He studied the other items on the floor. Gunner narrowed his eyes when he saw the handkerchief and the small clear bottle containing some sort of liquid. He picked the bottle up and gave it a sniff.
Smelling chloroform, he angrily smashed the container on the ground. Gunner pictured Black shoving a chloroform-filled handkerchief over Paige’s mouth and Paige blacking out. He imagined Black dragging her body and dumping it in the trunk of his car.
Black squirmed backward then froze when Gunner pointed the gun right between his legs. Wetness appeared on Black’s pants, and the smell of ammonia filled the air. Gunner guessed that losing that part of his anatomy had scared Black shitless.
“Richard Montgomery hired you to kidnap Paige, didn’t he?” Gunner asked, barely able to hear himself.
His gun had a silencer, and even if it didn’t, no one here would bother giving the cops a call if Gunner decided to end this bastard’s life. Luckily for Mr. Black, Gunner needed answers.
Besides, Black was just a flunky. Who he really wanted to bury was Richard Montgomery. What was Richard planning to do to Paige once Black delivered her at Richard’s feet like some kind of sick present?
Gunner immediately calmed down. Laying out this trap had been a good decision. Giving in to his anger wouldn’t help him or Paige.
“Don’t deny who hired you,” Gunner said.
“You don’t understand. I can’t tell you jack shit. My employer has connections,” Black said with a whine. “He’ll ruin me if he knows I failed him. I won’t be able to work another job again.”
That only confirmed Richard was the one who hired Black. “Then let me ask you this,” Gunner said. “What do you value more: your life or your job?”
“My life,” Black finally said. “I’ll tell you everything.”
“Good. We’re going for a ride. Get up.” Gunner hauled the bastard to his feet.
“Where are we going?” Black asked,eyes wide with fear.
“Someplace quiet. During the ride, I want you to think long and hard about your situation.” There was a special room in the MC clubhouse especially designed to question prisoners and enemies. There, Gunner and Black wouldn’t be disturbed.
Chapter Eight
“This family meeting is adjourned. Unless anyone has something to say?” Charles Montgomery asked the family members gathered around the dining table.
Richard had always pictured himself in Charles’s place, at the head of the table. That was where he belonged. Too bad his old man didn’t seem to have any intention of dying soon.
“Uncle Charles, are you should we should let Richard continue managing our investments? He can’t even hold on to his wife,” Duke joked.
Richard glared at the asshole. Duke was just a second cousin and had an unimportant role as a regional manager to one of the family’s less-important companies.
Who the hell did Duke think he was? Richard’s father let the comment slide and exited the room. The old man knew Richard wanted to have a word with him, damn it. How long was he going to endure such snide comments from flunkies like Duke? Richard tried to catch up to his father, but the old man seemed intent on avoiding him.
“Father, wait,” Richard called out. Charles was already getting inside his car. The driver held out the door for Charles.
“What do you want, Richard?” Charles asked, sounding irritated.
“So, you’ll just let Duke and the others continually insult me like that?” Richard asked.
“You made a mockery out of yourself, Richard. This is your mess, not mine,” Charles said dismissively.
His father slammed the car door and drove off, leaving Richard seething in the driveway. He walked back to his own car, checking his cell phone. Black should have an update for him by now. Hell, Black promised to contact him four hours ago. Still nothing.
Black charged an exorbitant amount for Richard’s latest request. Richard expected Black to deliver Paige to his penthouse suite at exactly this time, bound and still groggy from the chloroform.
Richard texted Black, sending a threat with his message. If Black didn’t contact him soon, then he wouldn’t get the rest of the payment Richard promised. With Black, Richard found that money was a good motivator.
He drove home, pissed off at his father, at Black, and most of all, at the bitch who ruined his life. Thanks to Paige’s actions, he had to resort to drastic measures like hiring scum like Black.
Richard arrived at his suite half an hour later. His carefully chosen paintings and artifacts usually calmed him, but not today.
Once again, Richard tried calling Black, but Black’s phone was out of service. Dang it to hell.
