Jimmy laughed, ignoring Blackie as he played back his video, scrutinizing it. I turned to Blackie.
“It will be okay,” he lied. We both knew it was a lie, but still I decided to test it, to test him and see how badly things really were.
“Leather and lace,” I breathed. “When we get out of here will you tell me what it means?”
He didn’t answer right away.
“Yeah,” he whispered.
The tears spilled from my eyes as he said the word. Blackie had no intention of divulging his secret, not if there was a chance we’d survive. He gave me what I wanted to hear, but he knew our truth and for the first time since Jimmy grabbed me I was contemplating laying it all down and giving up.
“No, that was all wrong, let’s try it again,” Jimmy said.
“Trust me,” Blackie whispered faintly, so low I barely heard him.
I lifted my hands and wiped the tears that stained my cheeks as he turned the camera back toward us. I could see the gun pointed at me from the corner of my eye. I closed my eyes as Blackie walked toward me.
“Thatta boy, make it good,” Jimmy sang. “Her life depends on it,” he reminded us.
Blackie took another step closer and swayed as he did so. He took my hand in his and placed his other on my hip. I could see the struggle in his eyes and chose to look away from him. He leaned close to my ear and nuzzled my neck.
“He loves you,” he whispered against my ear.
Jack. I closed my eyes and pictured his face, the smile he barely used and those eyes that got me every time.
“He’s here with you not me,” Blackie whispered, as he kissed my neck and his fingers worked the buttons of my shirt. “Follow my lead,” Blackie said, against my throat.
“Cut to the chase,” Jimmy ordered.
Blackie tore his mouth from my neck and lifted his head.
“Open your eyes, Reina,” he said softly, squeezing the hand he was still holding before he released it and took my face with both his hands. My eyes blinked open and peered into his. “Leather and Lace,” he whispered. “Now close them and think of Jack,” he said before he touched his mouth to mine.
And then it happened.
I wished for death.
I was ready to lie down and die when Blackie’s hands dropped from my face, his mouth releasing mine and his eyes staring at me blankly. I gasped when I saw the needle sticking out of his neck.
“Blackie?” I shouted frantically, grabbing his shirt with my fists. “What did you do to him,” I cried, as Jimmy’s goon pulled me back, strapping the cuffs back onto my wrists and securing me to the chair. Blackie fell to the ground, his body convulsing as though he was having a seizure.
“Please don’t let him die,” I sobbed as I stared at him, watching as he foamed at the mouth. “No, no, no,” I chanted, lifting my head to the empty room. The lock slid into place confirming my solidarity in watching my only friend as he most likely was dying.
Jimmy’s face illuminated the screen of my phone, flashing me a grin that displayed all his gold teeth.
“The following video is to ensure you that your people are alive and so shall they remain providing you deliver me the drugs you originally promised, that is, a quarter of a million dollars worth of heroine. If you do not deliver, then the next video you watch will be your right hand as he fucks your woman. Twenty-four hours to get me the drugs or your boy here will rape and murder your girl,” he declared. “And if you think his loyalty to you will stop him, you’ve miscalculated because he is my puppet now and I make him dance.”
The screen went black and muffled noises were heard before the picture came into view and I saw Reina standing in a dark room with a gun pointed at her head. My heart stammered as I noticed the tears falling down her face. Blackie’s body came into sight blocking my view of my girl as he dipped his head and kissed her.
Everything faded to black.
The video, and my soul.
Chapter Thirty-one
“Bulldog…,” I ignored the sound of Riggs faint voice.
I’m used to fighting myself for control over my actions, hating when my mind takes over and wins. But in that moment, with the image of Reina and Blackie ingrained into my head I welcomed the loss.
Take my mind.
Let me lose myself.
I didn’t want to be accountable for my actions.
I didn’t want to know what happens next.
“Jack, man, come on, don’t go there,” Riggs said, gripping my shoulders and twisting my body around so I was face to face with him. “You can’t lose it, not now,” he reprimanded.
Poor bastard, he didn’t know it was already too late.
Watch me.
I reached up and pried his hands off my shoulders shoving him back.
“Get your hands off me,” I roared, pushing him aside and stalking out of the room. I could hear him behind me, quickening his pace, believing he could reign me in.