"He"—she nudged her head toward Enrique—"hit me and made me have sex with him."
"You what?" I lunged for him.
"Don't worry.” He held up his hands as I grabbed the lapel of his coat, slamming him against the wall. "I used a condom."
"You think that makes this better?" I growled into his face. I knew my feelings for Zell were showing, but I couldn't help it. Enrique's gaze moved to my father as though he was looking for help. "Don't fucking look at him. I asked you a fucking question."
"I … What?" he stuttered.
"Tell me what you fucking did to her."
"I—I just roughed her up a bit. We do that with unruly whores."
I was seconds away from kicking his ass when my father spoke. "Leave us."
I looked over at him and furrowed my brow. "What?"
"Now!" he ordered Enrique and Warren.
"What do you want us to do with her?" Warren asked as I released my grip on Enrique.
"I'll deal with her," Dad stated. "Now, get the fuck out."
"Yes, sir," they responded at the same time.
"You're just going to let them leave?" I questioned, waving my hand in their direction.
He held up his hand and moved back to his desk, crossing his arms across his chest. The door closed, leaving me, Zell, and my father alone.
"Are you just going to let them do this to Zell?" I asked. "You know she's not one of the whores at the penthouse."
"You mean to tell me that she is only your whore?"
I stared at my father. Was this a trick? He knew I went to the penthouse to be with Zell. "You know the first time I was with her that she was a virgin," I stated. That was no longer a lie. "I've been breaking her in."
Zell started to cry harder. She had to know I was lying to protect her.
"Since she is your whore, you're going to deal with this," Dad stated.
"Okay."
"All of it."
"Okay," I repeated. This was our chance to somehow get her out of there, but I still had no place for her to go.
As if on cue, his cell phone started to ring. He picked it up. "Saffron."
Zell and I looked at each other, and I wished that she was in my arms. She was like a scared, abused cat, and I just wanted to comfort her. No matter what my father told me, I wasn't taking her back to that place. I knew doing so would impact my timeline for shutting down his trafficking, but Zell took precedence. I had cash from my cut of the drug sales, and that could get us by for a while—I hoped.
"I know. She's here," he advised Madam. "My men picked her up … I know, she told me … Yes, she told me about the guard … We're bringing her home … Yes, soon … Okay, bye." He hung up.
"I'll leave now," I told him, already knowing he wanted me to take her back to the penthouse.
"Not so fast." He set the phone back on his desk. I swallowed. "You need to deal with Enrique and Warren."
"Meaning?"
"They touched the merchandise. They know that's against the rules. What are you going to do about it?"
I drew my head back and blinked. Violence was his answer to everything. "You want me to kill them?"
"You need to set an example. Turning a blind eye won't make people fear you, Son."
"Who will take their place as grabbers?" I asked, trying to talk him out of it. Even though Enrique hit and raped Zell, I wasn't sure if I could kill anyone.
"We'll find others. Anyone will do anything for money."
I glanced at Zell again and then back at my father. "I need a gun."
Dad rose off the edge of the desk and walked to a picture behind his chair. He pulled the photo of a woman's face away from the wall and revealed a safe. He opened it and pulled out a silver handgun. "I've been waiting for this day to give you this. It was your uncle's."
I took it from him, trying not to show that my hand was trembling. I'd shot guns before, and now I realized it was my father training me without me knowing it. "Where do I do it?"
"The docks."
"Okay." I tucked the gun into the back waistband of my jeans. "Is that all?"
"Don't disappoint me."
"I won't. They fucking disrespected us." I knew that would get my father's approval. Disrespect was high on his ‘Do Not Fuck with Me’ list.
"Push them into the harbor when they're dead."
I nodded once and reached for Zell to take my hand. She did, lacing our fingers as we made it to the door.
"Oh, and, Frankie?" Dad called out. I looked over my shoulder at him. "Aim between the eyes."
I didn't have time to think of an actual plan. I knew I had to get them to the docks and then leave with Zell, and the only way that would happen would be if I drove and pretended they were just helping me take her back.
"Let's go," I ordered, pointing toward the main door.
"Yes, sir," Warren said and started to walk with us.
"What's going on?" Enrique questioned.
I stopped walking and looked at him. "Are you questioning my orders?” Out of the corner of my eye, I could see my father in the doorway of his office.
Enrique looked at my father for confirmation and then back at me. "No, sir."
"Then I suggest you get your ass moving."
"Yes, sir," he agreed.
"Keys," I barked and held out the hand that wasn't holding Zell's. I didn't fucking care that I was still holding her hand. It was clear they fucked up, and they would know that much before the night ended. Warren tossed the keys to me.
Zell didn't say a word as we walked out of the warehouse and into the cold night. I looked at what she was wearing and shook my head slightly. She was dressed in practically nothing, and I was freezing in my jeans and sweater I was wearing. I’d left my coat behind because I needed to get out of there fast.
I opened the passenger door for Zell and said to the guys, "Get in the back."
They nodded and did as I ordered while I went to the driver's side and climbed in. I hadn't driven in some time, but I knew how and had my driver's license.
"You better shut your mouth," I heard Enrique hiss to Warren as I got in.
I turned in my seat to look at them. "You two know you've fucked up. Just sit back there and shut up. I need to clean up your mess."
"Our mess?" Enrique argued. "She's the one who ran away. How were we supposed to know—"
"It's not about who she is," I hissed. "You fucked with merchandise, and now my father is pissed."
"So, what are you going to do?" Warren asked.
I looked at Zell. "Take her back, and then have you two drop me off at home."
Zell's eyes widened as though she couldn't believe I was saying that—that I was betraying her by doing what my father ordered. I had to let them think that was the plan.
"But first," I continued, "my father needs me to go on a buy from his supplier. Do you have your pieces on you?" I needed to know if they had guns too.