Page 89 of Trick or Treat

“Yes, what he said.” Preacher smiled over his shoulder.

Race pulled the door open, knowing the rest of them would follow. The inside was only marginally warmer than outside.

Trick immediately spotted Kurtis tied to a chair in the center of the room, his head hanging to his chest, apparently still knocked out. He was surprised he hadn’t woken up yet. “He’s been out the whole time?”

“No. He woke up as we were pulling up the drive, started getting sassy. Had to knock him out again.” Maverick shook his head in disgust.

Race grunted. He crossed his arms over his chest and ordered Jed to wake him up. Jed did as he was instructed. He filled a bucket full of water and threw at Kurtis. The man came awake with a start, sputtering and wild-eyed.

“What the fuck?” Seeing the group of men holding him hostage, it registered that he was in a shit ton of trouble. “Where am I and what are you going to do to me?”

“Well, as for where you are, you are a guest at Hotel Pain. As for what we’re going to do with you?” Race shrugged a shoulder. “It’s a toss-up. Trick here wants to tie you to a tree and let the feral hogs have at you and Preacher,” he tipped his head the other direction, “wants to send you to his friend in Mexico. He assures us that it wouldn’t be for a vacation. You have a preference?”

“What?” Kurtis’s strangled voice was music to Trick’s ears. He hoped he was out of his mind with fear just like he imagined those women he’d kidnapped had been.

Trick wanted nothing more than to end Kurtis Black’s life and get back to Lindsey. On the one hand, the longer he was away from her and unable to see her with his own eyes, the more agitated and angry he became. On the other hand, Kurtis did not need to get off easy. He needed to suffer and to see to that properly, it would take some time. Time he’d rather spend with Lindsey.

“We’ll come back to this in a minute. Right now we want some answers. You up to talking?” Race pretended to be a cordial host, but anyone who knew him knew the more polite he got, the harder it was going to go on you in the end. He nodded at Trick to begin.

Trick turned to a work bench behind him, pulled out a drawer and retrieved a revolver. He put one bullet in it and spun the cylinder. “Round and round she goes, where she stops, nobody knows.”

“I imagine you expect me to ask why you took Lindsey but I already know it’s because you either think you’re in love with her or you want what you can’t have. Either way, it makes no fucking difference to me. I’ve got her and she’s not going anywhere. The only cock she’s going to have for the rest of her life is mine.” He patted him roughly on the cheek. Kurtis didn’t like it and tried to pull away from Trick’s touch.

“Now. For the questions. Where were you going to take these women when you left Redemption? Oh, and keep in mind, your cooperation isn’t up for debate.” He took a step back. “Now answer the question.”

Kurtis scowled at Trick, his lips compressing, clearly not convinced of Trick’s determination.

“Ten seconds.” He counted out five seconds. “Nothing? No?” Trick put the barrel of the gun against Kurtis’s leg and pulled the trigger.Click.

Nothing happened.Kurtis released a ragged breath on a whoosh. Trick spun the cylinder again, changing the odds of the bullet being next in the chamber.

“Answer me.” Trick stuck the gun to his leg again and squeezed it two times.Click. Click.

“What the fuck, man?” Kurtis finally started to show signs of being nervous. It was finally sinking in that his life really was in the balance.

“Where were you taking these women?!” Preacher shouted and backhanded Kurtis. His head snapped to the side and his lip split.

“Who the fuck are you?” Kurtis asked.

“I’m the one that’s going to start peeling your skin from your body while you watch if you don’t start talking.” Preacher squeezed Kurtis’s jaw, shaking it a couple of times before stepping back.

“Trick.” Preacher nodded his head, indicating he should put the gun to his leg again.

Trick held the gun tight against his leg. “You know, shooting your leg this close, I have a really good chance of shattering the bone.” He pulled the trigger three times, earning a panicked scream from Kurtis. Three times he pulled the trigger and three times, no bullet. “Damn. What’re the odds? I know I put a bullet in here.” He opened the cylinder and showed Kurtis. “There it is!” He slammed it closed and spun the cylinder again, his eyes going wide and laughing, like he was enjoying the game. “Maybe this time, huh?”

“Okay. Okay. I was taking the women to Las Vegas. I pass them off to a woman who cleans them up and makes them presentable before sending them off to their buyers with new identities.”

“Then what?” Preacher asked, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Then she calls the buyers and they come and get them.” Despite the cold temperature, sweat beaded on his brow.

“Where are the buyers from?”

“All over.”

“All over the United States?” Trick asked, already knowing the answer.

“All over the world.”

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