Love You Madly(41)

But the guys barely bothered to look their way. Only…she couldn’t see Matt anymore.

“Shit,” Travis said and loosened his hold on her waist and grabbed her hand. They raced down the stairs, a feat made more difficult by the number of people still crowding them. The music, if possible, was even louder downstairs, and this time Travis used a little less finesse as he pushed their way through and out to the front door. They stood at the top of the stairs outside the club, their eyes scanning both sides of the sidewalk for any sign of their guy.

Travis bolted down the stairs, evidently seeing something that caught his attention, and raced across the street. He arrived at the SUV just as the headlights turned on. But Travis was fast, and he had the door ripped open before Matt could put the car in gear.

He pulled Matt not so gently from the car and held the back of his shirt as he pushed him ahead of them until they reached their car. Matt took one look at Bonnie and had the temerity to laugh. Until Travis delivered an extra punch to his kidney that had him hunching over. With ease, Travis pulled Matt’s cell phone from a back pocket and powered it off, then slipped it into his own pocket.

“Wouldn’t want you to get any ideas about notifying anyone of our arrival,” Travis said over Matt’s objections. He opened the door and pushed the passenger seat down to allow Meredith to climb in the back. “Sorry, Meredith, but there’s no chance I’m turning my back on this guy.”

A sentiment she shared.

She climbed in and waited for Matt to take a seat on the passenger side. Travis grabbed the seat belt and not too gently crossed Matt’s body with it. With satisfaction, she watched Matt lean forward, clutching his wrist. She doubted he could release the seat belt latch if his life depended on it.

Travis climbed in and buckled up before starting the car. “Now that I have your full attention,” he said, pulling out of the parking space, “maybe you can tell me a little more about your operation. What’s your role, who’s your boss, what happens to all these girls you reel in.”

Matt stayed stubbornly silent as he looked out the window.

Meredith balled her hand into fists, trying to exert patience and not go flying over the seat to gouge out Matt’s eyes. But she’d promised to hang back, and she had to trust that Travis could get it out of him.

Or kill him for her, at the very least.

“I’m your best bet, Matt. You see, I’m not a cop,” Travis drawled. “I’m just a hired investigator. My priority isn’t the number of laws you’ve broken or the number of charges I could file and hope they stick. My priority is seeing that this lady’s daughter comes home safe and sound. And to do that, I’m going to need a few more details about where we’re going.”#p#分页标题#e#

“Nothing you do could be worse than what they’ll do to me if they think I told you a thing.”

“They who?”

Matt stayed silent. In one quick motion, Travis pulled the gun from his waist and pressed it against Matt’s thigh.

She gasped. Was he really going to shoot him?

“I’ll count to three, and then I’m going to shoot. Who is ‘they’? One—”

“Shit. Don’t shoot. Look, all I know is I get a grand for every girl I deliver. Sometimes they’re girls I’ve met and thought would be a fit. Other times I’m asked to bring in someone who’s been identified as…promising.”

Meredith’s heart tightened and nausea roiled in her belly.

She lifted her gaze to the rearview mirror, where Travis was watching her. He barely shook his head, but she knew what he was telling her. Be patient. Let him do the talking. She pressed her nails into her palms and prayed for patience.

“Who tells you who to take?”

“Usually one of the bouncers you saw back there. The big bald white guy, Lance, is normally my point. That’s the only person I know for sure.”

“Not true.” Travis fired a deafening shot into the kid’s leg, and she jumped. Matt’s scream was nearly as deafening. It temporarily assuaged her desire to wreak violence on the kid.

“What the hell? I’m telling you everything!”

“Who was the guy you were speaking with earlier? Don’t try and lie to me. I saw you.”

This time the kid sobbed, no longer the tough guy. “His name’s Ayman. That’s it. I think he owns the club. I’ve seen him a few times. I’ve probably only talked to him three times total. Ever. Tonight he wanted to know if I had any more leads on—on Vs.”

“Vs?”

“Virgins. They earn me an extra grand.”