“Yes, I do. As you said, you don’t want her anymore. You offered her back to me.”
“I was testing you, and it seems you have a weak spot, my son.”
I nod to Sergio to let the kid go and rattle off my father’s address. Brody listens intently then runs out the door before I can say another word.
“Do you plan on ever calling me a doctor?” he asks as I go to walk out.
“No. Would you like Keir to find out about you?” I stare down at him and get no response, then I nod to Sergio. “He can dig the bullet out.” I slide my bottle of whiskey to him. “Drink up, old man, you’re going to need it,” I say with a grin before I walk out.
Chapter Four
Chanel
Merci’s head is in my lap. Malik left and locked us in his room, which I am grateful for. It has given me some time to think about what to do. I’ve banged, kicked, and tried to smash the door down to no avail. The old idiot has locked us out of the bathroom as well, he’s been gone for hours, and I need to pee.
“You sure do know how to pick them,” Merci says, finally waking up. She’s been out for quite a while.
Malik? Well, let’s just say he’s a fuckhead who gets off on hurting people.
The number of burns that litter Merci’s body right now…
… it’s inconceivable how someone could do that to another human being.
“I didn’t pick him,” I tell her, stroking her face. “He was a client.”
“I figured as much. We always knew you got the crazy ones. I guess crazy is always drawn to you.” She goes to move, to sit up, but lets out a small cry when she does.
“I’m sorry, Merci.” I try to help her while being careful not to touch her raw skin. When she is finally able to get up, she turns to face me, and her eyes go wide in shock.
“Chanel…” I bite my lip but release it quickly. It hurts. “What did he do to you?” she asks in a whisper.
I pulled a knife on him and cut him after he took his fists to my face repeatedly. I’ve become numb to it all, and I forgot it was there until she’s said something.
“It’s not as bad as what he did to you,” I whisper, reaching out to touch her ever so carefully. She recoils at my touch and looks at her skin. I’ve managed to put some clothes on her, so she isn’t naked anymore, but it’s only a t-shirt, and it is incredibly loose-fitting. I doubt she’d be able to bare anything else close to her skin right now.
“How are we going to get out of here?” She stands, and her legs are shaky when she does. Malik never said where he was going, just that he was leaving. Then he locked us in here and told me if I found a way out, he would find me.
Fuckhead.
He totally suffers from old-man dick.
“Okay, so maybe if both of us ram at the door?” she suggests.
“You’re covered in burns. That will hurt you so much more than me,” I reply as my eyes roam her. The wounds need to be dressed with antibiotic lotion or something before they become infected, if they aren’t already.
“It’s worth it. Would you rather stay and wait for that bastard to come back?”
My shoulder is already sore from trying so hard when she was passed out.
“Maybe if we…” I manage to stand, and Merci comes back and stands next to me, then leans forward.
“Okay, on three, run at it. If it’s anything like the movies, it will open.”
I chuckle, knowing it probably won’t budge, but I answer with, “Wishful thinking. My shoulder is on fire after so many previous tries,” I tell her, dropping down to a run squat.
Merci starts to count…
One…