Hostile Ground (The Arsenal #7) - Cara Carnes Page 0,10
were okay with the things he did, but the biochemical weapons were their sole focus.
For now.
Addy followed Kristof deeper into the darkened interior until they approached a lone bulb casting light onto a man secured to a chair. Blood oozed from a wound along the man’s swollen left eye and dribbled from his busted lip.
“You will die for this!” The man spat blood toward Kristof when he approached.
“I was under the impression you’d learned some manners since we last spoke,” Kristof said as he approached the man from the side and grabbed his blond hair. He glanced at the two armed men behind the captive. “Has he said anything more?”
Both shook their head. Neither spoke. What the hell was going on?
Addy approached. She scored her fingernail down the man’s damaged cheek and smiled when he cried out from the pain. Bile rose in her throat, but she slid into her Iriana persona. The sadistic merc enjoyed making people scream.
“You’ve been a bad boy,” Iriana whispered. “I’ll make you confess. One way or another, you’ll scream for me.”
The man’s good eye widened. He pulled at the restraints securing him to the chair. “You can’t do this. I’m protected!”
“There is no protection from me.” Kristof chuckled and pulled off his blazer. He handed it over to one of the minions. “Who do you think contacted me?”
“You lie.”
Addy kicked the man’s groin. His bellow echoed within the empty warehouse. She leaned forward. “Call him a liar again. Go ahead.”
The man cowered, pulling his face as far away from Addy as he could. “I’m sorry.”
“Where are they?” Kristof asked. “Tell me now before Iriana gets angry.”
“They aren’t yours,” the man said. Red rose in his face.
“You stole what wasn’t yours.” Kristof stood in front of the man and glared down. “I almost admire your blatant stupidity. Stealing women from your boss’s rival without him knowing. Or did he? Did Gavriil know?”
“Son of a bitch. This is about trafficking,” Zoey said. “Why the hell is he involving you in this? I’m going to kick his ass.”
Addy would gladly take the first shot at Kristof. He knew better than to involve them in any human trafficking. So far he’d abided by their rule.
“Did Gavriil know?” Kristof repeated.
“No.” The man shook his head. “He refused to get more! Said we could wait a few more months. He knows nothing!”
“How did you get them?” Kristof glanced at his perfectly-manicured nails, seemingly bored with the entire conversation.
The man glared up at Kristof.
“Very well.” Kristof glanced at Addy. “He’s all yours.”
Without hesitation, she pulled her gun out and shot the man’s knee. His screams filled her ears, but Addy welcomed the numbness she’d honed over twenty years ago. Act. React. There was no room for emotions on an op. Ever.
“Fuck.” Beast’s voice over the com fractured a bit of Addy’s control.
“Radio silence,” Jesse ordered.
“Bitch!” the man screamed.
Addy aimed and fired a shot into the second knee. Blood sprayed the area a second time. Kristof clucked his tongue in mock disapproval as he stepped around the splatter.
He chuckled. “I warned you not to piss her off. Where are they?”
When the man continued his pained screams rather than answer, Addy pressed the gun against the man’s crotch, but remained silent. Unwelcomed unease pricked her skin. She couldn’t vocalize the threat, not with Jesse on the com.
He’d been through a hell no one should ever endure. She wouldn’t remind him of what he’d undergone to enforce for Kristof. A whimper escaped him as she pressed harder.
“He asked you a question,” she whispered. “Please don’t answer. I’m just starting to enjoy myself.”
“A truck I parked at my cousin’s,” the man said.
“Address?” When the man hesitated, Kristof thundered. “Address! Now!”
When the man remained silent, Addy debated her reaction. She couldn’t follow through with the threat. She walked over to a small tray beside the table, set down her weapon, and donned gloves.
She returned to the man and smiled. “I was hoping you’d stay quiet. Time to play.”
She gripped the man’s thigh with one hand and squeezed his wound with the other. Screams filled her ears. She held the grip a few more seconds, then stepped back.
He cried out the address. “Please. No more.”
“Who helped you? How did you get them?”
Kristof’s question added more questions to her own growing list. Who had this bastard taken women from and why was he involving her in this shit? He knew better.
“They were in transport with one guard. They were moved every two days. I watched. Always only one