Page 31 of Dangerous Command

I may have been getting mixed up with the Adlers again, but that didn’t mean I had to do it their way. I could get Uncle Ray to talk through other, less brutal means.

Everyone had that impulse toward violence deep inside of them, but I didn’t have to let mine control me. I could be different. Keep it buried.

I could show the Adlers that you don’tneedviolence. At least not every time.

Uncle Ray’s eyes were puffy, and his lip was scabbed over. The last time I had seen him, Uncle Ray had been skittish, yet confident, but right now, he couldn’t look at me. He had the same dark hair and eyes as Derek. You could tell they shared blood.

Maybe being family wouldn’t do anything for him. But maybe his reasons could save him.

“Ray?” I asked. His eyes flicked to mine, then back down to his hands. “I’m Maddie. We’ve met a few times. I’ve worked for the Adlers for the last several years.” The more authority I gave myself, the better my chances were at getting him to talk. “Do you know why you’re here?”

Silence followed that remark.

“Do you know why Axe was tracking you?”

Axe came forward, his shadow looming over the two of us. He raised a fist to hit his uncle in the back of the head.

“What the hell, Axe?” I snapped. “I’m only asking him a question. He can ignore me if he wants.”

“You can talk to Maddie,” Derek added. He leaned against the wall. “Axe won’t cut out your tongue for that.”

Uncle Ray shifted in his seat, then twirled his fingers together, the cuffs creaking with the movement. Then he flicked his fingernails back and forth.

“I know why,” Uncle Ray mumbled.

“Why?” I asked.

“I was suspicious.”

“But did you do anything to make yourself suspicious?”

“I was going to Brackston when the business didn’t call for it.”

“And what’s in Brackston?”

Uncle Ray turned his head, staring at the wall beside the standing cage as if he longed to be back inside of those metal bars. Like the cage could save him more than I could.

“I’m trying to help you,” I said.

He squinted his eyes at me. “You? Help me?” He went to throw up his hands but they were stuck to the buckles on the table. “You’re funny. You think there’s getting out of this.”

“The best thing that you can do right now, is work with me. For your family. Tell me the truth.” His eyelids lowered, and tears formed in his eyes. “What’s in Brackston?”

“Don’t ask me a question you already know the answer to.”

Derek palmed his gun, still resting in the holster. “Answer the question,” Derek said.

“Derek!” I motioned for him to quit it. He kept his hand where it was. Uncle Ray shrank down.

“Muro,” Uncle Ray said.

“Were you helping Muro?”

He nodded. Derek pulled out his gun, clicking back the hammer.

“Hold on,” I said, lifting a hand to stop him. “We’re not done here.” I turned back to Uncle Ray. “Did you kill Gerard?”

“No!” Uncle Ray yelled. “I would never kill my brother.”