Page 70 of The Skeikh's Games

“So,” Miles tried again, “you still never answered me.”

“We have a silent partner that’s invested a substantial amount in our growing upstart. We’re going to speak with him about his investment and repay him for his trust in us. He’ll be pleased to see us.”

Miles looked out the window, and bite the meat of his thumb in frustration. They drove for what must’ve been a dozen blocks before Boss spoke again.

“Miles, you really seem out of sorts. Are you still wanting out of our little agreement?”

“Yes,” Miles said quickly. Possibly a little too quickly. If he could get Boss to threaten him or Saundra again, that would be just as good.

Boss gave a slow exhale. “Tell you what, since you don’t seem to be feeling well, how about I drop you off at home? I can handle the investment meeting alone. I’ll pick you up tomorrow, and we’ll do one last job. Do that for me, and we’ll call it even, and your debt to me will be forgiven.”

Debt? That’s what he was calling it now? Miles didn’t owe him a damn thing! Still, this could work. “All right, what’s the job?”

“I have some goods coming in from… out of town. I just need you to stand there and look pretty. It’s important for my partners to put faces to their contacts. Can you do that for me?”

It wasn’t anything terrible like Miles was hoping for, but hell, if Boss really was going to let him out of this just that easy, he’d be a fool not to take it.

After getting the info for the meetup, Boss dropped him off at the bar where his bike was parked. For the first time in a while, Miles was feeling hopeful.

The next day he arrived at the warehouse location. The police were already setup all around him. The idea was to get Boss’s confession on tape. That didn’t work, but the next best thing was to catch him in the act of buying some illegal goods, which was what they assumed this was. All Miles had to do was play it cool, and when they had him in the act, the police would rush in and take care of business.

Miles nervously walked into the space. It was cold, and empty. Water dripped somewhere, splashing into a shallow puddle and echoing in the harsh space filled with nothing but gray, sharp lines.

In the middle of the room, amidst the empty shelves and broken crates, was a chair. On that chair sat a phone. It rang. Miles gave one last cursory glance around and went to the phone and answered it. On the other end was a long, deep sigh.

“Miles, buddy, I warned you,” Boss said. In the background, Miles could hear a muffled voice, feminine and afraid.

“Please,” Miles begged. “I’m sorry.”

“Oh, we’re way past sorry. If you want to see her again, alive, and in a single piece, you better book it to the address I’m texting you. Come alone. If I see one little piggie piggie, I got off her hand one finger at a time.”

The call ended, and Miles sprinted from the warehouse. The cop in his earpiece tried to talk to him, but Miles dug the piece of technology from his ear and threw it away. As he hopped onto his bike, a few cops came out of the woodwork to try and stop him.

The motorcycle roared to life with a ferocity like what he was feeling inside, and the tire smoked as he peeled out. Like a bat out of hell, Miles weaved through traffic toward the address Boss had given him. There were no cops to pursue him.

The address was an empty office building. When Miles pulled up, two guys with guns grabbed him.

“Any cops?”

“Do you see any?”

They sneered at him, but pushed him into the office. There he found Boss, four other armed guys, and Saundra tied and gagged on a chair.

“Saundra, I’m so sorry.”

“Thanks for coming,” Boss said, smiling, looking as casually satisfied as a cat with a mouse. “I’m sure you’re wondering why I’ve asked you here today. You see, we’re downsizing. I appreciate your years of service, but I’m afraid we’re going to have to let you go.”

“Let her go,” Miles said. “You have me, okay? Just let her go.”

“Oh, buddy, no. That’s not how this works. You both know far too much. I have to kill you both. But remember, this is all your fault. If you’d just done what you were told instead of trying to get clever…”

Boss came around behind Saundra and placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Will you let me say goodbye, at least?” Miles asked desperately.

“Here she is,” Boss said softly beside her and held up a pistol. “You’ve got ten seconds.”

“Saundra,” Miles said, taking a step forward, but one of the men grabbed him and held him back. “I’m so sorry…”

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