“Nylah is –”
“What’s your interest in the nurse and her sister? Seems a bit obsessive,” I observed, cutting him off.
His cheeks reddened. “We’re good friends, not that it’s any business of yours.”
“Course not,” I agreed with a shrug, “but she’s under my protection now. Thought you should know.”
His hands clenched. “Nothing is going to happen to Nylah or her sister. I take my job seriously.”
I puffed another deep drag on my cigarette and then dropped the butt, crushing it beneath my boot. “Good. If anything happens to either of them, I’m coming after you first.”
Sputtering, he opened his mouth to object. I held up a hand.
“Shouldn’t you be inside? Can’t exactly protect anyone from out here, can you?”
James narrowed his eyes, muttering under his breath. Turning on his heel, he stomped back indoors as I resisted the urge to snicker. Never said I wasn’t an asshole. I had a talent for pissing people off.
Pulling out my cell, I dialed Grim. He answered after the second ring.
“Where you at?”
“Mt. Grant.”
“How’s the girl? Shadow was a bit shook up. Said she was all kinds of fucked up.”
“She’s still unconscious. Her sister’s a nurse here.”
“How’s that important?” He sounded flustered and annoyed. Probably had to do with the same subject that always set him off lately. His ex, Trish.
“Hey, pres, I know this shit is serious. I’m watching my back.”
“Good.” He sighed loudly. “Tell me what you’re not sayin’.”
He knew me too well. “This was a hit, Grim. Not drugs either. Could have been but that’s not what I feel in my gut.”
“You think this has something to do with Solonik?”
“Wouldn’t say it didn’t.”
“Shit. Is the girl a hooker?”
“Yeah, but she’s underweight and I noticed that she had a lot of bruises under all the blood. Some were fresh and others weren’t. She’s been tortured. They fuckin’ tried to burn her alive. That’s not normal for a pimp. The money always trumps roughing them up more than a little.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “You talk to the law?”
“Gave a brief statement. They don’t believe shit I had to say.”
Grim snorted. “Fuckers.”
“I’m gonna check in on the girl and her sister and then head out. There’s somethin’ I need to do.”
“That mean you’re gonna ride to the Scorpion compound?”
Fuck. I was. I swear Grim was psychic or some shit. “Yeah,” I admitted.
“I’m sending Wraith and Patriot. Wait for them.” They’d be at least an hour and a half. Plenty of time to speak to Nylah. I just didn’t want to delay any longer than necessary.
Tempted to argue, I bit back the urge. “Alright, pres.”