Page 30 of Mad Max

I’m just not sure how much I want to or should tell them.

I follow Mad Max to the back and then don’t question things as I’m led down some stairs. We’re in Kansas, after all—basements are the number one thing required since The Wizard of Oz came out. Of course, most are brightly lit and seem almost homey. The room I’m led into is a far cry from comfort. I think the prison cell my uncle is in would be considered a five-star hotel compared to this place.

I get what they’re trying to do: intimidate. With any other person, I’m sure it would work. But I’m not coming in with emotions. I have no fear of the situation. If I die, I die. That’s life. Jimmy would be pissed, and I guess I would be a bit angry, too, since I left the puzzle unsolved in regard to Candy. But there are six of them and only one of me. Even if I do start throwing my knives, someone is bound to get a shot off before I take everyone else out. I might be able to take down three, maybe four, but that’s pushing it.

I walk to the only chair in the room, in the middle by a drain. I glance at the red stain around it and then look up to confirm my suspicions as I see chains hanging low. I sit and put my shoes on. No one has taken them from me, and while my feet might ache, I’d rather deal with the pain than step in someone’s blood.

“So… you going to talk first, or do you want me to? And if you want me to, do you have a particular question or just a general thing?”

I look around the room, but no one is speaking up and most have their arms crossed. I recognize Law, plus everyone from the vet’s place except for Domino. Also helps that almost everyone but the beast has a vest on now. He hasn’t really been given a potty break since we got here, much less a wardrobe change. The last two I remember from the party.

“Flint, Bulldog, nice to see both of you again. How’s Izzy?”

All I get is a grunt. Wonder if he’s upset that I didn’t call her Lady. Why else would he be so hostile?

“I’m hostile because you’re a threat who knows my woman, and I won’t let a goddamn thing happen to her. So start talking or don’t. Either way, you ain’t walking out of here alive to speak to her again.”

I move my head back like I smell something foul. “Seems a bit extreme.” I’m not surprised I spoke out loud earlier and not in my head. I have a habit of doing it, so I just accept that part of myself.

“Depends. From the way we see it, you’re a girl with connections to the underground. You got bored and thought buying people to make some extra cash seemed like a good idea. Figured no one would be on to you with the innocent act you portray and your uncle’s reputation keeping others at bay. How am I doing?”

Law is looking at his nails, picking at them with his knife. It’s nothing special, but it’s got me itching to bring out the ones I still have on under my belt. I want to compare who can clean their nails better. I sort of have a competitive side that I don’t let out much.

“I guess from your point of view, I’d say you’re doing okay.”

He raises his eyebrow, and I just shrug. “It’s not the truth, but I don’t know if that’s what you want to hear. He at least doesn’t.” I point to Bulldog as I speak. “He’d be happy to just slit my throat and call it a day. But if he did that, he might miss an opportunity.”

“And what’s the opportunity?” Casper speaks for the group.

I notice Mad Max is just leaning against the wall to my right. He’s the only one close to me, but I don’t think he’s taking my side. Probably just there in case I do something stupid, like try to run. Even if I did manage to evade the six men in the room, I didn’t miss that the bar we walked through was pretty full. Nor the other brothers just relaxing outside, smoking. Nah, I’m not stupid—even got the certification about how not stupid I am. I might not be smart in the social cues department, but everything else I get.

“To save more than one life, obviously.”

“And that’s what you were doing? Saving people?” Mad Max growls, but it’s only deep because of how he talks. I don’t feel any animosity coming off him, just a general curiosity of why I was there.

“I was. I was hoping I could make it look like I represented a few big spenders. Do a few small deals and then try to become an investor who he trusted so I could pick and choose. Figured it was the only way to see how many girls or guys he really has.”

“Flint?” Law looks to the man the others say is good with tech. No clue how good, but I bet I’m about to find out.

“Cheyanne Travis is a certified genius. Parents pushed her at a young age to excel, keeping her from social interaction for most of her formative years. Both died when she was fourteen, and her sole guardianship went to Jimmy Travis. He allowed her to continue in school, but by then she was on her second master’s degree.” Kooper whistles at that, but the others remain stoic. “Three years ago, she went and got a job doing polygraphs for anyone who calls. Mostly cheating spouses and the like. No red flags popping, but that in itself is the flag. No one can be this clean with ties to an uncle who was deep in the CIA, especially one who was made into a scapegoat for the agency when his handler went south. Wouldn’t be too hard for her to stumble into what he was doing and just continue the family business. Hell, who’s to say her uncle is the innocent one he claims to be? Maybe he was the one raping girls he planned to sell and has been using his niece as his ‘investor,’ as she claims.”

“You got it all wrong.”

“Which part?” Flint snorts, like he doesn’t for one second think I’m half as smart as him.

“First, it was my second PhD, not master’s. And my uncle would never do that to any person, no matter how much they pissed him off. He taught me young that emotions just get in the way. Raping a person is nothing more than emotion overrun. Plus, he likes shooting people in the head more than touching anyone. If you don’t believe me, ask him.”

I nod to the beast, and he waits a beat before nodding in return.

“It’s a phobia, I think,” I continue. “Never really dove in to find out. The guy might have raised me since I was fourteen, but he was never home. And when we did see each other, I can’t think of a single time he touched me, even a hug or a handshake. Not even at my parents’ funeral.”

I take a deep breath and decide to just get this over with, like ripping off a dirty Band-Aid. One swipe and deal with the pain after.

“Also, I didn’t contact anyone. I was contacted. I might not have been involved in anything my uncle did, but I do monitor his stuff just in case he needs something. He’s the only family I’ve got. Even if he never showed me any kind of warmth, he made me feel like a person and not just a brain to be used to get money, like my parents. They contacted me and told me a girl named Candy was missing. I don’t know why I decided to help, but I did. Jimmy gave me a name, and that guy gave me a street. I found the location Duke was using as a front for his operation and made a move. Tonight was our first meeting.”

Law grabs a chair I didn’t see from one of the dark corners of the room and places it in front of me before sitting in it. “If that’s the truth, you won’t mind some follow-up questions.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” I chuckle, but no one gets my joke, so I just roll my eyes at the boring crowd. But by doing that, I get a sight of Mad Max smirking.

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