Page 91 of Riordan's Revenge
“Listen.”
She scrolled back. Pressed play.
“…I gave my life for the Four Milers. He’ll see it destroyed through his own bullshit ambition. It’s mine. It should be fucking mine. I proved myself over and over.”
Another voice sounded. Arran’s.
“You killed to provide that proof.”
“Aye, and I will again.”
“Who?”
“Those damn sluts.” Bronson ranted on, his words becoming incoherent.
Arran’s calmer tones returned. “Say their names, Bronson.”
I kept my focus on Cassie’s profile, not wanting to know what Shade was doing to elicit the information.
Bronson gasped, the sound wet. “The skeleton crew bitch? Alisha. She had it coming.”
“And the rest?”
“Think I asked their names?”
“Then tell me where.”
“The church steps, the back of a car, the empty mansion.”
I swallowed. That was exactly where the others had been killed, though it was an assumption that had been made for Natasha Reid who’d been dumped from a car outside the warehouse.
“Cherry, Natasha, and Amelia,” Arran said pointedly. Slowly. “You’re saying you ended their lives for the purpose of taking over the Four Milers?”
Bronson made a sound, a crooked, evil chuckle that I would never forget as it chilled me to the bone. “I never had a hope, did I? That fucker is going to kill the club. It doesn’t matter who I did or didn’t kill.”
“Confess it or deny it. This is your last chance.”
Something cracked. Bronson cried out.
“Daniels’ little sister would’ve been next. I’ll promise ye that. Aye, string me up for them all. I’ll die with the Four Milers in my heart and on my tongue. In my heart,” he screamed.
Cassie ended the video.
Silence fell around us. Enough light had gathered in the sky for me to pick out her pensive, distant expression. Whether it was from the loss of the kill, or his threat to her, I didn’t know. But I waited it out with her, sitting side by side until she took a breath and stood.
Together, we returned downstairs, traveling in silence to the ground floor and the management office. The clubs were shut, and we found Shade on Divide’s dance floor where Arran had amassed the remaining crew, dancers, sex workers, and other staff still here at the close of business.
People jostled each other, smiling. Picking up on the scent of celebration in the air.
“You’ll hear it on the news over your breakfast,” Arran was saying, “But I want you all to join me in saying fuck you to Bronson Lesk. He took Alisha from us. Lesk, I hope you burn in Hell. In Alisha’s name, Divine and Divide will be closed for a private party tonight. You’ll all get a full night’s pay in exchange for raising a glass with me.”
A cheer went up, relief passing over the crowd, two of the dancers hugging and sobbing.
Cassie didn’t smile. She slipped up to Shade and returned the phone to his care, then led me from the nightclub and back to her apartment.
In her bedroom, she eyed my t-shirt. “Can I sleep in that?”
I stripped it. Watched with hunger as she covered herself with it. When she climbed into bed, I got in with her. Hugged her but made no move to do anything more.