Page 99 of Disobedient Pawn

“I have to agree with Myles on this one. What are we hoping to accomplish by scaring the shit out of her? That is your plan, right? To scare her into talking,” Liam said, pulling his mask into place.

“We need answers. You all saw my father at Thanksgiving. When have you ever known him to bring someone into the inner circle, let alone call them family and then let them act like that at his table? Ren talked back to him, and her father was loaded before the first course was served.” Myles stepped back and shook his head. “Myles, I’m telling you, she knows something.”

“Naw, I don’t think she does. I’ve talked to her more than any of ya have, and there is no way she’s lyin’,” he argued, holding his arm out to the main building. “I’ve interrogated enough people to know the signs.”

“She could be a really good actress or you’re too busy thinking with your cock to see her for what she is.” Myles glared, but I didn’t give a flying monkey’s uncle of a fuck. “I told you what she did in the office with my father. He was completely convinced and didn’t hit me that night when he called me in later. You also can’t tell me that at seventeen, she hasn’t seen anything to do with the business. We all saw shit by the time we were old enough to walk. The girls are usually more protected, but they still know.”

“Maybe yer Da knows, can’t ya ask him? I know he’s a fucking dick, but can’t ya just say ya have a concern and see how he reacts?” He put his hands on his hips.

“Of course he knows, the point is he obviously doesn’t plan on telling me and that means we can use whatever that knowledge is. We don’t have time to argue over this. Here comes Cory and Ivan.” I lowered my voice so the two guys approaching wouldn’t hear me. “We need to know why my father is acting strange about her and her father. They could be used, or they could be a threat.”

“And I’m tellin’ ya she doesn’t know anything. This is not going to get us anywhere,” Myles argued quietly.

I knew Myles liked her, but I’d assumed it was an infatuation that would come and go. Now I wasn’t so sure. He’d never argued over a direct order before.

“Fear has a funny way of bringing out the truth, and since I’m not about to drag her out to the cabin and put one between her eyes without a scrap of proof, we need to get it out of her somehow. You’re with me, Myles, or you’re out, and I mean all the way out.”

“Yer a bastard Nash, a right fuckin’ bastard.” Myles pulled the mask on, cursing me under his breath the entire time.

“Yeah, I am, but it’s also why I’m the next King. I’ll do what needs to be done, no matter what.”

“Here,” I said, tossing Ivan and Cory masks as they stepped up to the group. “Only Ivan and Cory will speak since she doesn’t know them and will recognize our voices. They’ve already been instructed on what to ask. You two good?”

“I’m fine,” Ivan said, his eyes filled with excitement.

“I’m always down for whatever,” Cory answered, pulling the mask into place.

“Good. The lights are going to shut off any second. When that happens, we run in and fan out at the front of the study area. I’ll lock the door so she can’t get out. Now, the lights will only be off for a minute before the backup generator turns on several emergency lights. Let’s scare that info out of her. We need her to think that she either tells us or dies.”

The guys looked at one another, and I could tell they were still uncertain, especially when I pulled my knife.

“I’m not going to stab her. It’s only to scare her into thinking I will,” I said, and they noticeably relaxed. “She may hold the key to my father's secrets and how to take the regime down. Is that not worth it?”

They reluctantly nodded, and I knew they would do it, but it burned my ass worse than poison ivy that they hesitated. Ren Davies was not coming between me and my guys. I’d make sure of that.

Stepping up to the door, I peered through the glass panel and saw Ren sitting at a table, her fingers like little worker bees on her keyboard. The old clock on the wall showed the second-hand closing in on the twelve.

I looked over my shoulder at Ivan and Cory. “Don’t fucking touch her,” I said. I wasn’t even sure why I gave a fuck if they did, but I didn’t like the idea of them pawing at her. The why didn’t matter. I waited until they nodded.

I counted the seconds with the clock, and with a click and a hum, the power shutdown, and the entire building went dark. Yanking open the door, the guys tapped me as they passed to let me know they were through, and I flicked the bolt at the top of the door, which I knew she wouldn’t be able to reach.

“Hello,” Ren said, her voice shaking slightly. “Who’s there,” she asked, but none of us said anything. I trusted that the guys would be in position. “There is security all over this property,” she said.

Yes, and I paid them all to stay away from this building and ignore anything happening inside, but I didn’t tell her that. There was a loud whirring sound as the generators kicked in, and two lights highlighting the only two exits in the place turned on.

Ren shot to her feet as she stared at us. “Who the hell are you, and what do you want?” I didn’t say anything but spun the knife in my hand. “I asked you a question,” she said and once more shocked me with the ferocity in her tone. I had to give her marks for bravery.

“We have seen you around school.” Ivan put on a thick Russian accent. He was one of my best moles and deeply embedded, but still just as loyal as the day I recruited him.

Ren’s eyes flicked to my spinning blade. “Okay?”

“I’ve looked into you, Kayleigh Davies, and couldn’t find anything.” Ivan stepped forward and crossed his arms to show off a set of brass knuckles.

“Why is everyone so concerned with my family name,” Ren asked.

“Someone else was asking about you? Who was it,” Ivan asked, and I smirked under the mask.

“It doesn’t matter. The point is I’m no one special. My father works for the Collier family, and that’s all I know.”