It's not going to be long now until he gives up and tells me something I can use.
Sighing, I head over to the rest of my tools, grabbing the bucket of water. I move behind Emilio, yanking his head back. I put him in a headlock, prying open his mouth, and then I start to pour.
He sputters and coughs, thrashing against his restraints.
I keep pouring until there's nothing left of the water.
The second I let him go, he's leaning forward and coughing. Not that it's going to do much good.
I toss the bucket to the side, letting it clatter against the floor before I move to crouch in front of him. "Who do you work for? I don't want to hurt you, you know that. I want to make sure that your death is quick, but you're making it a little difficult for me. If you just tell me what I want to know, this will all be easier."
He spits at me again; this time it lands just shy of me.
"Well, I guess I have my answer."
I grab another knife, running my thumbnail along the edge and testing how sharp it is. Perfect for cutting away skin.
He thrashes until the blade presses against his cheek, right below his eye.
"Be a shame if I cut out your eye this early. You wouldn't get to see all the other things I'm going to do with you."
Emilio swallows hard, not saying anything.
I move the knife long enough to cut away the shoulder of his shirt, and sure enough, just at the top of his shoulder blade is the mark of the Lynde family.
He's been working for them. Spying for them. They've had someone in my inner circle—because though I feign not knowing who he is, I've seen him at every meeting for the last couple of months.
My phone starts ringing before I have the chance to cut his skin off.
I wipe the blood on Emilio's shirt before pulling it out.
"Aiden, what the fuck do you want, and how the fuck did you get this number?" I mutter, looking at the caller ID as I let the phone ring and ring.
Emilio stiffens. Confirmation that he's definitely working for them. Fuck knows how long he's been feeding them information.
I'm going to have to change plans now.
I don't want to have to change more plans. But it's unavoidable.
And Robert is going to have a little conversation with me about how he allowed this man to get promoted when there's a visible fucking tattoo on his skin.
The phone doesn't stop ringing.
I slide my thumb across the screen. "You'd think a criminal wouldn't have caller ID. What kind of fucking dumbass are you?"
"Give me back Summer."
"Not happening." I pace to the door, stepping out of the room and motioning for one of the guards to go in and keep an eye on Emilio. I can't have him killing himself before I use him to send a message.
"You're going to give her back to me, or I'm going to take her."
"By the time I'm done with her, you're never going to be able to find her body."
I end the call and whip the phone against the wall, the glass screen shattering. Though it's not as satisfying as slamming the phone back on the cradle in the middle of someone talking, it's enough for now.
Fucking Aiden. He's been alive for too long.
And I think it's time I start sending him some messages. Getting ready to end this all before he gets any funny ideas.