Isa.” I use her nickname for the first time, but this is an intimate situation, so I feel it calls for it. “I need him talking, not full of holes. I could do as much myself if I want him bleeding out.”
“He’ll either sing like a bird, or else be my target practice. It’s been awhile. I can use it. Unless I’m hurting your male ego with all this gunplay?”
“And here I believed I was the brutal one. Remind me to hide the knives and guns from you when it’s your time of the month, hm, darling?”
“Scared of your wifey, Max? But I thought you were all strong and powerful?” she teases, finally losing the scowl she’s had since I arrived.
“I am, lovey. Trust me, I am. I can’t wait to show you just how big and strong I am. You’ll enjoy it.”
The idiot before us cries and stammers a bunch of useless rubbish. I huff, “Your way isn’t working. Give me my gun back and I’ll promptly take care of this.”
She ignores me, taking a step toward the prick. “Hey, Robbie?” she calls sweetly. “If you don’t tell me what I want to know, I’m going to have to start hurting you.”
He manages to grit out, “Crazy fucking bitch!”
It’s all the motivation I need. His head snaps back as I land a hearty punch to his left cheek. “Don’t call her names, you fucking-fuck. She’s done nothing to deserve your negative shit.” I will not tolerate anyone speaking to her in such a manner. I’ll rip out their fucking jugular.
“Y-y-you’re both fucking crazy.”
Ismerlda shoots him in the knee. He keens, then wails a bit, before eventually giving up his beloved uncle’s address to his safe house. It won’t be so safe now, however. I have to hand it to Ismerlda; she doesn’t cower in the face of a bit of torture. I should’ve guessed with her response when I’d killed her men at the engagement announcement. That night feels like long ago at this point.
I beam her way, impressed with her tenacity when faced with so much blood and a bit of stress. Perhaps she’s stronger than I initially gave her credit for. She was attractive before, but now, she’s positively gorgeous in my eyes. I send a text to myself with the address so I don’t forget and then offer Ismerlda some much deserved praise. “Brilliant, and he’s still alive. Color me impressed. You’re a proper interrogator who could show my crew a thing or two. Maybe this marriage is happening for more reasons than I’d considered.”
“Will you kill him now?” she inquires, and I tilt my head, taking her in a bit more. She’s still not fearful of me. No matter what I do, I can’t get a full read on her. She’s frustrating, yet intriguing.
“I will. Can’t have him running off and telling anyone. Also can’t leave him to slowly bleed out. He’ll start to smell.”
She snorts, then aims, fires, and shoots Roberto center of his forehead. There’s no doubt in my mind anymore whether she’s had shooting lessons or not. It takes skill to connect in each spot she so flawlessly did today. “Did you not care for him?” I ask, genuinely curious. I didn’t peg her as a killer. I tease about her doing my head in, but this was cold-blooded murder.
She huffs a chuckle, shaking her head. “No. He was a sexist pig and deserved every bit he received today. You forget, I grew up around some of these guys. Robbie grabbed my butt when I was seventeen and told me I’d make an even finer piece of ass if I knew how to make him a ham sandwich. I’ve been waiting years to take my rage out on him.”
I whistle through my teeth, committing it to memory not to make sexist remarks at her expense. That’s never been much of my thing anyhow, aside from tormenting her a bit. We have a sexual chemistry, I can sense it. However, this bird clearly holds a bit of a grudge, and I need to keep as much in mind. “Would it make me a sexist arse right now if I told you I’ve never seen a woman look more radiant than you do at this moment?”
Her head tilts a bit, copying my move, her expression growing soft as she looks me over. A beat later, she holds the Glock out, relinquishing the weapon back to me. I quickly tuck it back in my holster.