Page 147 of The Savior

CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE

Pham turned from the casual conversation with his driver to Liam. “You would be happy to know other than the initial interaction, your woman had been treated well.”

Liam bit back his reaction. The asshole wanted him to hurt, not Chelsea. “I don’t know who you’re talking about.”

The silence hung in the air until Pham broke it. “Do you know why we meet again?”

Liam’s nostrils flared but he kept his rage contained.

“You’re responsible for my daughter’s death. Quy Long was an innocent casualty to your wars.”

“Quy Long wasn’t innocent,” Liam snapped.

Pham opened his suit jacket, pulled out a thin black container, selected an icepick-like blade, and drove it into Liam’s thigh.

He choked as his flesh ripped open, and Pham let the blade remain deep inside his muscle. Blood seeped out. But leaving the knife in place was good, considering. If Pham ripped the blade out, it would do more tissue damage and let him spurt like a geyser, all of which Pham likely knew.

The point was torture and revenge, the same things Liam had come to desire too. Sweat chilled his neck. He tried to control his breaths.

“Do not speak ill of my daughter.”

The pain reached a zenith and plateaued. “Maybe you should’ve considered another line of work for your kid.”

Pham snorted. “You continue to surprise me, Captain.”

“You haven’t seen anything yet.” Though Liam didn’t have a clue what to do next. The impaled spike wouldn’t let him think. Maybe that was Pham’s plan.

They pulled under a bridge, and their SUV skidded to the side. The door flew open. Pham got out, and another man grabbed Liam. With his feet and hands bound, he couldn’t do much.

Their SUV spit gravel as its tires spun and tore off. Liam lay on the ground, thigh bleeding, tremendous pain throbbing, while catching his breath.

Two men lifted him. He turned his head, hoping to see the women. But he only saw Pham.

They crossed traffic lanes, and another SUV waited. Pham stepped into the back seat, and Liam was hoisted in alongside. He cursed at the sharp blade then cursed at everyone he could.

A cell phone rang, and the driver answered. Liam couldn’t understand the conversation, but it escalated from annoyance to surprise, then the cell phone was handed to Pham.

Liam couldn’t understand Pham’s conversation either, then Pham cut the discussion off with a cold-hearted “Good. Bring her.”

Chelsea?He didn’t know how to interpret the only words in English.

The driver eased them from the bridge and merged into traffic. They continued carefully until the vehicle pulled up to a decrepit warehouse, but with the night bathing the building in shadows, details were impossible to make out.

Maybe that was why they hadn’t covered his eyes. Or maybe they had no intention of letting him go. Luck hadn’t been on his side much that night, but he opted to hope for the first possibility.

Large garage doors opened. Dim light illuminated the cavernous insides, and the SUV drove in and parked.

Is Chelsea here?He couldn’t see anything but empty space.

The driver exited and assisted Pham out. Then the man cut Liam’s bindings and pulled out the blade.

“Son of a—” He snarled and contained his reaction—or tried to, at least.

With a quick wipe, the man cleaned the slender knife on a dark cloth and returned it to Pham then directed Liam to step out.

There was no telling what awaited. Liam rolled his wrists and moved his feet and regained some circulation as he exited the back seat. He wobbled. Pressure on his wounded leg multiplied, but he choked away the weakness. “Who’s joining us?”

No answer.

Chelsea? But asking about her might be the worst thing to do. If Pham wanted to hurt him, then maybe he could convince Pham he couldn’t be hurt again.

That might be a stretch. How much did Pham know? Shit, he was too close to the problem, and his personal feelings skewed what should’ve been tactical ones.

He needed to know more than he currently did. Liam limped closer. “Where are we going?”

“We’re going to finish what you started long ago…” Sadistic enjoyment curved across Pham’s face. “It’s time to watch your loved one die.Again.”

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