Switchblade

Chapter 30: Punishment

They noticed the headlights pulling up at the warehouse and everyone stopped swinging. Stone still cried in anguish.

Drake turned the sink on and let the water rise further.
Segal got out of the suv he was chauffeured in and walked closer to the scene. He slid on a pair of black gloves.

He stripped a crowbar out of one of his goon's hands.

Stone now had his head completely immersed in water.

"For someone who claims they can kill me...aren't you a bit weak?" Segal stated. He tapped the crowbar against Stone's stomach. Stone continued to squirm in the water, waiting to finally be given air.
"Untie him. Slowly." Segal instructed.

He backed away so they'd put Stone on the ground. He watched them begin to untie Stone's ankles.
He was raised out of the water and coughed up a lung now that he could finally breathe.
Once they'd tossed him onto the ground, they noticed how purple he'd gotten in the face from blood rush. He laid there spitting up water in the nude with wrists still tied behind his back.
Segal took a picture.

"You're beneath me and got the balls to threaten my life to my face?" he asked curiously.
The anger took over and he began to beat the businessman with the crowbar in hand.
Stone cried painfully.
When Segal was done he combed his hair back in place with his fingers.

He took a deep breath.
"I'll tell you what..." he swiped his nose. "I'll forget this little incident and you're empty threat. If you go to the bureau and tell them this was done by Cermak. Hm?" He poked at one of Stone's facial bruises with the crowbar and Stone whined in agony. "You tell them that this was Cermak's fault. That it was a warning against you tattling about the assassination or whatever it is you want to say to get them in hot water...and I wont kill your family and put out this picture making it look like some kink thing." Segal offered. "Does that work for you, Stephen?" he smiled and pat Stone's face with the crowbar. Stone nodded slowly.
"Good."

~•~

The next morning, Killian was awake and arrived at the building a little later than everyone else.

"Good morning." the guys greeted him as he walked into the lobby.
"It's around that time, do you want somebody to bring Tatiana breakfast?" Kanan asked.
"No."
"You sure? It's 10:25. That's later than we usually bring i-..."
Kanan was grabbed my his shirt and forced against the building wall.
Killian stared him in his eyes and Kanan felt a rush of fear. The rest of the men stared, wondering worriedly about what was going to happen next.
"If you feed her or let her out of that room...I will carve into your flesh." he threatened.
Kanan nodded. "Yes, sir."
"Any of you!" Killian shouted but kept eyes on Kanan.
"Yes, sir." they responded.
He let Kanan go with a shove then walked towards the elevator.

"You think it's because she was out of the room yesterday?" Soren asked.
"I don't know. But I'd feel like shit if it is." Dominic stated.

Killian took the elevator to his uncle's office and walked inside.

"What?" Doc asked.
Killian took a seat. "Why are you here?"
"You come into my office then get surprised I'm in it?"
"You're just usually at home unless we have a meeting or bad news."
"Why are you in here, Kil?"
He didn't have an answer, so instead he just took out his cigarette carton and noticed he only had one left. He sighed and took it anyway before putting the carton back in his suit.
He took out his lighter and placed the filter between his lips. He lit the end.
Killian inhaled and put the lighter back in his pocket.

"Hear back from Segal?" he asked and broke the silence.
"No, but he's planning something. Asshole wouldn't just let me win, he has too much pride."
"Gotta be big if he won't strike immediately after you killed three of his men." Killian pointed out. He swung his arm over the back of his seat as he manspread. He took another hit of his cigarette.
"Mm." Doc replied in agreement.

While the two spoke in the office, Tati sat in her room playing solitaire with the cards she was given. She wondered why it felt like it was taking so long for her to get breakfast.
Had she woken up earlier than usual?
Was there a long line wherever they were getting it from?
Traffic?

She listened to her stomach growl for the third time.
She looked at the door and waited to see if she'd hear footsteps or a key entering the slot. But it was completely silent. She didn't even hear the elevator open.

"What the fuck?" she sighed in disappointment.

~•~

The hours passed and the men were all at the club with no bartender but a waitress instead.

They spoke to one another except for Killian who remained silent the entire time.

The men noticed.
"Where's Tatiana? She sick?" Kolson gained the courage to ask.
Killian didn't answer.
The guys looked at one another.
"Boss, if...this has anything to do with her bein' out of the room last night, it's my fault. She was losin' her mind in there when I brought her dinner so I offered she just hang for a minute. We didn't let her out of our sight." Dominic spoke up.
Killian's eyes shifted over to him.
Dominic bowed his head.

"She doesn't leave that room unless I tell her to." Killian spoke up.
"Yes, sir." they all responded back.
He looked back at the table. But it was dead silent now. No one had the guts to liven up the room.

Their waitress entered.

"Here you go." she stated.
She placed down her tray and started setting out the drinks.
They all took sips the moment they got them just out of stress.
Dominic stopped and looked at his glass.
"This not what I asked for." he told Taylor.
"It's not?" she asked.
The same thing happened to Silas. "This is bourbon. I wanted whiskey."
"This is whiskey." Dominic stated.
"Can't you two just switch?" Taylor joked with a half smile.
They all stared at her.
"I'm sorry. I'll have your new ones soon." She hurried out of the room.

Silas looked at Dominic. "You just had to let the girl out of the room, didn't you?" He placed his drink down in annoyance.
Dominic looked offended. "How is this on me?"
"Tatiana wouldn't have made that mistake." Kolson shrugged and sipped his drink.
"But it's not my fault that the new girl did."
"Whatever." said Silas.

Killian ignored them.

Taylor came back seconds later.
She placed the bourbon in front of Dominic and the whiskey in front of Silas.
"I'm sorry." she stated.
They didn't respond and just sipped.

Killian stood up and grabbed Taylor by her arm. He pulled them out of the lounge and into the manager's office room.
The manager was surprised.
"Get out." Killian commanded.
The manager rushed up and out of the office. Killian shut the door and crashed his and Taylor's lips together.

He had her pinned against the door as the two made out, and his hands slid down her waist to grab her ass.
"Shit..." he huffed.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't have a condom."
She scoffed. "I'm sure you can go raw just this once." she smiled and kissed him again with arms draped over his shoulders.
He pulled their lips apart. "Get off of me."
She took her arms back and stared at him with disappointment dripping down her face.
He opened the door and left the room.
Taylor stood there with her eyes rolled and crossed her arms with an attitude.