Page 50 of Poisoned Pawn

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN

ROXY

“Rox…”

Relief at hearing her voice floods me. “Has he hurt you? Did he…? The words stick in my throat as I think about what that bastard has done to her.

“Did I hurt you, princess?”he whispers, but it’s loud enough or he’s close enough to her for me to hear. The fucker meant for me to hear. Just like when he said he fucked her into oblivion. My eyes meet Maddox’s, and the fury in his eyes matches my own. He heard it too. I feel Zak behind me just as Star answers.

“No, he didn’t hurt me.” Her words sound sure, and I struggle to decipher a lie if there is one.

“Uh-uh, stay right fucking there.”

Zak places his hand on my hip at the perfect time because I’m about to lose my fucking shit. His touch calms me enough to focus, and I ask her where she is. Star deflects and I knew it was a long shot. He’s listening and watching her every move. I reassure her we are all fine and am just promising her we will find her when his voice comes down the line again.

“Okay, time’s up. Koda, find him,” he says, then the line goes dead.

I almost throw the phone, but Zak’s hand on mine stops me.

“Not a good idea, Rox,” he says, taking it from me.

“Here’s an idea,” I snap, grasping hold of Koda’s hair and yanking his head back. “Where the fuck is he?”

“I don’t fucking know. He already told you that,” he grits out between clenched teeth as my hold on his hair tightens.

“And I’m supposed to just believe you?”

“It’s the truth. Carter—”

“That’s not his real name though, is it? Who is he? Who is the real Carter Beckett? And don’t fuckin’ lie to me.”

“How the fuck should I know! I work on the dark web. Do you honestly think my real name is Koda? Give me a fucking break.”

I push his head forward as I release his hair, and he almost face plants the desk. Al-fucking-most! I turn away from him, sucking in a breath that does nothing to calm me.

Maddox moves into the space I vacate. “Can you find out?”

I don’t hear a response, and when I turn around, Koda is staring Mad out. The guy has balls I’ll give him that.

“I don’t like to ask twice, and I certainly won’t ask again. Can you find out?”

“I… Come on, man, he’s my friend. He’ll fucking kill me.”

“And you think I won’t?” Maddox asks, raising a brow.

“Don’t worry about him coming after you, Koda, because when I get my fucking hands on him—”

“I’ve got him,” Zak says, cutting me off and snaring our attention and giving Koda a small reprieve. “And I have an idea where they are.”

Koda’s shoulders relax now he thinks he’s been let off the hook.

I stride back to the desk, both hands slamming down on it as I lean down level with his eyes. “You are not off the hook, not by a long fucking shot. Find me a name for whoever posted that bounty.” I move to turn away, then pause and look back at him. Maddox slaps a hand on his shoulder at the same time.

“Oh, and, Koda, you’ve got twenty-four hours to deliver, or I’ll be hitting control, alt, delete on your life.” Footsteps on the stairs draw my attention, and I look up to see a familiar face—two familiar faces. “And because I’m not a complete bitch, this here is Jay, and he’s going to give you helping hand while babysitting you.”

Rick and the guys share a greeting nod as I walk toward him and Jay. I give Rick a hug.

“Thank you,” I say, feeling bad for getting him involved given everything he has going on at the moment.

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