Torpedo Ink team had been working together since they were children. Bringing in another individual, no matter how skilled he was, could be dangerous to all of them. Savage had agreed to work with him as his partner.
“Used to keep us blindfolded,” Destroyer murmured. His voice was slightly hoarse, as if somewhere along the line his throat had been damaged. “I spent a great deal of time alone so had time to practice listening for sounds. Became very accurate at finding rats scurrying in the cages with me. Could hit them precisely every time by my second year there. By my third year, I didn’t need eyesight.”
There was no bragging. He didn’t look at any of them. He wore dark glasses most of the time. Absinthe had rarely seen him without those glasses. Up close, he was all muscle, but the kind of man that could move fast and strike hard. There was no wasted movement. When he was still, he was absolutely still. Like a mesmerizing cobra. Absinthe had the feeling that if he took off those glasses, his eyes could hypnotize his prey. He had scars everywhere. Far more numerous than those of the Torpedo Ink members—and that was saying a lot.
“You aren’t eating,” Alena pointed out.
Absinthe knew it cost her to even talk to the man. She didn’t want any part of him but when it came to food, she didn’t like anyone going hungry.
“I can make it taste better. I know it’s pretty nasty,” she offered reluctantly. Destroyer was the only one who hadn’t handed his plate over to have her doctor it.
Storm had stolen a large bowl of potato salad right out from under the noses of the Venomous club. He’d taken it off the back of one of the trucks when they were unloading. Ice had scored the plates and silverware while Alena had somehow gotten a few spices, pickles, olives and condiments.
Destroyer shrugged. “No need. I’m used to crap food.”
“Don’t be an asshole martyr,” Alena snapped and yanked the plate out of his hands.
Absinthe had to turn away, hiding a smile. He noticed her brothers did the same. Destroyer might tower over her, but she didn’t back down from anyone. Not ever.
“The other two daytime managers for the other clubs down there as well?” Czar asked, ignoring the byplay between his newest team member and Alena.
Absinthe knew Czar never missed anything. He was well aware of the tension between them. Alena wasn’t happy Destroyer was a member of their chapter and Destroyer was well aware of it. He simply didn’t care. No one could survive the prison he’d been in for the years he had without becoming one tough, brutal being. He was an enigma.
Absinthe had faith in the president of Torpedo Ink. Czar had never steered them wrong or misjudged anyone. He had personally vouched for Destroyer. That meant he knew more than the rest of them. He might not feel it was his right to share everything with them, but he believed in the man. That was enough for Absinthe. Clearly, it wasn’t for Alena and it might not be for some of the others. Destroyer would have to prove himself, although it looked as if he wasn’t in a hurry to make that happen.
“Wings is there, just to the left of Jacko. He’s daytime manager for the Felix Club,” Savage identified.
“Wings is reputed to have been the one to decide the fate of the woman they chose as their example for the other women to cooperate,” Absinthe said. “He came up with the punishment and wrote it all down step by step and sent it to the other managers so they’d all know exactly what to do when they took her. Code sent the emails to us. I read them and you know once I get that shit in my head, I can’t get it out.”
He rubbed at his neck, wishing Scarlet was there. He’d left her with Steele’s team. He knew they’d guard her, but he didn’t like the separation, especially on the heels of their traumatic wedding night. They didn’t have the best start to their marriage, but she was sticking with him. He didn’t know how much sleep she’d actually gotten the night before. He’d been so exhausted after his flashback and confessing everything to her that he’d fallen asleep almost immediately.
Scarlet was dozing when he’d woken in the middle of the night and kissed his way down her body, burying his mouth between her legs, waking