his swollen lips permitted the words to be understood.
Shaw shrugged, a sign he was untouched by the threat.
The man had an attitude reminiscent of the murdering fucker who'd taken his sister, whored her out to every dickhead on the street, and murdered her.
Penny had meant everything to him.
His sister was the only person who'd loved him. As her twin, he promised to protect her. The foster system wrote her off long ago. He'd made her a promise. It was the two of them against the world. They were supposed to be there for each other forever.
Twins.
They'd come into the world together. Nobody was supposed to take her away from him.
But, she'd slipped out of his reach. He was too late. He hadn't saved her.
Penny, I can't die. Not now. Josie needs me. Help me. Help me stay alive.
If there was still a connection running from him to her, he needed his sister now more than ever. Josie needed him.
"Once I'm done with you, I'm sure Josie would like if I brought her friend here." Shaw twirled the knife in his hand. "I believe Cami will comfort her while I decide whether I'm going to keep Josie or sell her for a bigger profit than her father received."
Paco struggled to get up with his hands tied. Cami was pregnant. He'd be killing an innocent baby.
As soon as he got to his knees, he slid on the wet bloody floor and went down, cracking his cheekbone on the floor.
Squeezing his eyes shut, he pushed up again and got to his hands and knees. He bared his teeth, battling the lightheadedness from the loss of blood. "You're a dead man."
The gunshot wound, the hundreds of cuts Shaw had made on Paco's body, the threats of him hurting Josie, pushed him to his feet. He weaved, slipping on the slick surface covered in blood.
"I'm afraid not." Shaw stood and kicked the chair out of his way.
Commotion filled the area behind Shaw. Two men stepped forward.
"We've got her, Askook."
Shaw motioned with his hand. "Bring her in."
Dragging his leg, Paco tried to move forward. As if sawed in half, the limb failed him. He fell. Landing with a grunt, he held his breath, needing to stay lucid
They couldn't be talking about Josie. She was safe. Tarkio members were looking out for her. Shaw wouldn't get her.
He clawed the floorboards with his fingers. Inside, he roared his rage. For hours, days, hell, he had no idea how long he'd put up with the torture until his body gave out, he'd fought to get his hands on him. To make him pay. To kill him.
Shaw smirked, enjoying his success when Paco failed once again to get his feet under him and toppled to his hip.
In a sitting position, he strained to see behind Shaw, but the man filled the space.
Shaking his head, he tried to clear the blood out of his vision.
He couldn't see a damn thing.
Flashing between hot and cold, tremors crippled him. He sagged forward, bracing his bound hands on his thighs.
"Looks like your time is up." The shadow of Shaw grew bigger.
Paco no longer flinched. There was nothing more Shaw could do to him.
Shaw grabbed Paco by the hair and tilted his face. "She's not even going to recognize you."
Staring sightless, all he could make out was a blur in front of him. He spit saliva and blood in Shaw's direction. "I'll kill you."
Shaw spoke in words that made no sense. Thick material covered Paco's head, and for an instant, he thought Shaw was going to suffocate him.
But the cloth left. He blinked, seeing better with the blood out of his eyes.
"I want her to see what we've done to you." Shaw stepped back.
Not taking a chance that Shaw was telling the truth about Josie being on the reservation, he said, "Kill me, and leave her alone."
"You're half right." Shaw turned and faced the door. "I will kill you."
Paco dragged in air, straining at the rope binding his hands. His heart beat irregularly, almost slow to the point his breath wouldn't come.
Josie!
Chapter 33
Josie
Pushed from behind, Josie fell to her knees. Blood tinged her tastebuds, having bit her tongue when she landed.
Her palms burned on the old wooden deck. A deck she recognized, having swept it weekly over the years.
Upon entering the Rez, she'd gone straight to the casino where Askook's men had sequestered her in the backroom and made one phone call. She'd known by the one-sided conversation they'd take her to Askook.
But why would