| |
Max opened his eyes to darkness. Had he been blinded? His feet were tied to the legs of a chair, his hands bound behind its back. He shook his head. Blindfolded. Dryness hung in the back of his throat like the time he woke up in the recovery room after being shot. Ether. His head felt stuffed with cotton. Everything seemed fuzzy. Where was he? What happened?
He tried to concentrate. His hotel? Someone jumped him from behind and it wasn't Flynn and his boys playing turf games.
“Fucking magic man.”
Sully. Off to his left. He snorted. “Glad you could make your final appearance. You thought you were such a hot shot. Well guess what? You ain't shit. I never told you this, but I'm a magician myself. Check this out." Max heard the rustle of clothing. "Poof! You're a bag of shit."
Pain exploded across his midsection. He struggled for air, but his breath wouldn't come.
Sully broke into a fit of giggles. Max heard others laughing behind him.
"What's the matter? You ain't got much to say now, do you tough guy?"
Max forced himself to breathe in. "Fuck you, asshole," he growled.
A hand slapped him on the side of his head. His ear rang.
"Still got a mouth. That red-headed bimbo you've been running with had a mouth too, but she was tougher than you—and let me tell you something." He lowered his voice. "Best pussy I ever had. Best pussy we ever had, right boys?"
More laughter.
Max's gut tightened.
"Made me feel bad about taking her out. She was a real tiger in the sack. I don't know if she would have been as much fun without her hands and legs tied to the bedposts. What do you think, Broderick? She any good for you?"
Max's breath came hard and fast. A tidal wave of rage engulfed him. He wanted to yell, cry, and kill all in the same moment. "You're full of shit, Sully." He struggled to keep his voice from shaking. "There's no way you could've done anything with O'Grady."
"Why not?"
"You're a dickless wonder."
The room grew quiet. Max braced himself. Footsteps passed on his right, then came back. "You think so, huh?" He felt fetid breath on the side of his face. Sully's voice sounded low and strained, almost a whisper. "Let me tell you something, Mr. Hotshot Fed. Bitch had all the moves, even with her legs tied and spread-eagled, but they weren't anywhere near as exciting as the moves she had when we ran the sickle from her crotch to her neck. Talk about a twitch."
Can't give this son-of-a-bitch the pleasure of thinking he got to me. "You're so full of shit I can smell it."
"Is that right? Maybe this will make a believer out of you." A hand yanked his head back by the hair, then another jammed a piece of cloth over his nose and mouth. The scent of Dare invaded his senses. Blackness threatened to swallow him.
How could he have been so stupid? They murdered her because he took too long to figure out who they were.
The hands let go. Cool air rushed into his lungs. Traces of her perfume lingered. Colleen gone. He couldn't believe it. His throat constricted and his eyes burned. He was thankful the blindfold kept them from seeing his face.
"Hey, Sully." He sounded hoarse.
"Yesss?"
"I'm going to kill you."
A loud crack and a bright flash. His face stung and he tasted blood.
"I don't like your smart mouth, mister. I'm going to..."
A door opened.
"Father." Sully's tone shifted from antagonism to respect.
"What's going on here?"
Derlen.
"Broderick came to. We were preparing him."
"We don't have time for that now," Derlen snapped.
"Yes Father."
"I have the kid locked in. I need someone to get him out. I'm afraid it's going to take a little force."
"Yes Father."
A moment of silence, then the door closed.
"Hanson and Godin. Upstairs, Father Derlen's apartment. Take care of it."
"Okay Sully."
Max recognized the voice, but couldn't place it.
The door opened and closed again.
"Guess it's you and me now," Sully said. The malevolent tone had returned.
Max felt a sharp edge biting into his neck; no doubt a sickle. Sully leaned close, his rancid breath hot on the side of Max's face. Max could almost feel Sully's tongue touching his ear. He shuddered.
"Bye bye Broderick," Sully whispered and drew the point backward.