The Way Home by Shannon Flagg Page B

outside to help bring her in, she stood no chance. Her husband began to fight his restraints at the sight of her, but in no time she was tied down in a chair next to him.
    “She pulled a gun on me,” Houdini informed Deacon as he took it out of his pocket. “Found two more on the first floor, figure there's more upstairs. Could send a couple of the guys over, replenish our stocks, so to speak.”
    Rita Clark was staring daggers at The Vikings while her husband was looking at her desperately, as if any indication she'd even thought of him since entering the room would be enough. An idea was starting to emerge that Ethan wasn't the brains behind their operation. Maybe Rita was who they'd needed to have here all along.
    “Interesting,” Deacon turned his attention to the woman. “I'm going to take the gag out and you're going to answer some questions or I'm going to cut your husband's fingers off one by one.”
    Rita stayed still as he removed the gag. “Cut off his fingers. I'm not going to tell you anything except that you don't know who you're fucking with and after all this is over, I'm going to have your head mounted in my den. I've always wanted a wolf head. Don't look so surprised. Of course I know. Hell, the whole town knows. Anyway, like I said you don't know who you're fucking with. Now, the smartest thing you can do is untie us and let us leave.”
    “Here's the problem, Rita,” Deacon leaned in close to her. “That is not going to happen and once I'm done taking bits off of Ethan here, I'm going to start taking them off of you.”
    “Oh please,” Rita rolled her eyes. “You're Deacon Hawke, all honorable and shit. You're not going to a torture a woman. You don't have the balls.”
    “That's where you're wrong, Rita. I don't get the answers I want and I'm going to start with these pretty nails of yours. They look acrylic, which pretty much sucks for you, makes getting them ripped off even more painful.”
    Houdini felt a chill roll down his spine. The way Rita described Deacon had been pretty accurate back before everything went to hell; but now, he was a different man. A man capable of doing whatever it took to protect what he considered his. Still, Houdini nearly flinched when Deacon removed the pinky nail from her left hand.
    “You ready to talk now, Rita? Or should I start on Ethan?” Deacon held the bloody nail in front of her face. The woman didn't even flinch. “Houdini, grab me the bolt cutters.”
    It took Ethan Clark losing everything but his thumbs before Rita finally opened her mouth to speak. “Enough. You're looking for The Hunters, right?”
    “Right,” Deacon dropped the bolt cutters to the blood soaked plastic. “Tell me who is in charge and where I can find them. Tell me, now.”
    “They're everywhere and nowhere, rumor is they have a compound somewhere but they've never invited me there. All Ethan and I did was facilitate the transport of their merchandise.”
    “Of people,” Houdini cut in. “You helped them transport people, with families and friends, to be hunted like animals.”
    “They all were animals, at least once a month.” Rita smirked but only briefly. Deacon slapped her across the face. “Fuck, that was unnecessary. As I said, we only arranged transportation. The name on the documents was RI Ltd. That's all I know. Truthfully the money was too good to ask questions.”
    “Was the money worth your life?” Deacon questioned. “You and Ethan helped move hundreds of people to their deaths. Do you really think that you're going to get away with that? That you can just walk away?”
    “There's a traitor among you.” Rita blurted out the words. “I know who it is. If you kill me, you'll never find out.”
    “And why should I believe you?”
    “Because the level to which this person can, and intends to, betray you will bring everything tumbling down. Perhaps, if they're known to you, you can stop that and have a fighting chance. Really a fighting chance is the