Midnight Shadows (3 page)

She stumbled slightly but moved forward. He looked at her feet and figured walking in four inch heels might not be easy, but they sure made her legs look good. He patted the empty space on the sofa. “Come on. I don’t bite. Well, not too hard, anyway.”
 

He and Walker shared a knowing grin.

The woman settled beside him and he drew in her delicate fragrance. That subtle perfume teased his senses, making him both hard and irritated. Lauren had used perfume sparingly, too. Most of the women he had been with seemed to bathe in it. He’d told Lauren that was one of the things that convinced him she was a lady. The fact that this woman did the same brought back memories of betrayal and he didn’t want that.

Armando looked up at Walker. “Go into the bathroom and get the perfume that bitch from last week left behind.”
 

While he waited for Walker to do his bidding, Armando concentrated on getting to know the sweet, young thing beside him a little better. “Tell me about yourself, honey. Where are you from? What do you do?”

“I’m from Nebraska. I moved down here a couple of years ago.”

Armando liked her voice. It held a softness and refinement that was often missing in the women he met. “And what do you do for a living, darling?”

“I’m a hostess at Maxi’s.”

“Somebody as classy as you working in a joint like that? We’ll find you something better, won’t we, Ryan?”
 

Walker handed over the oversized bottle of perfume he’d fetched. “Yes sir. That’s real kind of you, sir. Isn’t it Lilah?”

“Umm...yes, thanks. I’m not real fond of it. It’s just a place to work till something better comes along.”

Armando leaned over and whispered in her ear, “You please me tonight and I’ll make sure something better comes along.”

Her delectable body stiffened and she shot Walker a look that could’ve melted iron. Any other time Armando might have been amused by her reaction, but tonight it didn’t sit well with him. The bitch needed to learn her place.
 

His hand wrapped around the back of her neck and he pushed her up until she stood beside him. “Cuffs, Walker.”
 

She jerked away from him and sent another look to Walker. “What? Ryan, no, this isn’t what I—”

“Um…Mr. Cruz.” Walker said. “I don’t—”

“Silence! Both of you,” Armando snapped. Had Walker been about to refuse him this treat? The very idea had Armando seething. First he would show the girl her place, then he would deal with his disobedient employee.

Still holding the woman by the scruff of her neck, he took the cuffs Walker handed him. “Put your hands behind your back like a good girl and I won’t hurt you. Resist and pay the consequences.”
 

Armando felt the tremors in her delectable body as she complied. Was there anything sweeter than a beautiful woman terrified and bound for his pleasure? He snapped the cuffs on, making sure they weren’t too tight. Marring her lovely skin, at least at the beginning of their relationship, wasn’t in his plans. There would be plenty of time for that later on when they got to know each other better.

Armando pushed the girl down to her knees. “Close your eyes. I don’t want to blind you.”
 

He was pleased that she did as he asked. Holding the big bottle of perfume, he walked around the kneeling woman, gave her several good sprays on her neck, cleavage and bound wrists. Once he stripped her, he’d find a few more places but this should do for now.

“Look at me.”

She opened her eyes and looked up. For just an instant, he saw something behind her fear. Anger yes—he had expected that, but he also saw steeliness and courage. Maybe there was more to this one than he’d thought.
 

He unzipped his pants and took himself in his hand, already rock hard. Time to find out if that mouth lived up to its potential. “Let’s make use of that beautiful mouth in the best way possible.”

Her eyes went wide and she shook her head, jerking away from him. “No way in hell, you lowlife, scum sucking maggot.”
 

Fury engulfed him. No one spoke to him like that and lived. She would pay for those words with her life, but for now, she would pay with her mouth. Pushing her head down, Armando bent her to him. “You damn well better do as you’re told or you’ll—”

She butted at him with the top of her head. Armando jumped back, barely getting out of the way in time.

“Why you little—”

Shouts outside the door caught his attention. And then a pop…pop…pop.
 

Gunfire? What the hell?

The door burst open. Four men stood there. All holding guns…all wearing merciless, cold expressions. Armando caught a glimpse of bodies lying in the hallway behind them. His men, dead or unconscious.
 

The instant he recognized the man in the lead, uncertainty rushed through him. Holden Marsh had a reputation that made even Armando flinch.
 

He tried to keep his tone genial, unthreatening. “What’s going on here? What have you done to my men?”

“Long time no see, Cruz.”

At the hard ice in Marsh’s voice, terror entered Armando’s heart. But this made no sense. The man Marsh worked for was Armando’s most trusted friend and advisor. Surely this wasn’t something Robert had sanctioned.

“What do you want?”

“Just a little conversation. Looks like you were about to get your rocks off, but I’m afraid that’s going have to wait.” Amusement curled his mouth. “Besides, it appears she would’ve had to work awfully hard for it.”

Armando looked down at his now limp dick. Every good feeling he’d had tonight had been obliterated. Quickly tucking his shrunken member back into his pants, he zipped up. His humiliation was complete when he saw a glint of amusement in the girl’s expression.
 

“What is the meaning of this? What is it you want? You come in, mow down my men. What gives you the right?”

“The boss man wanted a little information from you. If you have the time, that is.”

“Of course.” Armando tried for a jovial, friendly look. His men could be replaced. “I always have time for the man who brought me into the business.” He gave Walker a look. “You and your girl can go. I’ll be in touch.”

“No one leaves.” Marsh nodded at the girl. “Stand up.”

With surprising ease and grace, the girl stood.
 

“Uncuff her.”
 

His hands shaking slightly, Armando took the girl’s wrists and unlocked her. She breathed out a heavy, relieved sigh as she stepped away from him.
 

Armando gave her a glare. “Don’t think this is over, bitch.”

“Tsk. Tsk. Armando,” Marsh said. “That’s no way to speak to a lady.”

The cuffs that had been around the girl’s wrists only a moment ago suddenly encircled Armando’s. “Wait. What are you doing?”

“Seems someone’s been talking, Cruz. Boss just wants to get to the bottom of it.”

“Talking? Who?”

“You ever hear of Dr. Terrence Cummings?”

“Of course I have. Your boss is the one who recommended him to me. What do you want to know about him?”

“Seriously?” Marsh’s voice held a mocking condescension. “Do you really think the boss doesn’t know what you’ve told him?”

“It doesn’t matter what I told him…the man’s a doctor. He can’t reveal anything. And I’ve always been loyal. He’s got no reason to distrust me.”

“Until you met that sweet morsel named Lauren.”

“What’s she got to do with this? She’s gone.”

“Yes, but what did she abscond with?” His mouth quirked up in an amused sneer. “Besides your balls, that is.”

Armando forced himself to ignore the insult. Time enough to make the bastard pay for it later.
 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“We’ll just see about that.” Marsh motioned at two of the men. “The pool table looks like a good place.”

“Good place for what?” Armando asked shakily.

Before he could protest or fight back, two men literally picked him up by his elbows and carried him to the pool table on the other side of the room.
 

“Put me down! What’s this about? You can’t just—”

“Garrett, be so kind as to gag him until we get him ready.”

The indignity got worse as a cloth was shoved into his gasping mouth and then covered by duct tape. Armando struggled, jerking at the hands that grabbed at him. Before he knew it, his clothes had been cut from his body and he found himself lying naked, spread eagle on the surface of the pool table. They’d uncuffed his hands and then used tape to bind his ankles and wrists to the four corners of the table.
 

Even though his heart was thundering in his chest, Armando tried to tell himself he wasn’t in that much danger. He had never once thought of betraying the man who’d dug him out of the sewer and given him a chance. Once they realized how loyal he’d been, they’d let him go. So what if he had to suffer a little embarrassment in front of Walker and the woman. It would be no worse than that.

“Okay, now that you’re all comfy, let’s hear what you’ve got to say.”

The moment the gag was removed, Armando started talking. “I’ve done nothing to betray him. I promise.”

“Really?” Marsh said.

Agony exploded in his kneecap. Armando squealed and screamed. Opening his tear-glazed eyes he saw one of the men had a hammer. They’d busted his knee!

“Why are you doing this?” Armando sobbed. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Tell me who else you’ve been blabbing to.”

“No one. I swear.”

“Come now, Armando. In one freaking visit, you told that shrink every little secret you’ve had since you were in grade school. He can’t be the only one you’ve shared secrets with.”

Armando shook his head, feeling an unaccountable betrayal. Cummings was a respected psychiatrist. Doctor and patient confidentiality should have protected Armando. And Robert? How could he have done this to him?

“I can see you’re shocked, Armando. Let me assure you that Dr. Cummings felt quite torn for telling your secrets. However, his oath didn’t extend to the man who ordered his brother-in-law killed.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Remember Rodney Hawkins?”

“No, never heard the name.”

“That’s probably because you’ve killed so many, but believe me, Dr. Cummings remembers. When the boss approached him with the offer of serving as your doctor as payback, he jumped at the chance. Boss knows that everyone has a price. He proved it. So let’s get back to the business at hand. Who else have you told your secrets to?”

“No one. I swear!”

“Not even Lauren?”

“Of course not. She knows nothing.”

“Why don’t we ask her ourselves? Where is she?”

“I don’t know. I can’t find her. I told Dr. Cummings I couldn’t. I—”

Agony exploded again, this time in his other knee. Armando bit down on his lip, tasting blood. Behind the blur of excruciating pain, he heard the woman scream, “Stop!”

Armando gave little thought to the oddity that the woman was the only one who was trying to end this atrocity.
 

“Please…please,” Armando pleaded. “I promise. I don’t know where she is. Dr. Cummings is the one who persuaded me to stop looking for her.”

“You’re right. He told us that. We just wanted to make sure you were telling the truth. Boss said he wants to know about her though. Where her family is. Where she’s from. Said the short time they spent together they didn’t do much talking.”

He now deeply regretted giving Lauren to the brutal bastard he had called friend. He’d thought it was a nice gesture. Robert had turned fifty. What better birthday present than to give him what Armando cherished the most, his lovely Lauren? When she had returned to him, she’d been bruised, a little battered, but other than one silent accusing look, she had never complained. The next week, after she healed, she’d come back to his bed like she had never left it. He’d thought things were okay, but two months later, she’d been gone.

“I never told Lauren any of my business.”

“I thought we’d established that. What I asked was, where is she from? Where’s her family from? You need some more pain to help you concentrate better?”

“No…No. She, uh…she’s from up north. Maine or New Hampshire. One of those cold states.”

“Not exactly pinpointing it for us, but it’s a start.”

The reality hit him then. His knees were ruined, and as hard as that was to accept, he already knew they weren’t through with him.

As if he could read Armando’s mind, Marsh said, “I think he needs a little something to take his mind off his knees.”

Agony erupted in his ankle. And then pain exploded in his other ankle.

Armando screamed and sobbed. His body jerked and twitched in rebellion, his muscles cramped with strain. The meal he’d recently consumed surged up his throat. Turning his head so he wouldn’t choke, he vomited. The sheer atrocity of what was being done to him stunned him for several seconds. How could he get out of this? He couldn’t think straight. He had done nothing to deserve such torture.