Play Dirty (Wages of Sin #2) - Neve Wilder Page 0,45

get him to drink some water first.” Azrael leaned against the metal door once the guy had closed it behind him. “The shot I gave you was to revive you, not kill you, Madigan. Like I said, I overshot the dose by a little bit. Five minutes and it will subside. Try to relax.” He pushed off the door and strolled closer.

Relax. Madigan had been trying to for weeks, but apparently the universe wasn’t done dragging his ass over the shattered glass of his poor judgment calls. He exhaled a bitter chuckle. “Fuck you, you lying piece of shit. I fucking knew I should’ve—” A fresh tendril of pain shot through the bruise rising on his cheek as Azrael clapped a hand over his mouth. His other hand came to Madigan’s throat and squeezed in warning.

Madigan checked the urge to buck beneath the grip, his breaths coming harsh and labored through the stifling heat of Az’s palm.

“Listen to me. There are no cameras in this room”—Az spoke barely above a whisper into Madigan’s ear—“but it’s bugged. Watch what you say.”

His grip relaxed enough for Madigan to suck in a ragged gulp of air. “Like hell I’ll—” And there went the rest of his breath.

Az sighed. “My least favorite aspect of you, motek: the fact that you won’t shut up, even when it’s good for you.”

“Really?” Madigan couldn’t shake the rawness in his throat. He regretted not chugging more of that water when he’d had the chance. “You seemed to enjoy it when—” Black spots danced at the edge of his vision as Az clamped down on his windpipe again.

With a snarl, he gave up and thunked his head back against the chair, trying to twist away when Az stroked his fingertips over his cheek in a touch so gentle and careful it only stoked the rage bubbling over in his chest—though Madigan did note his heartbeat was no longer erratic. Didn’t seem to matter now, though.

“You’re in one of Bennington’s warehouses. I need you to trust me,” Az continued. Madi shook his head, gritting his teeth when Az cupped his chin until their eyes met. “I betrayed you. I know this. I’m not asking you to forgive me, only to trust me that there is a larger play at hand and that the outcome is one we both want.”

“Does it include you with a bullet in your skull?” he managed.

“It might before it’s all over and done with.” Az brushed a strand of hair from his forehead and gave Madigan a wan smile. “And if that’s the case, I hope it’s you who puts it there.”

“Trust me, it will be.” Given that he was chained up, Madigan had his doubts, but he made sure his tone didn’t betray his lack of confidence.

“You want me to help you back up into that chair, or will you stay on the floor? We’re going to be here a while.”

Madigan answered with stony silence, and Azrael moved toward the door, creaking it open before pausing on the threshold. “I left two bottles of water behind you. Drink them.”

Madigan lifted his middle finger absently, staring over Az’s shoulder and trying to construct a sense of place from what he could see beyond. But there was little to go on aside from more concrete and what appeared to be a long hallway. Nothing useful.

As soon as Azrael closed the door, Madigan was on his feet, assessing his situation. It didn’t take more than a handful of seconds to conclude that his position was shitty at best. The room had no windows. The metal chair was bolted to the floor. The shackles at his ankles and wrists were attached to chains bolted to the ceiling with links that could be adjusted. It was a pretty great set up, objectively speaking. He wished he could tell Jonah about it. Maybe it was time to upgrade their kill room in New York.

Fuck. Jonah. Madigan had messaged him when he’d arrived in Atlantic City, and Jonah was well aware of his dealings with Azrael. At least he could console himself that if he turned up dead and Jonah figured out that Az had betrayed him, Jonah would take him out.

Madigan scrunched his face up. But would he? Six months ago, Madigan would’ve said yes with certainty. Now, he wasn’t sure avenging his friend and former fuck buddy would be enough to lure him away from his love shack with Cas. Ah, fuck it, he was probably doomed to be cat