Page 47 of Murder & Mayhem

Figures. “Well, you should have, ‘cause it’s in your territory.”

“What’s your plan?” Oliver pipes up, sensing the protest on Cain’s lips.

Flicking my gaze up to the rearview mirror, I find him watching me. “I’ve told the girls to leave a door around the back of the building ajar and to set a room aside for us. When these guys show up for their regular session, they’ll be directed to the room.” The wicked gleam in my eye and grin curling around my lips probably borders on barbaric, butfuck, I love when I get to exact some justice. “And then the fun begins.”

Tonight will be the first time either Oliver or Cain has seen this side of me. Oliver caught a glimpse of it before, but he’s never gotten a good, up-close look. If tonight doesn’t make them realize I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself, I don’t know what will.

“So, we shoot them,” Cain states, sounding unimpressed.

“No.” The word cracks off the end of my tongue like a whip. “That’s too merciful. What these sickos have done to those girls…” I shake my head. There’s absolutely no way I’m letting them die that easily. “They deserve to get a taste of their own medicine before I send them careening into the burning pits of hell.”

He cocks one of his brows, and I can’t tell if he’s taken aback by the vehemence in my voice or surprised at my insistence to exact justice. Eventually, he gives me a nod of acceptance, and I get the distinct impression it’s more than just him agreeing to my plan. More like, he’s agreeing to defer to my orders on this job; to step back and letmetake control. Good, because I have no intention of letting him run the show.

When we reach Nasty Nelly’s, Oliver parks on the street outside, and all three of us head around back, finding the fire exit door propped open as planned. Peering inside, I find the room opposite us empty, the door lying open in invitation. One I accept as I head toward it, the guys on my heels.

Cain closes the door behind him as I look around the small room. The only furniture is a large, king-size bed. I guess in a brothel, that’s all you really need. I had asked the girls to leave me some sex toys and BDSM equipment, which I find neatly laid out on a cart in the corner of the room. Excitement courses through me as I take in the assortment of dildos, whips, nipple clamps, anal beads, gags, and blindfolds. Literally everything a girl could dream of to guarantee herself a good time.

Turning my back on the cart of goodies, I spot a floor-to-ceiling mirror on the wall, facing the bed, and walk over to it, running my fingers through my long, straightened hair to try and add some fluff to it. I had to ride Raven over to the clubhouse, and my helmet squashed any initial volume I had after my shower.

Puckering my lips, I pull a tube of the bright red lipstick from my pocket, adding a fresh layer before fixing my tits in my bralette, ensuring they look as busty as they can.

“What the fuck are you doing?” Cain growls, the two of them having watched me freshen up.

Pocketing the lipstick, I shrug out of my leather jacket and shoulder holster and turn to face him. “I want to lure them in with a false sense of safety before making them scream in pain,” I tell him sweetly.

His eyes narrow in anger as they roam over me, taking in the complete outfit without the leather jacket. It’s revealing and sexy as hell. “Eh, no, I don’t fucking think so.”

I roll my eyes at his obstinance as I stuff my jacket and gun in the corner of the room where they won’t immediately be spotted. When I’m done, I turn to face him, my expression all business. “Just hide, and don’t say anything or make a move until I tell you to.”

Because Oliver knows how to follow orders, he immediately moves into action. Still, because he’s also an asshole, he makes sure to walk right past me, stroking his fingers along my lower back as he goes and making goosebumps rise along my skin. “You’re so fucking sexy when you take charge and boss him around,” he murmurs low enough that Cain doesn’t hear before crouching behind the bed. He’s not terribly well hidden, but it’s good enough.

When Cain doesn’t do as he’s told, I quirk a brow at him and point toward the spot behind the door. With one final glower, he stomps toward the corner of the room. Again, it’s a shitty hiding place, especially with Cain’s broad frame, but it will do.

“If they so much as lay a finger on you,” he growls, his voice a low threat.

When he turns to spear me with his glare, I roll my eyes at his alpha-dominant bullshit, but inside, my stomach goes pathetically gooey over that statement.

Before he can complain any more, we hear voices out in the hall, and I quickly move to stand in front of the door, by the far wall, so the boys will notice me as soon as they walk in—instead of scanning the room and spotting the two lumbering men hiding in the corners.

A second later, the handle turns, and three men who look like they are in their early twenties and scream of money and entitled arrogance, step into the room. I can sense the danger and violence coming off them the second they cross the threshold. It’s in their cold gazes and the cruel slash of their lips, in the assertive set of their shoulders and the unfaltering stride of each step further into the room, until all three of them are standing in a line in front of me.

The one on the left emits a low whistle as his eyes drink me in. “Fuck yes, you’re going to look so good covered in bruises and screaming for us to stop.”

I simply stand there and eye each of them up, ignoring his disgusting words as I analyze them for weaknesses. They’re all built like football players, only confirming that I made the right choice by bringing Cain and Oliver with me for backup. One I could handle, but not all three at once.

“Don’t tell me you’re a mute doll,” the black-haired guy in the middle sneers, seeming unimpressed by my lack of response—or perhaps it’s because I’m not showing the appropriate amount of fear. “Aren’t red-heads supposed to be feisty?”

He doesn’t give me a chance to respond before his hand whips out and his fingers wrap around my throat, driving me backward against the wall. I hit it with a solid thump, and my eyes narrow on him, my teeth gritted as I struggle to hold back the vile, angry words threatening to spew out of me.

“Maybe you just need us to rile you up first. Get your blood pumping and make you realize just how scared you should be.”

I meet his cold, callous stare with a brazen one of my own. “Or maybe I’m just not afraid of you.”

He’s initially taken aback by my defiance, but it quickly morphs into a disgusting leer as excitement flashes in his eyes. Yeah, that’s exactly what he wanted… Someone defiant that he can spend the night breaking.

I haven’t given them any signals, but it seems the two assholes I brought with me have decided they’ve had enough of watching this shithead’s hands around my throat. They both step out from their hiding places, immediately catching the boys’ attention.

“What the fuck is this?“ one of them demands, readying himself for a fight as his arms come up in a defensive move, and he turns slightly so he can face off against Cain—Ha, good luck to him with that fight.

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