Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1819

A ragged cry tore from Axel's throat as violent tremors wracked his body.

The enforcer offered a twisted grin, stepping to the window to toss the bloody scrap of flesh to the vicious guard dogs in the courtyard.

The beasts snarled, fighting viciously over the morsel.

The enforcer grabbed Axel by the jaw, forcing his head up, and slapped the flat of the bloodied blade against his cheek. "I'll ask you one last time. Where are those kids? Talk, or I'll carve you up piece by piece and feed you to the hounds!"

Axel simply glared at him, his silence unbroken.

Losing what little sanity he had left, the enforcer slashed at Axel wildly.

The sheer agony sent Axel spiraling back into darkness, only to be violently revived by a bucket of freezing water splashed across his face.

"Where are they?!" the enforcer roared, hysterical.

Axel just closed his eyes, completely unfazed by the promise of death.

Furious, the man raised his knife again, but a subordinate rushed into the room. "Boss, Warrick is here."

The enforcer froze. "Warrick? What's he doing here? Is this about the kids?"

The subordinate shook his head. "I don't know. He didn't say."

The enforcer scowled. "How far out is he?"

"About ten minutes."

The enforcer dropped the knife, taking a wet towel from one of his men.

He wiped the blood from his hands and shot Axel a venomous glare. "You've dragged Warrick into this. You better hope you find your voice soon, because the real torture is just beginning."

He threw the soiled towel at Axel's face and barked at the guards. "Watch him. Make sure he doesn't check out early!"

Axel was too battered to escape, but the enforcer was taking no chances with a suicide attempt.

Once the enforcer was gone, Axel weakly lifted his head. His breathing hitched as he stared at the open doorway.

Warrick...

He was coming!

Warrick ignored them, clasping his hands behind his back as he walked straight to the interrogation room.

The hierarchy in this region was absolute. At the very top sat the ruthless patriarch of the Bauer family, known to all as Lord Bauer.

Warrick was one of Lord Bauer's most trusted confidants, serving as the cartel's second-in-command. He wielded power that answered to only one man.

Beneath Warrick operated four major crime syndicates: The Azure Dragons, The White Tigers, The Crimson Birds, and The Black Serpents.

He commanded all four factions directly. Rizzo was the current boss of The Crimson Birds.

Trailing closely beside Warrick, Rizzo finally cracked under the oppressive silence. "Warrick, are you here about the missing children? Does... Does Lord Bauer know?"

Warrick didn't answer, simply narrowing his eyes as he pressed forward.

Not daring to push his luck, Rizzo rushed ahead to open the interrogation room door, stepping aside to let Warrick pass.

The mercenaries inside instantly snapped to attention. "Sir!"

Warrick dismissed them with a wave of his hand, his sharp gaze locking onto Axel's battered form.