Page 25 of Slayer

They both nod and mutter words of apology.

“You can stop behind and help Nico clean up.”

They nod obediently. If they aren't devoted to me by now, a little time with Nico will convince them. There is something about hearing torture methods from a teen in broken English that really hits the spot.

“You.” I point at the lurker next. He's paid to keep a quiet eye on things, but he's been keeping too quiet. “I don't pay you to do fuck all. I pay you for information. If I don't get any, then why the fuck do I need you?”

“Sorry, boss. I didn't mean nothing by it. Just didn’t want to bother you with trivial information.”

“You don't decide if it's trivial, I do.” My gun rests against his forehead. “Or I won't be needing your services anymore.”

“Yes, Sir. I swear it.” He quivers in his boots. However pathetic and insignificant his life is, he's still pretty keen to live it.

“And you two.” I turn to Derik and Roger. I think that's what their names were, but they are too far down the food chain for me to care. “Stealing my money like I don't pay you well enough. You want to earn more, you work more. You work harder, you work better. Taking money from me is like taking money from the whole family.” I look up at everyone standing around. All the guys that Caeo questioned and found nothing on. All the guys who need reminding what loyalty is. “We're a family. We all work to earn what we deserve. I wasn't born with this family because of who my dad is, I worked to build this from the ground up. This only works if we all work.”

Nods and umhums of agreement follow quickly from around the room.

“Good. Because you all know what happens if you don't.” My gun goes off in Roger's dick. By the time I turn my gun on Derik, he's moving, and the bullet enters his thigh.

“You have about three minutes to convince me you're worth saving.” They're not, and I wouldn't anyway, I just like hearing dying men beg.

There is nothing like witnessing a murder to bring the family together. By witnessing this, I'm showing them my trust. And by keeping quiet, they are showing me their loyalty.

Roger sags, his words failing him as reality sinks in that I'm not saving him no matter what he says. He stole from me, and this is the price.

Derik starts dragging himself across the floor; escape is impossible, but he has nothing left to lose. Except one last pint of blood. I'm fascinated by the end of life. Men who walked into this room as healthy, happy individuals are accepting the fact they will die in front of all these people. Some become calm, like Roger, accepting the enviable, while others fight to the bitter end, clawing at life with everything they have. I'm determined to be the latter, but I have more respect for the bravery of the former. Roger's death is far more peaceful and dignified than Derik's.

Derik's blood streaks the floor for the distance of two metres before he's too weak. The pair collapse, hopeless defeat on their faces. I don't look away until the life leaves their eyes.

I'm no closer to solving my Tiffany problem but it feels like closure just on a smaller scale.

“This is the only warning anyone gets.” Time to go home and fuck my boy. Everything else can wait.

Nico will take care of the bodies and the blood. Those two men will never be found, and never be missed, but a message has been sent today.

I stop in the warehouse office and check in the mirror. The last thing I need is to go home with blood on me. Porter doesn't seem the blood loving type. Which is a shame as I'd love to spill a little of his.

My driver takes me home, and my grin doesn't falter for a moment. Death makes me horny, and for the first time in my life, I have someone special to go home to. He doesn't know it yet, but he will soon.

I've never had a reason to feel excited about going home, but knowing he is there really lifts my heart.

The bodyguards on the front step nod at me and open the door.

“Did you see the boy?”

“No Sir.” Herbert nods.

That means Porter didn't try to leave via the front door. He's either good or sneaky.

My journey to finding Porter first takes me to the kitchen where Gladys informs me that she saw Porter this afternoon, but he didn't go near the back door, or the biscuit barrel. And she hadn’t seen him since she returned to start dinner. To check the patio doors in the living room, I need to watch the CCTV. It only records when someone moves in the room, so I've only got five seconds of Porter entering the room, looking around and then leaving.

After checking the main rooms downstairs, I head up assuming he returned to the room after his tour. When I find the room empty, my heart rate doubles.

Shit. It could take hours to find him in this house. If he doesn't want to be found, he could be hiding anywhere. I gave him too much freedom too soon, but I want him to agree to stay here at the end of the weekend and it isn't all about fucking him into submission. I hurry around the top floor looking in all the open bedrooms. I don't think he's up here, but I need to check everywhere. I'm more hopeful when I look in the swimming pool but nothing. However, I can tell he has been in this room by the trunks floating in the water. Seems my treasure likes to swim in the nude.

With nowhere left to look, I head to the one room I've not been in for ten years.

Of all the rooms in the house, I should have known Porter would be in this one. I can’t be mad. I’m the one who told him he had free range, but my emotions get the best of me, and I shout at him without thinking.

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