Chapter 5: Questioning

Summer's POV

Michael didn't bother giving her time to keep up with his angry stride, allowing Summer to stay back just out of arms reach.  She knew what was going to come, after all she had truly made a huge mistake in his eyes.  No amount of explanation would change that.  Also, convincing him that one of his very own was betraying him would deem pointless.  All Summer could do at the moment was brace herself for the onslaught that was waiting for her.

She had made sure to check that all guards were on high alert this evening due to Michael's presence.  She had double checked everything herself just to be sure.  All had been secure and well guarded insuring Michael's utmost safety while he enjoyed a relaxing evening.  That was why the news they received was concerning.   Someone from a rival gang had infiltrated the premises right under their noses.  That meant one or two things, the first was that someone was betraying Michael and allowing the enemy in, the second they needed to strengthen their guard.  Either way there would need to be some changes made, and soon.

Stopping right at the elevator Michael furiously pressed the down button again and again, the clicking sound filled the hall around them.  Summer wondered if the man honestly thought that that would make the elevator come any sooner. 

From his silence and actions it was clear he was ready to take his fury out on her and couldn't wait to find somewhere private.

The anger rolling off of the man could freeze hell. 

Gulping Summer put on a brave face and stepped up beside Michael just as the elevator door dinged open.  

Michael didn't even give Summer the opportunity to enter on her own, with one quick motion he grabbed her and pushed with all his might sending Summer tumbling to the floor.  As she rushed to stand Michael entered immediately pressing the door close button behind him.

"You bitch!" Michael snarled grabbing Summer by the collar of her shirt, pulling her close enough to feel his hot angry breath.  "You did this on purpose right?"

"Even if I said no you wouldn't believe me." Summer calmly responded staring into Michael's blazing eyes defiantely.

The rage in his eyes was palpable as he processed what Summer had just said.  As each word sunk in Michael's face turned redder and redder until all hell broke loose.  With all his strength Michael slammed Summer against the elevator wall knocking the wind out of her.

Trying to catch her breath Summer couldn't defend herself before Michael was clamping his hand on her throat applying just enough pressure to where breathing had become uncomfortable.  

"You think if you defy me enough I will release you, right?" He asked Voice full of Malice.  "Think again sweetheart.  I'd kill you before freeing you."

"Do it."  Summer wheezed remaining completely calm.  "I already.... almost died.... once.  I no longer.... fear..... death."

Each word was so very painful for Summer to get out as with each passing minute Michael's hand was growing tighter and tighter around her throat. 

If this continued the man may very well kill her. 

The immediate sense of relief at that thought astounded Summer.  She had had a bout of depression that had led her to trying to kill herself a few years back, but it hadn't even occurred to her that she still craved death until this very moment.

Laughing Michael suddenly let go of Summer's neck and watched with indifference as she collapsed before him gasping for breath.

"I won't allow you to get your wish." Michael snapped.

Sucking in lungfuls of air Summer remained silent.

"You will be the one to personally take care of the fly in here." Michael's words were cold as he spoke.  "Otherwise you get to suffer the consequences."

Consequences, Summer had to keep herself from laughing.  She knew all too well what the consequences would be.  50 lashings and then a stay in the hole.  After suffering these exact consequences multiple times already due to her father and all his men, Summer was all but immune to the pain and the dark dingy cell right below her father's mansion.  

"Do you hear me?!" Michael bellowed as Summer remained unmoved. 

"Of course." Summer rasped out finally standing.   "Am I killing him or questioning him?"  

She fixed a blank stare on Michael as he mulled over her question.

"Question," he decided.  "I want to know what gave him the courage to even step foot in here."

"As you wish."

Music blared in the club down below, the sound so loud it was giving Summer a splitting headache. 

After watching the clubs security cameras she had identified the man and all but figured out his current location.  Not being a VIP meant that he couldn't venture past the first floor of La Fiet, narrowing down possibilities or where he could be found.

Making a quick stop by the bar Summer grabbed a bottle of whiskey which had been prepared by one of Michael's men before pushing her way through the troves of grinding bodies all the while scanning dark corners for the man she was looking for.  

After a couple of minutes Summer's eyes locked on a man sitting alone in the corner looking about anxiously.  He sported a half open red Hawaiian shirt and khaki fedora on his head.

Found you.

Adjusting her dress, a baby blue long sleeved mini with a dipping v-neck, that Michael had insisted she wear she beelined for where the man sat. 

Plastering a seductive smile on her face she prepared to begin the play.

"Mind if I join you?" She asked locking eyes with the man who had gone from looking anxious to looking hungry.

In the cameras she couldn't quite make out his features but now she was getting a good look.  His green eyes slowly looked Summer up and down as his full lips that were surrounded by a goatee turned up in a smile revealing one gold front tooth. 

"It would be my honor beautiful." The man said patting the seat beside him eagerly.

Cringing inwardly Summer obliged all the while continuing to smile.

"What brings you here all alone this evening?" He asked turning his body towards Summer.  

"My boyfriend and I had a terrible fight." Summer pouted.  "So I came to drink away my sorrows."  She lifted the bottle she was holding for good measure.

"Seems his bad luck is my good fortune." The man beamed.  "What's your name doll?"

"Amy." Summer responded feigning shyness.

Already locating two glasses Summer popped open the bottle of whiskey she carried and began pouring.

"Shall we toast to new acquaintances?" She asked holding out a glass to the man.

Smiling crudely he took his glass while allowing his fingers to rest much too long on Summer's own fingers. 

"Can a small girl like you handle this strong of liquour?" He asked not trying to hide the hunger forming on his face.

Widening her eyes slightly she pretended to be alarmed.  "You won't take advantage of me if I get too drunk right?

"Of course not babydoll."

Having to stop herself from gagging Summer watched as the man downed the alcohol in one fell swoop. 

Smiling behind her glass she suddenly loosened her hand allowing her glass and its contents spill all over herself.

"Oh no!" Jumping up Summer pretended to be shocked and mortified.  "I can't believe I just did that!  Will you excuse me for just a sec while I go to the ladies room?"

"Sure." He responded.

Giving another crude smile the man pretended to lean back and relax. 

If it was any other person he may have fooled them, but Summer knew better.  She knew he would most likely follow her after she left and then try to corner her in the ladies room after.

She was banking on that so she could get him alone before the drug he had ingested kicked in.

True to form he followed, staying far enough away to remain unnoticed. 

Smiling Summer decided instead of taking him into the bathroom she would go ahead and take him to the room where she planned on interrogating him. 

Making a quick left turn she headed down a long hallway with red doors on either side.  The dim overhead lights gave them a bloody glow. 

Stopping by a room close to the end Summer slowly began turning the door knob looking up just in time to see the man now approaching her a malicious smile on his face.

"What a naive little kitten." He cooed.  "Didn't your parents teach you to be wary of wolves?"

"No, they never taught me that."  Summer's words dripped with sweetness. 

"Too bad..." He stopped turning shocked eyes on Summer.

He never got the chance to complete his sentence as his eyes widened and he collapsed to the floor. 

Stepping over him Summer's sweet smile turned to one full of triumph.

"I think you are the one who should have been taught better about fearing wolves."

As she spoke two men stepped out of the room that Summer was about to enter.  They looked to her then the man now collapsed on the floor.

"Take him inside and tie him up to the chair will you?" Summer ordered.

Nodding the men grabbed the man by each of his arms easily lifting him like he was nothing more than a sack of flour and quickly carried him inside as he shot a slew of profanities at her.

Summer followed after making sure no one had spotted them.

A grimace crossed Summer's face as she took in the room around her.  Although she had seen it many times, had even done many interrogations herself, she still couldn't get used to it. 

The strong smell of disinfectant attacked her nose, as blinding light made her vision blur.   

Already tied to a chair her victim sat in front of her,  eyes wide in panic, muttering something incoherent under a piece of tape that had been put over his mouth.   

The drug in his system caused paralysis so he was unable to move, however he was still able to speak and feel.

At his side sat a table with a pair of plyers, a switch blade, and a small whip strewn across it. 

Summer wasn't the biggest fan of inflicting pain.  She usually just stuck to prying teeth and fingernails, occasionally breaking fingers, or slowly slicing arms and legs until the person in front of her spilled everything she wished to know.

It was only in severe cases she would need to use the whip. She saved it for those special few who made it past losing all their teeth and nails, having all their fingers broken, and no longer had room to continue cutting, but still refused to speak. 

In her whole time doing this she had only had to bring the whip out twice. 

The images of after still sent chills down her spine and haunted her sleep.

Picking up the plyers Summer flashed the still muttering man a smile.  "We can do this the easy way, or the hard way.  Your choice."

Sauntering over she roughly pulled the tape from the man's mouth.  

"Fuck you!" The man snapped spitting at Summer who was now in full interrogation mode.

Remaining silent Summer reached out a hand and grabbed the man's jaw.  Shocked he attempted to keep his mouth shut but one of the men helping Summer had already handed her a device that she now held in front of his face.

"Either you open up or I break your jaw." She informed the man as he kept his mouth clamped tightly shut.

Summer's blue eyes that bore into the man's green ones remained emotionless as she allowed him to make his decision. 

When he didn't move to open up she laid the device between his lips while securing it in place with a strap that attached at the back of his head. When she was sure it was nice and secure she began twisting a dial attached to it.  Slowly the two plates sitting between the man's lips began to move apart, prying his mouth open ever so slightly.   

She continued until it was open just enough for her to get her plyers inside and attached to one tooth.

"Sure you won't speak?" She asked.

Anger flashed in the man's eyes as he stared back at Summer with defiance.

"Have it your way then." She shrugged.

In one quick motion Summer yanked, blood splattered as she removed a tooth from his gum. 

A guttural yell of pain left the man's lips as he stared in surprise at his tooth which was now being dropped into a metal pan.  

"Now, let's try this again." Summer's voice was all business, not a single sign of empathy present.  "Are you going to answer my questions?"

"I will talk." The man yelled, his eyes that were full of arrogance just a minute ago were now full of fear.  "What do you want to know?"

Snapping her fingers Summer motioned for one of her guards to hand her a stack of papers that he had just returned with.  She quickly skimmed over them before turning her blank stare back to the man in front of her.

"Jared Knight, 26 years old, born and raised in the area, joined Golden Ridge at the tender age of 16 after your dear older brother joined."  Summer began reciting what she had just read.  "Golden Ridge is well aware to stay away from La Fiet given this is The Dragon Guards turf, so please enlighten me, why are you here?"

"For fun." Jared snapped spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Stepping forward Summer remained silent as this time she clamped her plyers on Jared's pointer finger.

"One more chance." She murmured applying a small amount of pressure.

"F-for fun....AAAAHHHHH!" Jared let out a shriek as Summer snapped his finger.  "You fucking bitch!!!  When I get free just you wait."

"Sure, whatever you say." She shrugged.

How many times had she been told the same thing by countless other men? 

Each one was the same, first they acted defiant refusing to take her interrogation seriously, then when Summer showed she wasn't playing games they would threaten her, what followed after more pain and torture were the answers she seeked. 

It was all one long cycle that flowed together for her.

"Why are you here?"  Summer asked again clamping down on Jared's middle finger.

"I can't say."  Jared responded, worry beginning to become evident on his pale face.

"Wrong answer."

A snap filled the room as Summer broke Jared's middle finger, and it went on and on like that.  Summer would ask her questions and break a finger each time Jared didn't give a proper response.  It was only by the time she had completely broken all his fingers and was moving back to his teeth that he finally began singing like a canary.

"Men."  Summer said afterwards turning to leave.  "Take care of him."

The men nodded in response and began cracking their knuckles as they closed in on a now frantic Jared. 

Exhausted and feeling numb Summer paid absolutely no heed to the man's pain filled screams or the sounds of bones Snapping behind her.  Instead she simply headed out to find Michael so she could tell him exactly what she had discovered.