“Getting there,” I said flatly.
“So, when I see what I saw with Cole, naturally, I get suspicious. I decide I need to keep track of my investment, because that’s what you are, Sasha. You may work for me, but don’t forget how much time and energy, or how many resources I’ve put into you, into helping you hone your skills.” Again with the accusing tone.
“If you’ve got something to say, Fang, just say it,” I told him. I couldn’t listen to that accusing tone any longer.
“Okay, I’ll say it. I had someone follow you and report back to me everything he saw. I’ve got recordings, photos, videos.” He paused to let that last word sink in. “I’ve seen you two on his balcony. I’ve seen you two prancing around naked in his apartment. I’ve watched the two of you fuck. Several times, Sasha.”
I felt my face flush, and I was thankful it was dark enough in the car now that no one could see it. I was vaguely aware that the man in black next to me turned to glance at me. Even through those damned sunglasses that he never seemed to take off, I could feel his eyes undressing me to help him imagine what watching me in bed must have been like.
“Okay, so you saw me working,” I said, trying to keep my voice even and hide the fact that I was quite shaken by this revelation.
“I even saw him toss a guy out for you,” Fang added, and I knew he wasn’t just grasping at straws, but I wondered. How did he know it was for me unless his guy was planted somehow on the inside?
I didn’t say anything. I figured I’d let him keep talking and give up more secrets. He may not have thought much about what he was saying—after all, I was going to be out of the picture soon—but I wanted to know everything I could about his little tail that he’d put on me. It sounded like it might have been more than one person because someone on the inside would have been noticed near the apartment.
“You seem pretty loyal to Cole, Sasha, and that bothers me,” he added.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“I mean, it takes you days to call me sometimes. You can’t pull yourself away from your new boyfriend to make time for your boss, your employer, the man who brought you off the fucking street and gave you a place to stay. No, instead, you’re out there sleeping with my top rival when you’re supposed to be helping me take him down!” His usually calm tone was gone. He ripped it to shreds right in front of me as he let his anger out.
“You’re a traitor,” he added.
“I’m sorry, what?” I asked.
“You are a traitor. Yeah, you may have called to let me know he was on his way to the hideout to take me down, but that was only after you’d told him where it was. Did he fuck that information out of you, or did you give it to him willingly?” He spat his words out in the darkness.
“He found out from people on the street, Fang. He told me as much himself that morning. He told me one of his guys called to say they had located you, and they were getting ready to go after you. So, of course I called you to let you know you were in trouble,” I defended myself. “I didn’t have to do that,” I added under my breath.
“No, and maybe you shouldn’t have. It might have saved you your life, but tonight, I’m going to handle you the way I’ve always handled traitors,” he threatened me.
“Fang, there’s got to be another way we can resolve this,” I said.
“Oh, all that sex talk from earlier? I could tell I was making your skin crawl. You didn’t like thinking about me having fantasies about you, did you, sweet little Sasha? No, I was just messing with your head. I would never touch you,” he said.
I didn’t know whether to be thankful or offended. He said it like he found me disgusting.
“You were never the right type,” he continued, insulting me even more. “You were always too rebellious and headstrong. When I picked you up on the street that day, you weren’t even attractive. You were a ratty little tomboy with a dirty face, matted hair, and dirty, grubby little hands. I’m impressed you turned out the way you did, but I guess it’s pretty amazing what a bath can do.”
I looked down, away from his hurtful words. I knew he was just saying them to be mean. The man I’d known for the last five years had been nothing to but kind and gentle with me. The man driving this car was a hateful asshole.
“Even once you cleaned up, you were still too headstrong to be attractive,” he continued.
I could feel uneasiness growing as the two other men in the car seemed to grow tired of listening to him insult me. We had been in such close quarters for so long that even the slightest shift in someone’s mood had become noticeable to everyone, even in silence. Especially in silence.