Midnight Shadows Read Online Free Page A

indignity got worse as a cloth was shoved into his gasping mouth and then covered by duct tape. Armando struggled, jerking at the hands that grabbed at him. Before he knew it, his clothes had been cut from his body and he found himself lying naked, spread eagle on the surface of the pool table. They’d uncuffed his hands and then used tape to bind his ankles and wrists to the four corners of the table.  
    Even though his heart was thundering in his chest, Armando tried to tell himself he wasn’t in that much danger. He had never once thought of betraying the man who’d dug him out of the sewer and given him a chance. Once they realized how loyal he’d been, they’d let him go. So what if he had to suffer a little embarrassment in front of Walker and the woman. It would be no worse than that.
    “Okay, now that you’re all comfy, let’s hear what you’ve got to say.”
    The moment the gag was removed, Armando started talking. “I’ve done nothing to betray him. I promise.”
    “Really?” Marsh said.
    Agony exploded in his kneecap. Armando squealed and screamed. Opening his tear-glazed eyes he saw one of the men had a hammer. They’d busted his knee!
    “Why are you doing this?” Armando sobbed. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
    “Tell me who else you’ve been blabbing to.”
    “No one. I swear.”
    “Come now, Armando. In one freaking visit, you told that shrink every little secret you’ve had since you were in grade school. He can’t be the only one you’ve shared secrets with.”
    Armando shook his head, feeling an unaccountable betrayal. Cummings was a respected psychiatrist. Doctor and patient confidentiality should have protected Armando. And Robert? How could he have done this to him?
    “I can see you’re shocked, Armando. Let me assure you that Dr. Cummings felt quite torn for telling your secrets. However, his oath didn’t extend to the man who ordered his brother-in-law killed.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Remember Rodney Hawkins?”
    “No, never heard the name.”
    “That’s probably because you’ve killed so many, but believe me, Dr. Cummings remembers. When the boss approached him with the offer of serving as your doctor as payback, he jumped at the chance. Boss knows that everyone has a price. He proved it. So let’s get back to the business at hand. Who else have you told your secrets to?”
    “No one. I swear!”
    “Not even Lauren?”
    “Of course not. She knows nothing.”
    “Why don’t we ask her ourselves? Where is she?”
    “I don’t know. I can’t find her. I told Dr. Cummings I couldn’t. I—”
    Agony exploded again, this time in his other knee. Armando bit down on his lip, tasting blood. Behind the blur of excruciating pain, he heard the woman scream, “Stop!”
    Armando gave little thought to the oddity that the woman was the only one who was trying to end this atrocity.  
    “Please…please,” Armando pleaded. “I promise. I don’t know where she is. Dr. Cummings is the one who persuaded me to stop looking for her.”
    “You’re right. He told us that. We just wanted to make sure you were telling the truth. Boss said he wants to know about her though. Where her family is. Where she’s from. Said the short time they spent together they didn’t do much talking.”
    He now deeply regretted giving Lauren to the brutal bastard he had called friend. He’d thought it was a nice gesture. Robert had turned fifty. What better birthday present than to give him what Armando cherished the most, his lovely Lauren? When she had returned to him, she’d been bruised, a little battered, but other than one silent accusing look, she had never complained. The next week, after she healed, she’d come back to his bed like she had never left it. He’d thought things were okay, but two months later, she’d been gone.
    “I never told Lauren any of my business.”
    “I thought we’d established that. What I asked was, where is she from? Where’s her family