Page 2 of Carnage
When he’s done, he steps back, almost smiling, but not quite. “So sweet. My little Gummy.”
I force a smile to my face and watch him leave the room. Once he’s gone, I exhale slowly. This is the only room he allows me to be in alone other than his bedroom. He said he’s worried someone in his gang will look at me and be tempted by me, which, okay, but being a prisoner isn’t my idea of fun. Well, except No Neck. He’s always lingering around me, but as far as I can tell he doesn’t have a drop of interest in me other than performing his job.
The only good thing about going out is the chance that I can find a way to escape. Leon will be distracted at the club and sometimes I can sneak off to the bathroom alone or get lost on my way to get water. Leon is always quick to find me, but maybe someday he won’t be, and I’ll get away. I’ll deal with where to go after that.
I sure as hell can’t go back to Connecticut where my grandparents are. Grandpa made it very clear my “kind” isn’t welcome in his home. I can’t go to my brother—I haven’t seen him since he left for college over fifteen years ago. I often wonder what my mom would be like if she were still alive. Would sheagree with her dad and disown me, or would she fight for me? As for my dad, otherwise known as the sperm donor, he could walk right by me and I wouldn’t know it. According to my mom, he was a guy she dated for a while, but he bailed when she found out she was pregnant, telling her he was married. Stellar guy.
Danny enters the room next, pausing when he sees me curled up in a chair by the fireplace. I call this room the study even though it’s nothing but a dusty, forgotten room with two beat-up armchairs and a non-functioning fireplace in it, but it’s tucked off enough that Leon feels comfortable with me being in here.
Danny, one of Leon’s thugs, pauses, studying my face for a moment. He’s not at all good looking, but he’s Polish like Leon is, so Leon keeps him close. His eyes are nice though, like he actually feels a little bad for me.
“What size shoe do you wear?” Danny asks.
“Uh, nine. Why?”
He shrugs. “Leon wants me to get you new ones. He said your other pair are old.”
I nod. “That’s true. Do I get to pick them out?”
“No.”
He turns and leaves the room quickly, and I close my book. I wasn’t really reading it anyway. Too much on my mind. At first, it was nice to be taken care of. Leon made sure I had clean clothes and plenty to eat, and I didn’t have to worry about making ends meet. But all that comfort came with the realization that I was like a doll to him; something to dress up and show off. But just like a doll, I could easily be discarded and replaced.
So tonight I’ll dress myself up and put on my best smile. I’ll go to Redlight and do what I do every time I’m allowed outside these walls.
I’ll look for an escape.
CHAPTER 2
Carnage
“I’m bored.”
Whisper chuckles, not taking his eyes off his computer screen. “Yes, it’s boring. It’ll pick up.”
“When?”
“Don’t be a brat, Carn. I’m doing the best I can over here.”
“I know,” I whine.
Turning my attention out the window, I scan the dark streets, hoping the target will pop into view. It’s rare for me to do a job with Whisper, or anyone else really, but this job required both muscle and brain. Obviously, I’m the muscle in this equation.
Whisper put a tracking device on the target a week ago, but he’s still been pretty dicey to corner. Either he knows he’s being followed and he’s doing a good job dodging us, or he’s just that cagey.
So Whisper brought me with him because this dude needs to be taught a lesson before he takes his last breath. He needs to know he didn’t get away with what he did.
Not long ago, none of us would have given a single shit what the target did or why they had to die. Didn’t matter. We were paid to do a job and we did it. But when shit went sidewaysand we found out we’d been paid to take out an innocent guy, our boss, Shadow, pumped the brakes. We came back stronger, clearer, and knowing that we’re taking out the worst of the worst makes my job that much sweeter. It lit a new fire under me, and I think it had the same effect on my brothers.
Tonight’s target is one bad dude. My mouth literally waters when I think about what I’m going to do to him when we find him. We know he moved here a few years ago from New York, where he was run out of town for double crossing the wrong guy, but they didn’t pursue him, so he’s been able to set up shop here in Mistone.
According to Shadow, the target runs a prostitution ring focused on forcing minors and other street kids into his operation. He drugs them up and lets his high-powered “clients” do whatever they like. Somehow, he’s been able to avoid criminal charges on more than one occasion, but now someone—whoever hired our team—has had enough.
My guess is on the district attorney or the mayor. Maybe even a prosecutor. Not even those in high places are immune to taking a walk on the dark side.
“Dammit,” Whisper mutters. “He’s going in the opposite direction again.”
“What’s with this dude? He’s gotta know, right?”
