Page 118 of Nuts

I gave a nod. “Follow me.”

I stepped into the container, and she followed right behind me. Halfway to where he sat, I gave fair warning. “One fucking word without being asked a question, and I’ll shove a zucchini squash up your ass.”

He nodded.

He’d been exposed to me and my ways for long enough that he knew better than to fuck with me. When we got close enough that he could see clearly, he exchanged glances between us.

Eventually, he fixed his eyes on her.

“Quit looking at her, you fucking turd. I’ll spoon your fucking eyes out and feed ‘em to the vultures.”

He looked away.

“He doesn’t tip the chair over?” she asked.

“Welded to the floor.”

“And the sports cup with the four-foot long straw. Did you fashion that?”

I grinned. “Made it myself. It keeps him from banging around. If he tips it over, he can’t get a drink until I get back, so he knows better than to thrash around in here. I just set it on the floor at his feet and he leans over when he wants a drink.”

She looked at the restraints on his wrists and then on his feet. “Pro job on the restraints.”

“Thanks.”

She grabbed the folding chair that was leaning against the wall, unfolded it, and sat down. “How many years were you in the ATF?”

He swallowed, and then answered. “Two, with training.”

“How many as an active field agent?”

“Seven months.”

“Have any regrets?”

He looked at me.

“Don’t look at me, you piece of shit,” I snarled. “I’ll put Tabasco in the tip of your dick again. Answer her question.”

He looked at her. “I’ve got quite a few.”

“Care to share?” she asked.

“Speak freely?” he asked.

She gave a nod. “Sure.”

“I took this detail, and I wish like hell I wouldn’t have.” He swallowed hard, leaned forward, and wrapped his lips around the straw. After taking a short drink of the water, he continued. “I thought it would be different. Criminals running dope. Trafficking women. Murdering anyone who got in their way. Once I got accepted to prospect, I saw that wasn’t the case.”

“Why didn’t you walk away?”

“Pressure, I suppose. Desire to succeed. Something. Those aren’t excuses, they’re observations.”

“Okay.” She looked him over, and then looked at me. “Did you really put tobacco in his dick?”

“Nope. In it.”

She fixed her eyes on him. He looked to the side and raised his eyebrows.