Stepbrother Charming(77)
We're in. And we've gotta move fast in case the girl decides to squeal on four big dudes climbing up the stairs with several big plastic shopping bags. She'll really flip if she sees the red canisters inside.
I let Mike go first when we're outside the fucker's door. He gives me a nod and works the lock, exercising all the skill I expect as my newest and last ever security appointee at Club Zing.
The latch pops open and we all file in. Dan's several feet away, standing at the kitchen counter, fixing himself a shot of some amber colored booze.
“What the fuck!” he screams, dropping the glass.
It's a helluva commotion, but it's too fucking late. I grab the asshole before he can make a run for the balcony. My hand pinches his jaw shut, and I give his teeth a rattle through his cheeks that lets him know I'll pop the sonsofbitches out if he does anything stupid.
Oh, except, I guess he already did.
My free hand tugs back my hoodie. I've got him in the living room, next to a big black recliner, and my guys all grin behind their matching hoods. Dan the Man starts squirming, trying to scream into my hand. I knee him in the guts and knock the wind right outta him, realizing I've got no patience for this horseshit.
“Shut the fuck up, kid. You know why I'm here. You just couldn't let it fucking go, could you? You had to snap our pics when our heads were turned and leak it to the paparazzi!”#p#分页标题#e#
Slowly, I draw my hand away, and tears start foaming at his eyes. “It wasn't me, Sterner! I promise, I swear – I vow to Christ!”
“Yeah?” I blink, barely even amused. “Who the fuck, then? You're telling me it was the tooth fairy?”
“My dad found out what happened. He wouldn't go down without a fight, he wanted to destroy you, wreck Spree's reputation.” Dan clenches his teeth, as if he's afraid to let out the rest. “I begged him not to put a PI on your tail, but he wouldn't listen. He hired some photographer from Hollywood, some guy who's damned good at getting celebs in compromising positions. I begged him not to, Sterner, I fucking begged. Please don't do this...please, please, please.”
He closes his eyes softly. I let out a long sigh.
It's a cute story, and the asshole's a mighty fine actor. Only problem is, my boys tell me Martin Jacobsen's been laid up for more than a month after a golfing accident. Slipped disk or something, the kinda pain that makes you too paralyzed to get pissed enough to fuck with someone else, much less hire some jackass to follow Claire and me down the coast.
“Sterner? Tyler?” His voice is so soft. “You believe me, don't you?”
“Sure, bud. I read you loud and clear.” I tighten my grip on his mouth, covering it as he starts to squirm. Then I look at my three guys and nod. “Burn this fucking place to the ground.”
My guys rip the gas cans outta their bags and pop the caps. Half a minute later, the living room reeks like a fuel tanker, and they're spreading out across the condo, pouring gasoline on everything.
The asshole in my hands completely flips his shit. He's shaking, biting, clawing at me like a rat in a trap. I just hold him down and make him watch. Tommy stops above what's probably his favorite chair and empties the rest of his canister on it.
When all three boys are finally standing next to me again, I pull my hand off his mouth. “Have you lost your fucking mind!?”
“You wanna find out?” I growl. “Everybody in here's gonna throw their fucking matches if you don't shut the fuck up. We'll pull the alarm in the hall as a courtesy to your neighbors, and let you roast. You'll have this building all to yourself while it goes up in flames.”
Blood drains from his face. “Jesus. God. I'm sorry I lied. You were right. I'm sorry I sent those cameras, Sterner, I'm so goddamned sorry.”
“Sorry? We're past apologies, fuckface. The only thing that's gonna save your ass from burning is making sure you never, ever do it again.”
He starts shaking his head. “Oh, no. I promise I won't. I'll swear on anything you want, on my own fucking life!”
Sighing, I grab him by the hair, lift his head up, and smash his forehead sharply on the floor. He sits up, dazed and confused, trembling as he takes the scene in. I'm not listening to anything 'til he gives me the look that says he knows we're mad dogs ready to bite.
I count to ten. Finally, it's there, clear and tiny as the pinpricks in his eyes.
“I'll level with you, Dan. I'm about to move a long ways away and I won't be here to fuck you up personally anymore.” Grabbing his head in both hands, I crane it 'til he's looking at my guys. “That's why I brought these boys along as a reminder. They're local. They'll be watching and waiting for you to fuck me, to fuck over Claire, and if you do...well, the matches come out next time. Maybe we turn your home to cinders, or just your old man's offices. Or maybe they just take you out to some pristine, isolated section of Cascades wilderness and blow your fucking brains out.”#p#分页标题#e#