Page 125 of Savior
“You want to get out of this shithole?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Throw something on. My friend downstairs will escort you out. I’ll just be a few more minutes.” I say to her. “Rat is it?” I glance back at him. He’s staring at me nervously. “We have a couple things to talk about.”
The girl hurries to get her clothes on, then timidly slips past me, towards Viking, standing in the hall. He sends her down to Axel, then joins me in the room.
“I ain’t got no reason to say a thing to you.” Rat says.
“Well, I’ve got fifteen reasons wrapped in full metal jackets, that say you do.” I mutter.
“Nice.” Viking chuckles beside me. “Not for nothing, your shitty road name kinda implies otherwise, too. Rat.”
“Who do work for?” I ask.
Rat glares at me. “Nobody.”
“If I don’t keep the boss happy, it’s my ass on the line. That sound familiar to you?”
He clamps his mouth shut, and though his jaw is set, his eyes tell me he’s worried.
“That boss wouldn’t happen to be Legion, would it?” I press him.
“Who?” he plays stupid, but that worry in his eyes, morphs into straight up fear.
“Tall. Slicked back dark hair. Sharp features. Creepy-ass grey eyes. Smokes like a fuckin’ chimney and talks in an odd, sorta… theatrical way?” I say, taking a step closer until he’s looking, cross-eyed, at the barrel of my gun in his face.
“Don’t ring no bells.”
I lower the gun until it’s pressed against the top of his leg. “You sure? Having your kneecap shattered by a bullet is excruciating.”
“Sure helps jog the memory though.” Viking adds.
He takes a quivering breath. “I’m dead if I say anything.”
“You’re dead if you don’t. There are bloody reasons why our town’s been a safe, clean place, since we took up residence. We don’t take kindly to the type of shit you’re peddling to our citizens.”
“This place ain’t in your town-”
“You’re the prick that was pushing shit outside of Stogies. The pervert making dirty eyes at the little girl working for us that day.” I growl.
“I was just teasin’-”
“You was justtryin’ to get our attention.” I drive the barrel of the gun harder into his knee. “You got it, fucker.”
“Look, man… I- I can’t say nothing… I-”
“Viking, grab his cell.”
Viking steps forward, roughly shoving him and patting him down. He swats him in the face with a few degrading slaps a couple of times in the process, just bullying him, until he grabs a cell from his pocket. “Passcode.” Viking demands.
“Fuck…” Rat squeezes his eyes shut.
“Passcode. Now. Or I’ll start snapping your fingers.” Viking threatens.
“I’m dead… I’m fucking dead…”
“Listen, just tell us what we want to know, and I give you my word, you’ll walk out of here alive. Hop on your bike, and take the fuck off. At least you’ll have a head start.”
