Hatred was pushing the fear out of Dempsey’s eyes as he stared back down at Alexis, and that reaction was just enough to let Alexis know he had been right. “So now here’s my million dollar question. Why is this forger or witch or whatever you call her, so important to you?”
“I thought you weren’t going to pry into that subject?” Dempsey retorted with a snarl.
“Like I said, it’s a personal question. I just wondered why she wants me dead so badly?”
“I want you dead, the pair of you. I’m the one in charge.” Dempsey managed to shout before Alexis silenced him with a forged gag. Alexis spun around and led me far enough away so we wouldn’t be overheard. “I don’t think we’ll get much more from him, did you still want to ask him your questions?”
“Yes.”
Alexis looked me straight in the eye and said, “Then by all means take center stage. And when you’re done, I’ll put him back to sleep.”
“How did you manage to hurt him?”
“You aren’t even going to think about doing that, is that clear?” Alexis commanded in his whisper. I shivered. The man truly had a personality that demanded both respect and obedience no matter how quietly he spoke.
“What if he refuses to answer me?”
With a smile that showed a few too many glistening teeth he answered, “Then I’ll remind him that it would be in his best interest to answer your questions just as he answered mine.”
With a nod I walked the short distance back and waited for the gag to be released, which didn’t take long. As soon as the gag was removed, Dempsey cursed me and started to explain the rather painful things he would love to do to my body before turning it into a corpse. Eventually I glanced back at Alexis who promptly changed Dempsey’s into a rather loud cry of pain. He looked down at me, seemed to swallow his pride, and asked, “And what do you want?”
“Did you really talk to Bella?” The question elicited a gasp from behind me and a scoff from in front of me, which told me that both men thought little of my question but that didn’t bother me at all. “Did you talk to Bella?”
“Yes, I spoke with my niece.”
“What did you really talk about?”
“Why, about you being my newest employee of course. I thought we...”
As he started to give me the same old lie, I glanced at Alexis who immediately repeated his forged attack upon Dempsey. He was rewarded with another cry of pain. Returning my attention back to the dangling man I walked closer and repeated my question, but this time I forced it out with steel in my voice. “What did you really talk about?”
The hatred in his eyes flared back to life as he looked down at me. “As soon as I had you escorted from the main hall she rushed down to demand what was happening to you. She wanted to know why you weren’t just presented with the winnings like she had been. I told her that you and I had something special to discuss and so while I was busy with all of my guests you would be entertained.”
“And did she believe you?”
“No, she didn’t. She wanted to know what was so important to discuss. I told her that I had an opportunity for you.”
“What was her reaction?”
“She called me a liar and spun around and left. But, if memory serves, she did collect her winnings before leaving. I had quite a bit of damage control to do after her little exit. But what can I do? She’s family, or at least she was.”
Stunned by his answer I growled, “What does that mean?”
“Now that she’s been poisoned by you, I’ll need to deal with her.”
Who did he think he was threatening, or was he actually threatening anyone? Could he be trying to regain control of the situation by attempting to throw me off balance? Pulling every scrap of defiance that was at my disposal I sneered up at Dempsey and said “What makes you think you’re walking out of here alive?”
Shock thundered through Dempsey with each word and the defiance that had been building disappeared. “Neither of you are capable of killing someone.” The words came out hollow as if he were trying to convince himself of what he was saying.
To our mutual surprise, Alexis broke in, “Define killing, Bertrand.”
“What do you mean define?” Dempsey asked, his voice hollow with fear.
A predatory smile spreading across his face, Alexis walked up beside me and slowly repeated his statement. “Define. Killing.”
When Dempsey didn’t answer Alexis continued on without hesitation. “What would happen to you if Francis and I simply left, when you’re discovered missing that is? I can guarantee you that no one will ever find you. No one will hear your screams. Not only that, but, as you have discovered, you can’t move at all. So do you know what would happen to you? You will die of dehydration, it’s not a pretty death.
“You wouldn’t do that Alexis.” Dempsey was trying to assure himself, not either of us.
“Dempsey, you’ve tried to kill me and have tried to get a hold of forgers so you could bend them to your will. Of course I’m willing to leave you here to die.”
After a moment’s contemplation I realized why this wouldn’t work for me and whispered to Alexis, “If he doesn’t make a call and you’re still alive in the morning, then I’m a dead man.”
Alexis cupped his right hand in front of my ear and whispered back, “Don’t worry I won’t let his goons kill you.” Removing his hand he returned his full attention to Dempsey. “I’m sorry but I’d rather not deal with your tongue as we leave so I’m going to put you to sleep again.”
As Alexis spoke Dempsey was building up for an explosion, then he suddenly slumped into unconsciousness. I instantly spun around to face Alexis, “Are you seriously going to leave him here?”
“It was the idea,” Alexis began cautiously. “Though I’ll admit that I was more than a little surprised when you threatened him with it.”