Page 67 of Tone Deaf
“Goodbye, Rossetti.” Joust hangs up and I see nothing but red.
I throw my phone across the plane, and the device crashes against the wall. Once I clear my head, I pick it up. The screen is shattered and the cell isn’t working.
No matter, I know how to get to Royal Oaks. The second the jet lands, I grab a rental and head straight to the trailer park.
Fuck Joust if he doesn’t like it. I know Rick well enough. He was my partner for many years. If I don’t show up, he’ll kill Callum. And I can’t let that happen.
If anything, I’d give up my life for Callum’s, and I wouldn’t regret it because I know he would still have Pen.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Callum
I don’t know how long I’ve been out cold, but the moment I move, my entire body aches with pain. I stealthily open my eyes to gauge where I am, but that is a mistake. I close them again as my temples begin to pound in a steady rhythm, matching the pounding of my heart.
Breathe in. Breathe out.
Attempting to remain calm, I open my eyes again and turn my head to see where exactly I am. I quickly realize that my legs are bound at my ankles and my arms are tied behind my back—and fucking A but my arm below the split hurts like a bitch. Shifting my head slowly to the right, I see a fragment of light coming through a broken window blind.
Focusing on it, I follow the beam to a closed door, which isn’t that far from where I’m lying… I’m on a mattress. I sniff and recoil from the nasty smell. Mildew and dirt, and something else I’m afraid to name, penetrate my senses.
I groan in protest, but immediately tamp down the sound by clamping my mouth tight.
Too late. I hear heavy footsteps. The door swings open and a light blinks on, momentarily blinding me.
“Well, well, well. You’re finally up.” Rick bends down until he is eye level with me. His face is so close to mine, if he came any closer, I’d bite his nose off. “What? Nothing to say?”
“Fuck you,” I seethe.
“No, I’m not gay.” He chuckles as though he made a joke. “But if I were,I’dbe fuckingyou. Do you want some? Because Icouldaccommodate you,” he says with a wink.
“I’d rather die than let you touch me,” I grit out.
“Don’t worry, precious. Your man is on his way, and once he’s here, you can have him. Hell, you two can be together forever for all I care—and oh, by the way, this next bit of information is out of courtesy. Your father won’t see the light of day once I’m done with you and Dom.”
“My father?” I choke out.
What did you do, Brian?
“Yeah. He fucked over Victor Mastov. Stole money and drugs that weren’t his. And now Victor wants him gone.”
“How much?” I don’t know why I care, but I’m curious.
“Two mill, and some change.”
I have no words. This proves that Brian was a loser back then, and he still is. But do I want him dead? No—for my mother’s sake. She still loves the bastard.
“Hmm. Nothing to say?” Rick asks, a smirk plastered on his face.
I remain quiet, watching the psycho prick in front of me.
He chuckles, stands and walks out of what I now think is a bedroom. Rick left the light on, so I can see what’s around me. It takes me several attempts, but I’m finally able to sit up.
The binding on my wrists is tight. But with all the twisting around it took to sit, the rope Rick used loosened a bit and I’mable to wiggle my hands and get the blood flowing back into my fingers.
I glance down at the mattress and grimace at the sight. It looks even worse than it smells. Dark patches of mold and unrecognizable stains have me scooting away from those spots.
Voices from the other room make me pause and listen—apparently Rick isn’t alone. I try to identify the other voice—it could be Jordan, but I’m not sure. I listen and catch a few words, and the name Victor is loud and clear. My guess is that whoever Victor is, he’s sending people—and Rick isn’t happy about it, judging from his shouting and the sounds of glass being smashed and stuff being thrown around.