Page 38 of Bitter Lies

The warlord doesn’t hold back, slapping the pipe against his palm. He may not always act like the man set to take over the Doyle family, but he’s no pussycat.

I’ve seen him in action. He doesn’t give warnings. When he’s done with you, he’ll kill you without a second thought.

“You’ll give me a fourth of your profits. If I bring you something to sell, you’ll find a buyer. No questions asked.” Silas drops into a squat, his gaze unwavering, as the chilly spring wind whips around us. “Or your wife and I could work something out. She’s a beautiful woman. My father could use a woman like her at Soulcombe. Give his clients variety. You have a daughter too, right? How old is she now?”

“Please, no,” Cort sobs. “I’ll do whatever you want. Just leave my wife and daughter out of it.”

My fists tighten next to my sides as I fight to hide how pissed I am. Silas threatening Cort’s family sets something off inside me.

“As long as you don’t double-cross me, no one will touch them.” Silas drops the pipe and reaches into his jacket, taking out his lighter and a pack of smokes. “Do we have a deal, Mr. Theiss?”

Cort nods as he lifts his arm and runs it under his snotty nose. It’s disgusting and embarrassing to witness a grown man cowering. And it only feeds Silas’s ego, making him feel powerful all because he made a pathetic weasel of a man cry like a damn baby.

Pathetic. Both of them.

I didn’t think Cort could look worse than he did when he arrived, but I was mistaken. He’s aged ten years in the thirty minutes we’ve been here.

When Silas stands, I’ve had enough. Ready to get this over with so I can go home, clean up, and get a little work done before my breakfast date with Isabel.

“Get up!” I order, holstering my gun. “We have shit to do, and it’s not getting done out here. Let’s look inside to assess the damage. I’ll have a team here tomorrow to help get everything back in order so you can reopen.”

Using the fence for support, Cort stands and stumbles to the backdoor, yanking it open. It’s not locked, and once we get inside, I understand why.

He’s right. The place is fucked. It’s going to take at least a week to get the store back in shape.

“You good?” Silas asks as we follow Cort to his office to get what we need to hunt down the two bastards responsible.

He waves his phone at me, his way of saying his wife is on the rampage again. “I need to get home and deal with something.”

“I’m good. Go. I’ll deal with him and update you tomorrow.” With a flick of my wrist, I toss him the keys. “We’ll take his car. He’s not fit to drive. I’ll call Zane or Seth and have one of them pick me up. Come by your place in the morning.”

“Don’t you have plans in the morning?” He grins because he’s nosy, and I’m giving him the death stare.

How he knows, I should question, but I don’t. He has his ways, just like I have mine.

“Fuck off. I’ll grab it before.” I point to the exit. “Go before I turn my rage on you instead of him.”

“Don’t kill him. I’m not done milking him dry just yet.” Tossing my keys playfully into the air, Silas whistles a tune on his way out.

I glare at Cort, who’s watching the two of us with curious eyes. “Hurry the fuck up. He said, don’t kill you. I can still kick the shit out of you if you piss me off.”

That gets him moving as fast as a drunk, scared man can. Once he gives me what I need, I take him outside and wash him off with the hose I saw earlier. The man smells like the damn sewer. There’s a chance I might enjoy his squeals as the cold water hits him. He still reeks, but not as badly.

We walk to his car, still parked haphazardly on the street. Once there, I open the passenger door. “Get in.”

“I’m not getting in my car wet,” he grumbles.

“Fine.” I slam the door and make my way around to the driver’s side. The fucker left the keys to his Porsche in the console, meaning I don’t need him inside to take his car. “Stay here and freeze.”

The engine roars to life when I press the starter.

Though I’m laughing inside, I keep a straight face as the passenger door swings open. “Hurry up. Damn, it stinks in here. Maybe I’ll keep this car after I get it detailed. You don’t deserve her.”

Once he falls into the seat and slams his door, I take off. I have to roll down the windows so I can breathe. If I didn’t have a better ride, I’d take this one just because I can.

Chapter 15

Isabel