The way she stood up to him made me proud, but at the same time, I wanted to slap my hand over her mouth. Because he was fucking stalking her, just waiting for her to step wrong.

He stalled in front of her and bent down, bringing his face close to hers. “From what I can tell, they went easy on you. Do you know what real pain feels like?”

She spit in his face, and I stiffened, terrified for her.

Perrone retreated, his fingers wiping off her spittle. “Did you spit out Mason’s cum? Or did you show your respect by swallowing?”

She twisted her head, refusing to answer or meet his gaze.

“Answer the question,” he said, his voice dangerously low. He could have screamed and it wouldn’t have been more intimidating.

“I swallowed every last drop,” she said, her gaze imparting wrath. “You don’t deserve my spit.”

He smacked her, and the slap of palm to cheek tightened my teeth. I clamped my jaw shut, because speaking now wouldn’t help either of us.

The door flung open, and Cleft pushed Jax inside. Puffy, red skin surrounded his left eye, as if he’d been hit.

Perrone rounded on him. “Are you still denying it, boy?”

“It wasn’t me,” Jax said, his shoulders slumping, breathing labored.

I swerved my gaze between the two of them, trying to decode what was happening here, but I had no clue. Perrone seemed unpredictable, easily enraged. Why else would his men cower at his presence, including his own son?

“Do you think I’m stupid?” He advanced on Jax, his face reddening with each second that passed. “You opened your big mouth to your new girlfriend.”

But the only woman Jax had been with recently, as far as I knew, was Nikki. A chill slid down my spine.

Perone’s voice rose. “Mason disappeared, and your slut ran straight to the cops! So tell me,” he said, jabbing the air with a finger. “If you kept your fucking mouth shut, like you claim, then how did they find their way to me?”

“I don’t know,” Jax said. He straightened his spine but never quite met his father’s eyes.

“You are lying to me. I had to pay off my guy on the force to make this go away. I thought you were serious about proving yourself, but apparently, you need a reminder.”

Jax shook his head. “I swear. I didn’t say a word.”

“Hmm.” Perrone gestured to Cleft. “Bring her in.”

I didn’t want to watch what I feared was coming, but I couldn’t tear my gaze from Cleft as he opened the door wide. Two guys shoved Nikki into the room, and he caught her before she tumbled to the cement. Cleft held her up under one arm, and her head lolled to the side. They’d obviously drugged her.