The woman.
The one I saw on the plane.
“Go to the bathroom and clean up. How ‘bout you try something, because I’d love an excuse to beat on your pretty little ass.”
My legs wobble as I stand straight and take a step. My muscles scream in protest and I wince in pain, trying desperately not to show him my weakness. He opens the door in the corner of the room to a grim-looking bathroom. The smell of sewage hits my nose and chokes my breath, but I have no choice. The tap in the filthy sink isn’t connected. I’m surprised the toilet even flushes.
The man is still lingering outside the door when I come out, showing me more of his tooth. The urge to elbow him in the jaw and knock out that piece of crap metal wakes me up and kick-starts my adrenalin again. “Do you have another bottle of water?”
“Bitch, you don’t get to ask for a damn thing.” He leers over my body, tongue flicking out over his lips. “If it’s a question of something you have that I want, now we’re talking.”
For the first time since I arrived, I want to go back into that awful cage. At least I’d be safe in there from this sleaze. My stomach lurches as my mind pictures a future I dread. God help me it won’t transpire, although right now I still have no idea what they want with me. The only way to find out is to have a conversation with the woman who brought me here.
“Just take me to whoever this boss lady is.” I walk ahead and towards the exit, my feet planting solidly on the dusty concrete while I hope they keep me vertical.
“This way,” the man rumbles and grips me around the neck with his hand. All the muscles in my body freeze at what he might do, but he simply steers me through a series of small, disused rooms, much like the one I’ve been housed in. Then we turn and step through an open doorway into a much lighter, cleaner room. There’s even a desk at the far end, and at the head, the woman I recognise from the plane.
“Come in. Sit.” She nods her head towards the seat in front of the desk waiting for me. I do my best to shrug out of the hold my current minder has on me and walk to my hot seat.
I cross my legs and keep my hands together. Nerves pump through my every cell and if I’m not careful, I’ll give away just how frightened I really am. My job is to stay alive and, if possible, get my brother out of trouble.
“Your brother hasn’t been very forthcoming with our questions or our requests. I’m hoping you will choose a different tact.” She raises one of her overly plucked eyebrows and looks down her pointed nose at me. She looks like a witch, but there’s no way I’d try anything with her. She has a look about her, one that screams caution.
“I’m not sure what I can tell you that my brother can’t.”
“We’ll see. How long have you been working with him?”
“All my life. We’re siblings. I’ve always worked alongside him.” It isn’t a lie. It isn’t the whole truth, either.
“Good. You seem smarter than him already. I can see you like the finer things in life perhaps?”
“I’m not sure what you mean?” Her question worries me. Like she already has all the answers and she’s just playing with me.
“And what of his connection with Marco Mortoni?”
“They did a deal together. Andreas wanted to grow his business.”
“More drugs through the Port.”
“No, diamonds,” I confirm. Surely, she knows all of this.
“The diamonds.” She picks up a case from her side and opens it. I can see a velvet lining cushioning a scattering of stones.
“I think you'll find those are mine.” My mouth speaks before I’ve engaged my brain and I regret it instantly.
A shock of pain radiates from the side of my face, and I stumble from my chair. I didn’t even see him sneak up. I can certainly feel it. The tang of copper seeps around my mouth and makes my taste buds tingle. I drag myself back up onto the chair and look at my assailant. He’s smiling again, showing an additional gold tooth on the other side of his mouth.
“Now, who is your supplier? We don’t just plan on taking your brother’s business, but yours as well.” She looks me straight in the eye as if I haven’t been knocked off my chair with a punch.
I stare right back at her but keep my mouth shut.
She nods, and this time, I grip the edge of the chair for balance. Now I know he’s here, he positions himself so he can land a punch right into my mouth again. The throb burns through my skin and my eyes begin to water from the pain. I clamp my teeth together, forcing my mouth closed.
“Loyal. Interesting.”
“You won’t get anything from me?” I state as firmly as possible. My blood churns inside of me with a fear so acute it expands from my chest and threatens to consume me.
She laughs lightly, her fingers tapping the table. “The key to all of this is your brother’s control over the port. It’s the reason we’re here. To open everything on the east coast up to us.Youare the weak link, and through you we’ll get what we want. Men have such a weakness for their women.” Her words chill me to the bone and I start to shake. “You’ve been very useful, Gabriella. Even if you tell us nothing. As well as your brother, you’ve also given us leverage over an adversary we’re very much looking forward to working with.”
