Chapter 31

Lug Nut

When the guys all dressed in black except for the green arm band came into the back yard I knew it couldn’t be good. When all of ten of them knelt in front of Ailee calling her their queen I was shocked and impressed. I watched Ailee go from laid back to all business in less than a second. This is a side of Ailee I knew was there but I haven’t seen yet. Well I have seen the professional business side before but this was in a whole different category. She quickly took charge. Ailee wanted me to stay behind while she went out but I wasn’t having it. It wasn’t that I thought she wouldn’t be protected. With Callen and Finn, Ailee had twelve bodyguards. Protection was the problem. First, I wanted to see for myself that she was safe. Second, I wanted to see this side of her. I know Ailee was worried about watching her be the ice queen. I could see the slight fear in her eyes. I assured her my feelings for her would not change. And I was speaking from the heart. When I decided to be with Ailee I meant all of Ailee not just some parts. I want to be with the whole person and this Ice Queen as they call her is part of it. From what I understand that part doesn’t come out often but when it does someone always dies. At least that’s what Callen told me. I think he was trying to chase me away but it didn’t work.
“ Lug, are you sure you want to see what Ailee is about to do? I have seen it many times and it never gets easier seeing the girl I have practically raised do the damage she can.” Finn asks. “ Yes, Finn. I’m sure. You and Callen have told me a little about it. I’m sure I can handle it. If I’m going to be with her I need to know all the parts, like I have told you.” I said. Finn grasps my shoulder “ You are a good man, Lug. I’m happy my princess has a man like you by her side. Let me introduce you to her other guards.” I think Finn has finally accepted that I’m not going anywhere. I have his approval which is good. Ailee looks to him as a father figure or a very close uncle. He has been with her since she was a child.

I’m introduced to all the guys but I know I will never remember half of them. The only one I make sure to remember is Fregus. He was the one put in charge of me. Not that I need a babysitter but I don’t see any of these guys going against Ailee. And I’m sure they are used to doing things a certain way so I just have to follow their lead. When Ailee comes out from changing it isn’t just the clothes that catch our attention. It is the vibe she is giving off. Pure ice. Aillee is wearing black knee high boots, black leather pants, black stretchy long sleeve shirt with the common green band on her left arm. I really need to ask her about that. Even Cormac wears it. Over the shirt looks like a kevlar breastplate. Her hair is tied up in a high ponytail with a green ribbon. If she didn’t look so lethal she would be hot as hell. Who am I kidding, lethal or not she is hot.

Her face and her body are saying stay the fuck away. I swear I can see the ice crystals forming on her. She just changed her clothes. The main event hasn’t happened yet, she is scary as hell. Even Viper has backed up from her. Fergus, Finn, Callen and the rest all walk up to Ailee. They all ball up their fist, place it over their hearts and kneel. “ My queen.” They say inunison. Ailee places her hand over heart like they did and nods. “ My loyal guards, friends, it is time to work.” Ailee says. Even her voice is different. Her accent is thicker but colder. There is no warmth I normally feel from Ailee. Ailee turns and we follow her out to four black armored SUV’s. I follow Ailee to the third car and we all get in. It seems like everyone has a designated spot.

We drive in almost complete silence for about twenty minutes. Every once in a while Ailee would ask a question but that was all the talking. I just watched. I didn’t dare say anything. These weren’t my brothers and this wasn’t my rodeo. Finally we pull up to an abandoned warehouse. All the other cars unload first then they let Ailee out. We walk in five guys in front Ailee, Callen, and Fergus are in the middle and the rest of us behind. There are a few more men on the inside of the warehouse. As we walk in the other guys do the same fist over the heart gesture as we walk by. All Ailee does is nod as we pass. They all stop in the middle of the room where there is one guy chained to a chair and another guy sitting in a chair in front of him. The chained up guy has had the shit beat out of him. Both his eyes are black. He has a cut on his cheek that must be fresh since it is still bleeding. His lip is busted.

The guy across from the beaten guy says “ I’m going to ask you one last time,Mike. Who were you sending the girls to?” Mike just laughs. “ I told you, I don’t know what you are talking about.” Even from here I can tell the guy is lying. “ You know Mike. I didn’t believe you before and I don’t believe you know. I guess you need more convincing.” the guy in the chair says. He stands up and pulls his arm back like he is fixing to punch Mike. Ailee steps away from our group with her head held high. “ Hold a minute, Clay.” she says. Clay instantly drops his arm and places his fist over his heart, bowing. “ My queen.” Ailee nods and sits in the chair Clay was in. Mike sees her and starts to stutter “ Mmmy qqueen. I I I didn’t expect to see you.” “ When I was told one of my guys was kidnapping girls off the street and selling them. I had to come see for myself. I didn’t want to believe one of mine would do something like that. After all, we treat you well, don’t we Mike?” Ailee says. “ YYYes, my queen.” Mike stammers. He isn’t so cocky now. “ And we pay you well don’t we? We even paid for your wife’s treatment and medications when she got pneumonia last year in addition to your pay. Isn’t that right?” Ailee asks. Mike hangs his head “ Yes, my queen.”

Ailee stands and goes behind Mike. I see her bring a grizzly looking knife from the sleeve on her side.She grabs Mike's chin forcing it up and drags the tip from one side of his neck to the other slowly so he can feel his skin slitting. She doesn’t go deep enough to kill him instantly but enough for him to bleed out very slowly. “ You see Mike, my loyal boys brought me proof that you were behind it. Now I want to know why you would go against us when we have treated you so well.” Ailee takes the tip of the knife and places it just below his eye and drags it down his cheek. “ Was it to gain power?” she asks. “ No, my queen.” Mike whimpers. Ailee drags the knife across his forehead “ Was it to try to rise in the ranks?” “ No, my queen.” Mike grunts out. Ailee walks around to the front of Mike. She raises her leg and slams it on Mike’s nuts. She doesn’t stop there. She grinds the toe of her boot into them. If Mike could bend over I know he would. I have to stop myself from grabbing myself even though Ailee isn’t after me.

“ So that leaves money. You took innocent girls for money.” Ailee says keeping her foot on his groin applying steady pressure. I see some of the guys discreetly wince and turn away for a second. “ Yes, I needed the money.” Mike screams. Ailee sits back down in the chair. “ You got greedy. Now you are going to have to pay.” Ailee says. “ Fergus, my bag please.” Mike is now whimpering “ My queen, I will tell you everything. Please have mercy.” Fergus places the bag at Ailee’s feet. She reaches down and grabs a pair of pliers out. “ I need an arm.” she says to no one particular. A guy from the back comes up and loosens one of Mike’s arms. “ Hold him still, please Regan.” Ailee instructs. Regan nods and places a death grip on Mike’s arm. Ailee grab’s Mike’s hand, takes the pliers to one of Mike’s fingernails. “ Did you show mercy to those young girls you took? Those children. No you didn’t” Ailee says and yanks the nail out.

She moves to the next finger “ Who are you working for?” “ I don’t know.” Mike whimpers. Ailee pulls the nail. She moves to the next one, “ Try again.” “ I was never told. I just had a contact.” Mike yells. Ailee removes that nail. “ Who is your contact?” Mike shakes his head. Ailee yanks out the rest and throws the pliers down. She reaches in the bag and pulls out what looks like a scalpel but with a jagged edge. “ Take his shirt.” Ailee orders. Fergus rips Mike's shirt from him. Ailee slices his left nipple clean off “ Contact.” Mike screams out “ They will go after my wife.” “ Not if we protect her provided she had no part in this scheme with you. So again, the contact.” “ She is innocent I swear. She would never go against the family.” Mike cries. Ailee cuts the other nipple “ I want a name, Mike.” This goes on for thirty minutes but Ailee finally gets all the information she needs. The contact, the burner phone and the drop off location where Mike would take the girls. He didn’t know anything past his contact that he met in a bar. They approached him knowing he worked for the O’Sullivans.

When it was done Mike had all his finger nails removed. His chest was cut up as well as his legs. His wrists were broken and five teeth were yanked out. All of it was done by Ailee. When she is done she stands up “ Mike you know what happens when you cross us. Not only did you go against the O’Sullivans you went against what we stand for. You know we don’t peddle flesh and definitely not in children.” “ Please, my wife.” Mike garbles. “ We will protect Emiline. And we will make sure she is provided for. She has remained loyal to us for many years.I will personally tell her what you did. And I will let her know I was the one who punished you.” Ailee says. Before Mike can say another word, Ailee slits his throat.