Page 139 of Mafie Queen

???

I enter the cozy torture room with my shoulders back and my spine set straight. The woman with black-as-night hair meets my cool eyes with her electric blue ones. I narrow my gaze at her, but she doesn’t seem to care.

“Who are you?” I ask, my tone cold and uncaring.

When torturing men, it’s a power struggle dynamic. I would go to the table of toys just to prove that I am the one in control. I would examine each blade, rope, and saw while chatting just to make them aware of who I am.

Women are different. When a woman talks to another, we think more logically, even under pressure. So I don’t need to play games, I just need to ask her my questions, and she will give the answers to me. Or I will just show her the full depth of who the fuck I am. There doesn’t need to be a flashy show because wealready understand one another. We each have a job here, it’s as simple as that.

“Why do you want to know?” She tilts her head to the side, as if trying to figure out who I am. If she was after Laney, shouldn’t she know already?

“You walked onto our property and navigated every carefully laid trap as if you placed them yourself. Then, you tried to kidnap part of my family.”

She chuckles as if I’ve said something funny.

“You thought that was hard? That was child’s play considering what I do.”

She doesn’t tug at the bindings securing her to the chair in the middle of the room. And she doesn’t look to or assess any of the men in the room as if they are a threat. This woman just looks at me as if we are here to have coffee and get to know one another.

“What is it that you do then?” I cross my arms over my chest as I take a seat and lean back, getting comfortable.

“I’m a mercenary, duh.”

That gets my attention. I lean forward in interest. “A mercenary?”

“Pretty sure that’s what I said. Hey, do you have any sandwiches? I haven’t eaten all day, and I’d really like to not be starved while tortured. A girl can only handle so much.”

She pouts and my brows draw together. This woman is crazy. Luckily, my sunshine speaks the same language.

I stand from my seat and stride over to the back wall where the guys are all standing and tap Damien’s arm, our signal for when we take turns with a victim. An evil grin splits his face. He leans in to kiss me before pushing off of his spot where I now settle in to watch.

“Alright, so you’re basically Lady Deadpool. Want to tell us how you did that? You know, professional curiosity.”

He pretends to mimic her movements around the lawn, and when our prisoner’s eyes light up, I know I made the right choice.

“Drones. They tell you a lot of information. If you aren’t using them you really are missing out. I thought the white haired girl there was for sure with that broody fella. Hey, can I get that sandwich?”

“Sure thing, LD. But you gotta give me a little more first. Also, that girl is with all three of us.”

He sits on the floor in front of her, crossing his legs and leaning back on his hands.

“No shit, that’s dope. Where can I find something like that?”

Damien shrugs. “No clue. I think we are a rarity. So, what’s your name? Why are you here? Who sent you? Is this mercenary group hiring? Because I feel like I could make a life out of that.”

“We are always hiring. You would love it. We have this cool poker setup and strippers for days. I swear I didn’t think I was gay until I saw some of these women. The one that looks like Ruby Rose had me totally convinced, and I dated her for a year before I decided I was straight.” She sighs heavily, as if this realization was a big disappointment for her.

“It was sad that I had to kill the bitch. Beautiful funeral though. Covered her grave in black roses. Mickey showed up to the funeral though, and I had to kill his ass too. Did you know murdering someone in a graveyard makes for the easiest cleanup like, ever?”

“That fucker Mickey.”

“I know right, the audacity!”

I never knew it was possible for someone to ramble on like Laney but sound as insane as Damien. My mouth actually falls open at one point and Alexi shuts it with a finger to my chin.

The mercenary tries to throw her hands in the air while telling a story, then remembers they’re tied down. She quickly gets back to her story though as if she isn’t being held captive.

“There are hits out on all of you for various things. Most just want a cut and dry murder. Others, they want you to suffer.”