Page 72 of Bayou Knights
“He been thinking again?” Zion asks and Tex snorts.
“Yeah. Plum told Beck that they were going to hurt other women, but we haven’t ever found them. Martha was in charge of that. How did she get involved? We kind of understand the need for the land, but where does her mom come into play? Other than the land and money, why is Plum valuable? I mean, I’m not saying she’s not,” Tex stumbles over his words.
“We get it. We’ve all thought the same thing. And until Martha is taken out, Plum will always be looking over her shoulder, her sister as well,” Zion says.
“But why Plum?” Tex asks again.
“You mean, between the two, you think Lyra would make more money for someone?” Diablo asks.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…” Tex sputters.
“No, we get it. And everyone has said the same thing, even Lyra. She would because she’s famous, but that’s also why she wasn’t taken. People would look for her, like we did,” Zion offers.
The barn we have deemed for this use is at the back of the actual barn. We will keep pigs back here, so blood wouldn’t look out of place. I don’t need anything but my knife and gun.
We step inside and three of the four try to raise their heads. The last one, Santorini, he’s been out of it since his last beating yesterday.
“I’m your worst nightmare,” I tell them, “I’m Capone. I know you know the name.” I see them actually tremble at that.
“You like to hurt women, I’m going to hurt you. But I’ll make it easier, if you answer the questions to my liking, I’ll let you die quickly. If not, you’ll be living in hell for a few days or months, depends on what I’m feeling.”
I signal to the guys to take down the first one and strap him to the chair we have in the middle of the room.
“You look a little young to die. What about the women?”
“What women?” His voice shakes.
“The women that Ricardo said he was going to purchase.”
“There weren’t any women.”
“Then where does Martha fit in?”
“I know I’m going to die, but if I’m going to spill the beans, can I have one last meal?” The man has the balls to ask.
“Take him up to the house,” I look to Tex, “clean him up, get him a plate. We’ll be there in a minute.”
The other men are trying to say something, but I don’t have time for them. I just shoot them straight between the eyes.
“What should we do with Santorini?”
“Make him choke on his own cock?” Diablo suggests.
“Nah, I think we slit his throat and let him bleed out, but we need him awake so he knows.”
“We’ll take care of him tomorrow.”
“Let’s get back up to the house,” Zion says, and we leave the barn, “I’ll have the prospects come take care of them later.”
The man is eating a steak, though looking uncomfortable, while the guys watch him eat it. I can see that the girls were sent inside along with Noah and Gage.
“Start talking,” Zion barks.
“There’s oil on this land. Ricardo wanted it, not only for access but oil drilling brings in money. He started looking in to who owned this, made friends with the old man, though he wouldn’t sell. The man did allow Ricardo to come across the border using his land. This is how he met Martha. Well, Plum and Lyra as well. He knew of them, but the old man was very careful of shielding his grandkids from Ricardo. When the old man died, or was killed-”
“Wait, he was killed?” Dixon asks.
“Martha slipped something in his drink, thinking she was the one who would get everything.”
