Page 115 of Menace

The younger one said something in a language that sounded like Spanish and the older nodded.

“This Pixie, is her husband Remy Boudreaux?”

I nodded, not bothering to answer.

“Do you know Lucky Boudreaux?” I couldn’t lie, but I had to, I knew I had to keep the lie as close to the truth as possible.

“I can’t say that I know him but we’ve met. He came to Cape Town for the wedding. He stayed at Dominick’s beach house with the family.”

“Who is this Dominick?” The younger one growled the question at me.

I almost rolled my eyes but stopped myself just in time. How had they not picked up on the surname?

“Dominick Maingarde is Pixie’s brother. They’ve been estranged for many years but aren’t anymore. He’s the head of the Maingarde family business. I do know he took over as the head of the Syndicate after he eliminated the Harrisons. But that’s all, I don’t know anything else.”

The atmosphere in the room went nuclear. Both men twisted to look at Tonio and he lifted his shoulders in a shrug. How the hell did this moron get to the position he held? Oh yes, because my father put him there.

“Who is your child’s father? And why would he allow you to come to the States without him?” Carlos asked. “Your brother claims the child is that of your fiancée, Claudio Pucci.”

In my head I was swearing at my stupid, stupid brother. He lied to these dangerous people to get them to help him kidnap me.

This was it. This was where I had to lie and lie so convincingly that they believed me. I couldn’t tell them Ry was Lucky’s because I had a suspicion it would mean the death of my son. I couldn’t claim that it was Rider’s because these bastards only bowed to power and my best friend didn’t have enough power to scare them off.

It only left one man. In my head I crossed my fingers and spun my lie mixed with truths.

“Claudio is nothing to me and definitely not my child’s father. I haven’t seen him in almost eighteen years. Asa Malone, the new head of the Irish Mafia is his father and he’s going to be furious if anything happens to his son. That’s why Brendan O’Connor came to Savannah with me. He’s our bodyguard and if he’s dead…” I slowly shook my head. “He’s from a powerful Irish family and they won’t let it go. They have connections here and will call for a blood feud.”

Carlos crossed his arms over his chest and glared at me.

At me. As if it was my fault they had been taken in by my brother’s lies.

“I have some calls to make to verify what you’ve told me. If I find you have lied…”

He didn’t finish his sentence, he left it up to my imagination as he turned away.

The guy with him erupted, angry words spewing from his mouth. I glanced at the stupid ass and saw he had no idea what was being said. Great, neither did I.

Carlos turned back to me a glint in his eyes I didn’t like. Not at all.

“While I make my calls my nephew, Pablo, will take you on a little tour of discovery. Try not to anger him by lying.”

With that he marched out the door calling out orders to someone outside the door. The next moment my brother was unceremoniously dragged from the room, protesting vehemently. For a second I revelled in it, that he was being manhandled but then my reality sneaked back in.

I looked up at the guy standing over me. He scared me because he was just blank, like his body was an empty shell. I knew it wasn’t true because there had been some emotion in his voice when he had spoken to Carlos.

“You had better give me what I want, puta(whore), or you’re going to hurt.” His glance went up and down my body before he looked back at my face.

He smiled and my blood turned to ice.

With a jerk of his head he beckoned two men into the room. They were nothing like him. They were bikers, with kuttes, jingling wallet chains and biker boots and wild beards and hair. They looked and smelt dirty, their grins were filled with evil when they looked at me.

“Look at the pretty little mama.” One said, his eyes like lasers on my boobs. I wanted to cover myself up but I resisted the impulse.

“Soon I’m goin’ to shove my dick in you, stretching you so wide it’ll make that man of yours not wantin’ your broken cunt.” The other licked his thick lips and winked at me.

I shuddered in disgust and fear.

“You will not touch her until I give you permission to do so.” Pablo said in a cold and emotionless voice and the two instantly backed down.

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