Page 95 of Broken Wheels
“Give me five minutes with him,” Dix growled. He glanced at Mordaunt. “I promise you, he’ll talk.”
Mordaunt arched his eyebrows. “You don’t scare me. Besides, you’d never go after someone who’s cuffed to a chair.”
Dix let out a wry chuckle. “I think there’s something you need to keep in mind. I’m not a cop or a fed, so I don’t give a flying fuck if I’m violating your rights. After I finish, they can arrest me. I’m cool with that.” Dix wanted out of there. He had better things to do, like go see if Doc was okay. He was safe—Dix had made sure he wasn’t alone—but considering what had just gone down, he could be in a real state.
Chalmers held up the vial and syringe they’d taken from Mordaunt. “Is this what killed Vreeland?”
Mordaunt arched his eyebrows. “Who?”
Enough was enough.
Dix slammed his hand on the desk, the noise loud in the tiny room, and Mordaunt flinched. Dix leaned toward him, deliberately keeping his voice low, aiming for menace. “You shot my boyfriend. That was a death sentence right there, as far as I’m concerned. Then you came back to try to finish the job. Trust me when I say having you cuffed just means I can take my time and enjoy it more.”
“Dixon?” Chalmers’s voice held a note of warning. “We need him alive.”
“Sure. But there are levels to being alive,” Dix muttered. “Besides, we do have another route we can go through. Dr. Malone is known for being a philanthropist. When word gets out to the media, they’ll descend en masse. And when we tell them we have the subject in custody and he’s cooperating?” He offered Mordaunt a sweet smile. “I’m sure that’ll get back to the person he’s working for.”
“You can’t do that.” Mordaunt paled. “He’ll kill me.”
“Like I wouldn’t?”
Mordaunt shook his head vehemently. “You don’t understand. No one goes against the boss. Not if they expect to live, at any rate. He’s….” He looked Dix in the eye. “No, I’d rather you kill me than let him do the job. Shit, I’d rather kill myself.”
In the silence that followed, a shiver trickled down Dix’s spine.
Who is this boss that he can engender such fear?
And what would happen when they finally met?
Chapter 28
As soon as Dixon and the others hauled the would-be assassin from the room, Josh’s facade of calm crumbled into dust. He’d done his best to put up a brave front—no way was he going to show that fucker any sign of nerves—but now that it was over, he couldn’t stop shaking. He was grateful the CrossBow agent had elected to stand out in the hallway, because Josh didn’t think he could have held in his emotions a second longer. Eventually his tremors subsided, but inside, he was still freaked the hell out.
I could have died.
If it hadn’t been for Dixon, he’d probably be lying in the morgue with a sheet pulled up over his face. And that would suck hairy donkey balls, as they said in high school.
The door opened, and Josh froze, even though he knew such a reaction was illogical. Dixon walked in, heading straight for him, and Josh couldn’t hold it in anymore. He hiccupped, fighting the tears that were already sliding down his cheeks.
Dixon sat beside him on the bed, his arms around him. “Hey, it’s okay,” he crooned. “You’re safe, he’s gone.”
“Yeah, he is.” Josh stared at him. “Will they send someone else? Will they keep sending people until I’m dead?” He leaned into Dixon. “I’m scared.”
“I’d be shocked if you weren’t,” Dixon told him. “This is some scary shit we’re dealing with. Now you know why I’ve been saying you need to stay in our room at CrossBow until this is taken care of.” Josh stilled, and Dixon leaned back, peering at him. “What’s the matter?”
He smiled. “You said ‘our room.’”
Dixon grunted. “I’m sorry. I know I said I could be patient and?—”
“No!” Josh interjected. “I’d… I’d like it to be our room. The thought of going back to Grandma’s old apartment doesn’t fill me with the comfort it used to. I was living her life, not mine.” He looked Dixon in the eye. “I want one of my own, with you. If you still want me.”
Dixon cupped Josh’s cheek. “I will always want you,” he vowed. “I have from the first time I saw you get out of your car and head for the doors, and then go back because you left something behind.” He chuckled. “You did that a lot. And every time I saw it, I fell deeper in love with you.”
Josh blinked. “Because of my forgetfulness?”
Dixon laughed. “No. Because of your earnest and caring nature, the fact that no matter how frustrated you got, you never let it weigh on you. The fact that one day you actually remembered my name.”
“I’m sorry.”