Page 34 of Sniper

“You for real?” T-Bone sent a skeptical look my way, his lips tugged into a lopsided grin.

“Yeah. I want information, more than I want him dead. Right now, anyway.” I still wanted the fucker dead, but I was amaster at taking orders. Some training is hard to break, and I wanted to get answersbeforeI killed him.

Once we arrived at the garage, we pulled directly into the vacant bay and shut it behind us. I jumped out and unlocked the back so the guys could exit before moving the shelving units that covered the hidden door that led to the cellar underneath Steel City Motors. We didn’t use it often because we didn’t have to, but situations like this one with Roach called for privacy—and soundproofing.

T-Bone and Gio dragged him down the narrow cement staircase while the rest of us followed. Minutes later, Diesel, Rocky, and the other guys arrived while we strapped Roach to a chair.

Maverick held the smelling salts under the fucker’s nose until he abruptly woke up. “You’re not dead. Yet.” He stepped back, arms crossed, and stared at the man we hoped had some answers.

Roach startled and shook his head, blinked rapidly to get his bearings. He looked up and then took in each of us who surrounded him with a slow smile that spread across his face. “I’m the guest of honor. How sweet.” The sarcasm in his voice set my teeth on edge. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Rocky stepped forward, the more jovial between him and Diesel, and smiled. “We just have a few questions.”

Roach shook his head. “Yeah, see, I don’t do so well with tests.” He let out a huff of laughter, its purpose was to show us that he wasn’t worried, but I watched the asshole closely and I saw the tension in his face and the way his pulse raced in his throat.

“Then this will be a really short quiz.” I stepped forward, crowding him to the point he had to look up at me. “Ethan. You know him?”

He nodded easily enough because the answer wasn’t worth the body damage.

“He’s the one who hired you to take me out?”

Roach nodded again and let out a laugh. “Should’ve known lettin’ the newbies prove themselves would bite us in the ass.” He shook his head. “Got beef with you fucks and no cash for our troubles.” He was far too fucking amused by all of this.

That pissed me off more than anything. “Where did the money come from?” That was the burning question, and it felt as if the answer to that was the key to everything.

“Fuck if I know,” he growled. “As long as it’s green and it spends, I don’t give a fuck where it came from.”

Diesel nodded his understanding. “Right, but you had some kind of assurance that he could pay you. Or were you just taking some fucker you don’t know at his word?” He laughed, goading Roach by poking his ego.

“Smoky said his money was good, and that was good enough for me.” He looked away and I pounced on that one move.

“Was it good enough for you? Because it seems like even now you have doubts.”

Roach shrugged. “No money down means we’re gonna get fucked and have to outrun a body, feel me?” Something like rage built in his eyes. “And that’s all I have to say.”

That’s what he thought. “Once I was dead, then what?”

“Then we’d get paid, and life would be good.”

“Bullshit.” I managed to push the word past my clenched teeth. “This was just a one-time job?”

“Yeah. One time. That’s it.” It was another lie.

“Okay, let’s do it your way.” I pulled out my gun and shoved it between his lips and his teeth until the whole damn barrel rested on his tongue. “What was the plan after you killed me?”

“To have your club whores blow me on your grave.” He laughed like it was the funniest shit ever.

I pulled my gun out and holstered it, pulling the nine-inch blade from its sheath on my left side.

Roach howled. “Don’t put a gun in a man’s mouth if you’re too much of a pussy to pull the trigger.”

The monster in me welled up to the surface, and I felt the crazed look spread my lips into a malicious grin. “Whether or not I pull the trigger depends on what intel you have for me. This,” I held up the knife. “This is for fun.” I grabbed his ear and slid the blade from top to bottom until the damn thing was clenched between my thumb and forefinger. I smiled at his cries of pain. “What was the plan?” I asked over his pussy ass whining.

“You sliced off my ear, you crazy fuck!”

That one act had satisfied some of my bloodlust. “That’s not the answer I’m looking for.”

“That fucker is crazy,” he answered breathlessly. “He’s obsessed with that bitch who ran from him. She must have whiskey-flavored tits, or somethin’, the way he went on.”

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