Page 37 of Mex

Seriously.

“You might have what you need, but you have no idea how to locate any of these people? If you did, you wouldn’t have come after me,” I say, casually.

“Fine,” he gruffly agrees, “If I give you a call, then you give me the location of the people we’re lookin’ for.”

“Done,” I say, never once breaking our stare. “Get me a phone and some painkillers.”

Before he leaves, he looks down at me. “You should know that if I find out you have another burner phone, I’ll make you wish you didn’t.”

I grin up at him. “You found that, did you? Don’t worry, I don’t have one shoved up my ass or anything magical like that. Though, it’s not a bad idea.”

He just stares at me, his lip slightly curled, then he turns and leaves. We’re not in the secured room anymore, but we’re still at the clubhouse which is full of people. I’m not doing a runner easily, but that doesn’t mean I can’t get out of this place if I want to. Luckily for them, I don’t. Not yet, anyway. I feel weirdly safe here because I know Marek won’t find me. At least for now. I’m not going to give Mex the correct information, of course, but I’ll give him enough to get him closer. I will also warn Marek so he can strengthen his system.

Win, win.

Mex returns ten minutes later with a small, black flip phone and a bottle of water. He walks over, handing me the bottle, and then he opens his palm and presents two white pills. I look at them suspiciously, and he grunts. “It’s painkillers. If you don’t want them, then you can sit here in pain.”

I throw them into my mouth and swallow them down with the water. Then, I take the phone and glance up at him. “Privacy, please, or no information.”

His jaw tics. I love it when it does that. It makes him look so broody and sexy.

“Five minutes.”

He turns and walks out of the room, closing the door. I take a deep breath and pray that what I’m about to do works. I’m about to pretend to be my mother. A risky plan, sure, but I’ve done it before. Multiple times. My mother has a unique voice and a slight accent, but it is incredibly similar to mine. Deepening my voice a touch gives me an almost exact replica of hers and if I whisper, it’s even more like it. Hopefully enough to buy me some more time.

Either that, or it’ll kill me.

One way or the other, I don’t have much choice.

Taking a deep breath, I dial the one number I know by heart. Not because I want to, but because I have to. I am one of very few people in this world who know how to contact him directly.

Marek answers on the second ring.

“What?”

The strong, thick Russian accent has my skin crawling, but I close my eyes and in a whispered voice, I answer, “It is me, Marek.”

To me, it sounds believable. Adding the whisper only makes it slightly easier to pull off.

“Milou.”

One word, but it’s the one I wanted to hear. I nearly exhale in relief.

“I cannot speak for long,” I go on, my voice so low I wonder if he’ll actually be able to hear it. “I have a problem.”

“Speak.”

One word orders are what he does best.

“I’m underground. Dangerous people have found my location. I’m unable to find them. Until I do, I must remain hidden.”

Silence.

“Who?”

“I’m working on finding their names.”

“If you lie to me, Milou, I’ll slit your throat and drink the blood while I fuck your daughter.”

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