Compared to his father, he’d been considered a weird kid.
The door had opened, and his dad hadn’t been coming down to give him a beating. His dad had figured he would listen to what he said.
Bull hadn’t.
Even to this day, he didn’t know who they had brought down, or what he had done to deserve the beating and death that had been given to him. His dad never knew he was down in the basement. Never knew that he heard the man beg for his life while he was laughed at. It was the last day Bull had ever gone to the basement for fun and games. In fact, it was the last day Bull had played.
He’d grown up that day.
“I don’t know anything. You cannot keep me here,” George said.
Bull’s hand clenched into a fist, and he slammed it across George’s face. He was a strong man, and from the single blow, he knew he’d hurt George. Bull was aware of the sheer strength he possessed. No one could rival him.
For many years after that basement incident, Bull had vowed never to be a man in some guy’s basement, to be the hardest motherfucker around, and he’d succeeded at it all.
“That is the last and only lie that will spill from your lips while we’re here, you got it?”
“Are you fucking crazy?” George asked. “This cannot be happening. You can’t do this to me.”
“I don’t see anyone coming to claim you, George. Now, I know you’re just a kind vet who helps out a load of animals for you to feel all warm and fuzzy, but that’s not the case. You went to that fucker. You’re the one who set up the dogfighting ring, and you’re going to tell me what the fuck happened. Who your contacts are, and you’re going to give me the directions to the men who beat up Maddie, or else it’s not going to end well for you.”
“I can’t help you,” George said. “They’ll kill me.”
“You think this is going to be fun for you?” Bull got up and walked across the room. He found a dinner tray. The kind kids had in high school at lunch breaks. He picked it up, walked across the room, and used it across George’s face. This time, he did hold back. The idea wasn’t to kill him, at least not yet, but it was to hurt him and scare him.
The image of Maddie broken, on the floor, hurt and bleeding, played across his mind. With that, he wrapped his fingers around George’s throat and squeezed. It would be so easy to end his life. To rid the world of another piece of maggot flesh that didn’t deserve to live.
But he needed answers. Bull let him go.
George had already started to piss himself, crying. It was a shame. Bull had gotten so good at torturing people. He enjoyed taking the time, getting all creative in how to bring the maximum amount of pain.
“Please. Stop. I will tell you everything,” George said.
“Everything?”
George nodded.
Bull smiled. “And here I was thinking you were going to play hard to get. See. I’m always fair to those who offer me a good deal. Now tell me everything you know and don’t leave a single little thing out.”
George started to talk, and Bull listened to his little tale. He didn’t know for sure if he was telling the truth, but he at least had something to work on, and that was all he needed right that moment.
Chapter Ten
The odd beep.
Maddie turned her head left, then right. Or was it right then left? She frowned. Why was everything a little fuzzy? She heard a noise. Something echoed.
Opening her eye, she saw that the world was still blur, but she could only see out of one eye. That made no sense. She closed her eyes again and tried to open both. She felt like she was opening them but could only see out of one.
What was going on?
Her body … was a little numb.
She lifted her arm, and it felt like a dead weight. It was in a cast. One of her legs was also elevated.
“Get a doctor.”
Maddie knew that sound. She turned her head to see Bull. That was it.
“Maddie, can you hear me?”
She reached up to touch Bull, but he captured her hand.
“It’s okay. Can you talk? Do you remember anything? What day is it?”
Why was he asking her so many questions?
She opened her mouth and tried to speak, but it hurt. Her mouth felt so dry. “Water?”
“Water.” Bull let go of her hand, and the next thing she knew, he held a straw against her lips. She took it and began to suck. Water hit her stomach, and she was grateful. Her throat still felt like it was sore, but it wasn’t painful. He moved the water away and touched her hand once again.