Page 126 of Kai
“Kai?” Cece asked, her eyes gleaming with concern.
“The guys know what they’re doing,” I reassured her. “Fuckface here sent his men to die while he stole the Cessna. Why did you do that,Jack?”
The fucker took a deep breath. “I had to do something extraordinary if I wanted to survive Li, something heroic.”
I scoffed. “There’s nothing heroic about you,Jack-shit.”
“I’m an employee, just like you are,” Levine shot back.
“Yeah, no.” I shook my head. “We’re not the same.”
“I had to find Cersi before Li killed me,” the merc said. “He must’ve guessed the only option left to me was solo searching for her. He may have facilitated my escape to kill me.”
“Or to get you to guide his team of criminals to us,” I suggested.
“Maybe.” He shrugged as much as his restraints allowed. “But since the douchebag shot me down over the sea, he can’t track me anymore.”
I tsked. “Not convinced.”
“That motherfucker Li ordered my death and sent a stealth-fucking-helo to shoot me down at sea.” Levine’s eyes sparkled with fury. “He planned for the plane to sink into the ocean, leaving no traces. Do you think I wanna see Li or his fucking helicopter ever again?”
“He believes what he’s saying,” Cece offered, and when I looked up, I found her staring at the merc. “You’ve killed many people, haven’t you?”
Since she already knew the answer, the question had a specific purpose. She was going somewhere with this. I sat back and watched her work.
“I’m a professional,” Levine said. “It’s what I do.”
“I heard you like to kill women for fun.” The corners of her eyes crinkled as she studied the man. “You tortured and murdered that sex worker on the Big Island. Didn’t you?”
“You got it wrong, doll,” he lied, with a fucking smirk and all. “It wasn’t me. I don’t know shit about the whore they found dead at The Tiki Inn.”
The media reported the murder, but they did not release the victim’s occupation or location. If that wasn’t a confession, I didn’t know what was.
“You’re lying to my face, asshole,” Cece accused from her place, standing next to my chair. “You stabbed my friend here. I’m into payback. Why don’t we cut off your dick and throw it overboard? I’m sure the fish would enjoy a teeny tiny treat.”
Beyond his tough-guy façade, the merc’s bruised face blanched. Glancing up at Cece, an undercurrent of cautionfleeted through his expression. He recognized Cece’s fury as authentic. He’d just designated her as dangerous.
Excellent job, Sorceress.
“Hey, Princess Rampage?” Levine’s stare sparkled as if he’d discovered a rare diamond, raising a ton of red flags in my mind. “Youwantmealive. Cut me if you wish. You cut me, I cut you, and it’s all fun and games. But not the dick. Okay? That’s a hard rule.”
“Or a soft one, in your case.” Without warning, Cece stalked forward and delivered a hard jab to his nuts.
Levine winced and sucked in air through his teeth. Any other fucker would’ve cried out, and yet it took the tough SOB only a few seconds to compose himself and meet my eyes.
“This one’s a scary slut. Isn’t she?” He flashed the smug grin I wanted to wipe off his face.
“Unless you wanna die quickly, you’ll afford the lady the respect she deserves.” I tightened my hand around my Glock.
“I’m gonna be honest here,” he said. “She’s the best surprise ever. I’d heard she was a tough cookie, but in reality, she’s… magnificent.”
I bit down on my molars. Cece was magnificent in every way, but I didn’t need to hear that from him, especially when the lecher stuck out his tongue and licked his lips as if he were tasting her skin.
I wasn’t quick to anger. On the contrary, I was usually unflappable during interrogations. Apparently, this wasn’t the case when Cece was present. I had to fight a primal urge to cut off the merc’s tongue and stuff it up his ass.
Down, K-man. Keep your cool, dude.
“I can’t wait to get me some of Queen Rage’s ass,” Levine continued, seemingly in a suicidal mood. “She’s cruel, wild, and feral. I fucking love it.”
