Page 28 of Waggs

“Is Willow okay this morning?”

“Yeah, she has a headache, but I left her watching cartoons cuddled up with AJ. Mitch is staying close, and so is Bebe.” He’d wanted to stay with them, but a more significant part wanted to pummel the man who’d tried to take her from him.

Decker walked calmly out of the interrogation room, closed the door, and seconds later entered the viewing room. “He isn’t talking. What are his readings like?”

Waggs glanced at the monitor and saw his pulse, heart rate, and reactions were all within a normal range and stable. Even cuffed in the hands of men he knew would hurt him, he was calm or maybe not. “He thinks we’re private security. That we have the same laws and rules to follow. He has absolutely no fear for his life because he thinks the worst that can happen is that he goes to jail. A man like him would think that was a walk in the park.”

Decker caught on quick. “So, we show him who we are. That we don’t play by the same rules.”

Waggs nodded. “Can you monitor his reactions and point me in the right direction?”

“Yes, of course. What are you going to do?”

“Show that mother fucker we don’t play by the rules.”

Jack nodded, and he knew whatever happened in there he had his back. At that point, Waggs would happily do time if it meant protecting those he loved.

Taking a breath outside the door, he composed himself, wanting to catch this man off guard. He checked he had what he needed, and then pushed through the door. He could hear Deck in his ear telling him that his appearance got a slight reaction. That wasn’t enough, Waggs wanted this fucker on the back foot.

“I see you recognise me.” He walked closer to the man who looked at him with feigned boredom. His wrists were cuffed behind his back to the chair, but his legs were free. Taking care not to put himself in danger, Waggs struck fast, stabbing the blade of his K-Bar straight into the man’s thigh to the hilt before dragging it back out.

The man screamed. The shock made him react to the pain he hadn’t expected.

Waggs calmly walked back to the other end of the room and wiped the knife clean. “Now you probably thought this would be a walk in the park. A nice cushy job. Taking out a woman and her kid and having a vacation to boot.”

“That’s good, Waggs.”

“Then you were probably a little annoyed when she gave you the slip and came here, but you found her, so no issue. Only, she found herself some protection and that probably put a dent in your plans.” Waggs glared at the man who was now silent but sweating as he glared daggers at him. “How am I doing so far?”

Silence.

Waggs shrugged and kept going as if his response was of no consequence. “That fine, I’m gonna keep going.” He was trying really hard to remain easy-going and play his part, when all he wanted to do was break every bone in his body, and if he didn’t talk, maybe Waggs would get his wish. He wasn’t usually the bloodthirsty one, but right now, he was definitely that man.

“So, you found her; she has protection, you take your time to watch them.” He spun and pointed. “Good job, by the way. We didn’t see that coming. Then my colleague caught you, but you’re a professional, and you can keep quiet. What is the worst we can do?”

Waggs twirled the knife through his fingers as he walked slowly forward, and the man began to fidget.

“His heart rate is one-forty and rising. Keep pushing, Waggs.”

Waggs bent low and got in the man’s face. “Thing is, we don’t play by rules. We’re free to do as we please and have the protection of the highest authority in the land.”

He smashed the blade into the other thigh, and the man let out a sound that only an animal should make.

Waggs retreated taking his knife with him and again wiping it clean. The man was bleeding nicely but not enough to kill him. He’d been careful enough to inflict wounds he knew would hurt like fuck but not kill him. “Now, are you ready to tell me your name and who you work for, or are we gonna keep playing games?”

“If I talk, he’ll kill me.”

“If you don’t, I’ll kill you and I’ll make sure you feel every second of it in the most painful way. See, that woman you tried to hurt is mine, and I get pretty pissed when someone threatens what’s mine.”

The man saw the truth in his eyes and lowered his head in defeat.

“You got him, Waggs.”

“Lorenzo Costasis. I work for Ralph Edwards.”

“Why does he want Willow dead?”

“She has a thumb drive with manifest numbers on it and the details of the girls. Dumb bitch should’ve kept her nose out.”