops, why are you bothered?” the gang member hissed at me. I’d nicknamed him Idiot because he was. I wasn’t interested in his name at all.
“Because if anyone takes a cop’s life, it’s us. What fuckin’ right do you think you have to walk into my city and shoot people under my protection?”
“Your protection?” Idiot sneered. “You’re a bunch of pussies. None of you holds power.”
I laughed. “Then why the fuck are you and your two little buddies here having been hunted and captured by a bunch of pussies?”
“Bitch, you really think we’re frightened of you?”
Slowly, I allowed a smile to cross my face. “Dagger.”
Dagger stepped up, and I settled in to listen to Idiot scream. His two friends watched in horror.
An hour and a half later, Dagger ended her torture. Idiot was left a mess of torn and battered human flesh. I walked up to him, held their eyes, raised my weapon, and shot Idiot straight through the middle of his forehead.
Then, with blood splattered on my face, I turned to the others.
“Start talking.”
They did.
Chapter Fifteen.
Hatton
Well, I guess the Royal Harlots found the last three men who’d escaped. One was hardly recognisable as human, a beaten, bloody pulp, with a bullet in his head. The area was roped off as a murder scene, but I knew the Royal Harlots were behind it. A cardboard sign was attached to the dead victim. ‘For the cop’ was written on it.
The other two were battered but alive. A note was attached to one of them. It simply read, ‘Not all things are set in stone, Hatton.’ It was a message from Sapphire to me. She’d told me she didn’t always do what was expected of her.
“Who did this?” I asked one of the living ones.
He looked freaked and terrified as he replied. “I don’t know. They wore masks.”
“Were they women?” My question scared the bejeezus out of him as he clammed up and sweat dripped down his forehead.
“I don’t know,” he stammered. He did know. I could see it in his face, but he couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me.
“Take them away. Make sure the book does everything,” I ordered. Conversations rose around me
