Page 83 of Caged Hunger

Tony glared at Basher, clearly pissed by his comment. He dragged his tongue slowly over his lower lip as he watched his men tie him up and secure him to the beam.

“Oh, I’m going to make you scream in pain, you fuckin’ asshole,” Tony snarled, his cheeks flushing with anger and his eyes becoming pin-focused.

Good. He was getting under Tony’s skin. Angry men made for easy targets. They were erratic and quick to act without thinking—all things that helped a man make a mistake.

“Once again, that’s the difference between you and me. I don’t wimp out at the first sign of pain. And it’s usually my name that’s being screamed out, not the other way around.”

Tony’s eyes narrowed.

He adjusted the three rings on his right hand, then brought his fist down quickly across Basher’s face.

Pain exploded through Basher’s face before he even had a moment to prepare himself.

Spitting blood from his mouth, Basher ground his teeth, then glared at Tony.

“Is that it? Even with my arms tied to these beams, you still can’t get in a half-decent punch. No wonder Daddy is always so disappointed in you,” Basher taunted.

Tony let out a cry of rage and lunged at Basher. Facing him, he unleashed a furious barrage of punches, hammering his face, his ribs, and occasionally driving a fist into his stomach whenever he could find an opening.

The man was a frustrated baby pit bull, trying his best to show the tough men around him that he had it in him to lead. That he could cause a man pain while seeking justice for his own shortcomings.

Basher just chuckled.

There was no way he was letting his loser of a man see any sort of weakness in him. No matter how much it hurt, or how much blood burst through his open wounds, he would continue to laugh and taunt and make jokes at the wannabe’s expense.

“Seriously, brother… I get it. Not everyone is tough and able to handle a little one-on-one combat,” Basher said as he watched Tony wipe the blood from his knuckles.

Those fucking rings were tearing into his skin.

“You were scared then, and you’re still scared now. I get it.”

Basher breathed in and out even though his ribs hurt.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of. I grew up on my own. Had to fight my way through life, so I’m used to fighting and kicking multiple guys’ asses at once.”

Taking another painful breath, he continued to taunt the giant man-child.

“Don’t worry, I’m sure these guys won’t think of you as any less of a man just because you have to get your shots in while I’m chained to a beam.”

That got him.

Tony’s head snapped toward him. He began pacing the floor back and forth, his eyes locked on Basher as he appeared to be contemplating how he was going to dismember his opponent.

Finally, he pointed at Basher.

“Unchain him. I’m going to shut this guy up once and for all.”

Basher smirked. The guy was such a fool.

Just as the men around him approached, a piercing whistle echoed from outside the barn.

“Yoo-hoo! Mr. Angry and Scary Men? Can you please come outside so we can talk?”

Basher recognized the voice. It was Ace.

What was the guy up to?

Tony and his men all looked at each other.