Page 36 of Monstrosity

"I swear I don't know. Bembe plays everything close. I'm just doing surveillance for him."

I believe him, which is unfortunate.

Dead ends piss me off.

"Tell me about the other women you've been watching."

"Just the coffee shop girls mainly. The blonde who's married to your Prez’s son. The Colombian who's yours. Sometimes others who come in regular."

"You have files on them?"

"On the laptop. Everything's there. Schedules, addresses, photos, vehicle info."

I nod to Geirolf, who goes to retrieve it.

This intel could be valuable, even if Carlos himself is just a bottom-feeder.

"How long have you been watching them?"

"Three months, maybe four. Bembe wanted to know everything. Their routines, their relationships, who matters to them."

"And what was he planning to do with this information?"

Carlos swallows hard. "Make examples. He said... he said one dead woman sends a message, but two makes a statement."

The knife goes deeper this time.

Carlos screams.

"Please," he whimpers when he catches his breath. "I told you everything. I'm nobody, just a guy with a camera."

"Just a guy with a camera who helped plan the murder of innocent women." I lean in close. "You know what I am, Carlos?"

He shakes his head, tears streaming.

"I'm a fucking monster." The words taste like truth. "I'm the thing Bembe should have warned you about. The kind of man who tortured Miguel Santos for hours and enjoyed every second."

"Santos is dead?"

"Very. And he died screaming, just like you're about to."

"But I told you everything!"

"You did. And I appreciate that." I pat his cheek almost gently. "But you watched my woman. You photographed my children. You think information buys you mercy?"

"Please—"

"Did Bembe tell you what happened to the men who killed my wife?" I ask conversationally, selecting the pliers from the table. "No? Let me educate you."

What follows is a lesson this man never wanted to learn.

I work methodically, professionally, making sure Carlos understands the price of threatening what's mine.

Start with the fingers—bones snap like twigs, each break punctuated by screams.

Move to the teeth—pliers grip and pull, blood flowing freely.

Bodul turns green but doesn't look away—good kid, he'll learn.