I forge on before any threats can leave their mouths. I have no interest in Kace’s family.
“Her name is Adeline Reilly. She was taken to Dr. Garrison’s place to be treated for injuries from a car accident—one that they caused. The doctor had a penchant for taking his patients to his room and having his way with them, except with Addie, he tried to kidnap her. He was killed by one of her kidnappers, Rio Sanchez, and when they left, they shut down the entire grid. The last thing I am is incapable, but I am also aware that the more people I have searching for her, the faster I am to find her.
“I am a patient man, but not when it comes to getting my girl back.”
They’re quiet for a few beats, their brains churning.
“What do you need us for?” Ryker asks finally.
“You trade in human organs,” I answer. “Do you not?”
Ryker tilts his head to the side, contemplating my question.
“If you know that, why would you want people who are in the market for people like your girlfriend to help you?”
I shrug casually. “You’re not going to hurt her, and I’m willing to look the other way in the meantime.”
If I find out they are getting people killed so they can profit off of their organs, then all bets are off. Though, I have a very strong feeling the rumors were true, and that’s not the case.
Kace shakes his head as if he can’t believe what he’s hearing.
“You have extensive knowledge of the inner workings of the skin trade. I’m sure you know exactly how to track down product if it’s being auctioned or traded,” I continue.
“What’s in it for us?”
I widen my arms, the shit-eating grin back on my face. I’m empty on the inside—nothing but white noise takes up residence, but I’ve grown accustomed to arranging my face into expressions just as easily as I can wipe my face clean
of them.
“I’m a man of many talents. I’ll write an IOU on a piece of paper, and you can tuck that in your pocket for when you need it. One-time admission. Can’t be reused. Like a coupon.”
Kace narrows his eyes, staring at me as if I’m a little sibling begging to play
with him and his friends.
“What makes you think we’d have any use for you?” he questions dryly.
My ego—it hurts.
“Crazier shit has happened,” I retort, dropping my arms.
Another pregnant pause, and I make sure to meet both of their gazes, not the
least bit bothered by their intimidation tactics.
Ryker jerks his head towards the door, grumbling, “Follow me.”
Kace stares at his brother, communicating something with his eyes that I
don’t care to interpret. Whatever silent conversation passes between them lasts all of three seconds before Kace gives in and follows after Ryker without argument.
But not before throwing a suspicious look over his shoulder.
Who hurt you, bro?
I don’t care to find that out, either.
A fingerprint scanner is built into the door handle, the machine chirping when
Ryker’s print is recognized.
I follow them through the door, and my brows shoot up my forehead. I’ve walked into a bachelor’s wet dream.
The room is gigantic and completely open, with the ceiling scaling up at least
a hundred feet. The entire area is washed in browns and blacks and made up of
only four walls. A staircase on the far right leads to a balcony that completely circles the building, housing dozens of doors and a black elevator on the back left side. The upper four floors have their own floating balconies, too, and I wonder what the fuck do they need all this space for.
Scratch that—I don’t care.
Oh, but I might care about that. A massive vault is straight ahead, the door painted black. My curiosity piques, wondering what’s beyond it.
I whistle, impressed and maybe even a tad jealous of their get-up.
“Human organs pay well, don’t they?” I muse.
“Shut up,” Kace bites out, heading for one of the black leather couches where
a shirtless Daire lounges casually, knees spread wide.
I do a double take when I see a chain coiled around his hand, leading directly
to a collar fastened around a girl’s throat, who is currently kneeling at his feet.
Only a black band covers her tits, the rest of her body is fully exposed. Her head
is bowed, and her hands rest neatly on her pale thighs. A curtain of black hair obscures her face from view, and I can’t tell if that’s intentional or not.
I think Addie would sooner rip my balls off before she’d ever kneel at my feet. Lucky for her, I’d gladly kneel at hers. Kiss her little toes while I’m at it, too. Eventually, my mouth would lead up between her legs, but I don’t think she’d mind that part.
Daire grins at me, the piercings above his brow glinting from the crackling flames in the fireplace next to him. He doesn’t look the least bit bothered by my presence, though that doesn’t erase the spark of challenge in his eyes.
Slade sits on the opposite side, his dark blond head turning to glare at me over
the top of the couch.
Such hostility.
“I’ve agreed to help him,” Ryker announces, taking a seat beside Daire. He doesn’t even glance at the girl, and I assume he’s used to Daire’s sexual habits by now.
“Yeah? What’s he doing for us?” Slade asks, his question directed at his brother, yet his dark eyes stay glued to me.
“Oh,” I say, holding up a finger for them to hang on. I twist around until I find a piece of paper and pen on an end table, write the letters I, O, U on it, and hand it to him.
He looks at the paper with bewilderment, turning his glare back up to me.
“First off, don't write on people’s shit. Secondly, you’re fucking kidding me,
right? We don’t need you.”
I grin. Is he nervous that I might find hemorrhoid cream on his receipts, too?
He should know I don’t need a piece of paper to tell me what Slade spends his
money on.
“You can act like my skills wouldn’t benefit the business you four are
conducting, but that won’t get you very far.”
He crumples the paper and throws it in the fire, and I can’t help but chuckle in response. Their attitudes don’t bother me—it’s expected when a stranger comes busting into their lives making demands.