“What’s the old expression? I think thou dost protest too much? Could it be you want me in your bed?” I don’t know what possesses me to challenge her like this. I intended to toast her success and instead act like one of the male morons she so scathingly describes. Something about her just eggs me on. Like that old Flip Wilson sitcom in the seventies testified: “The Devil made me do it.”

She tilts her head in that strange way she has, eyes drilling right through me. I get that odd feeling, like fingers are probing my brain. When I stare back for several seconds, she straightens her head and pokes her glasses with her index finger.

“In your dreams, dude. I’ve never wanted anyone.” She sounds belligerent, but she doesn’t move. Her eyes are alive with light, and I swear I see a spark of interest in them.

“That’s good, ’cause I’d split you apart.” No idea why I make such an outrageous claim, but like I said, she’s a demon. Not that I’m the smallest cock on the block, but I hold my own in any locker room.

“You’re kidding me, right?” She manages to meet my gaze head-on for about ten seconds before lowering her lids. Her cute earlobes are a bright red. She’s blushing. I’d like to nibble that ear.

She points to the notepad. “Write down what you know about Viper. Everything, no matter how insignificant.” Her tone is brusque with an undercurrent of enticement she probably doesn’t know she possesses. She goes back to her computer and makes staring at the monitor her new vocation.

I examine her notes. She has the most precise cursive I’ve ever seen. It rivals the script in any rare book. I tap the pen on my teeth while I think about Viper. His name recently surfaced, so my intel on him is limited. Rayne. Viper! Shit. I shove Rayne to the back of my mind and focus. I met Viper once at an Oakville auction when I was on the trail of some rich guy’s daughter. Turned out she was a meth addict turning tricks to feed her habit. And hiding from her family because she didn’t want them to know. Fat chance they kept that little runner at home.

I put pen to paper.

• Viper is a consummate bastard
• Viper is vicious
• Viper is not someone you should fuck with
• Viper likes poker/gambling
• Viper met ES at the Fallsview Casino
• Viper wears cheap cologne
• Whippo is scared to death of Viper
• Viper hurt you
• Viper deserves to die

I figure that’s enough to make my point. I don’t know a goddamned thing about Viper except that his kind represents a sick blight on humanity. I stretch and cross the broad expanse of the lab. My computer lab. My pride and joy—well, one of them, at least. I slide the journal beside her keyboard. “There you go, your ladyship.” I sound smug to myself, so I can’t imagine what I must sound like to her. Probably like an arrogant bastard. Like the ones she’s dealt with. She doesn’t move a muscle. If not for the tension coming off her, she could be a statue.

I stand there, waiting for the barrage of questions I’m sure will be forthcoming. She glances at what I’ve written, closes the journal, and turns her attention back to the computer monitor. Well, two can play that game. Without another word, I return to my work.

I’ve barely settled into a rhythm when a shrill “Yes,” jolts me out of my reverie. I swivel in my chair to see Rayne dancing around her chair, chanting.

“What are you doing? I don’t intend to sound so clipped. No idea why I’m being such an asshole.

She doesn’t hesitate a beat, just heads my way. “What does it look like I’m doing, silly? I’m happy dancing.” She goes right back into her chant—“Da da nun na da da nun na da da.” She has a decent voice, but that chanting gets tired real fast.

“And why are you happy dancing?”

“I found Viper’s address.”

“No way.”

“Way.” She giggles and claps her hands. “Told you I was good.”

“Show me.”

She half skips back to her computer, wincing, seemingly forgetting she used to be intimidated by me.

“Will you really kill him?” She keeps her eyes trained on the monitors.

“I will if I have to. I just won’t like it.”

That shuts her up. When I have to kill, I do. And then only when some of the human bondage maggots prey on the young and vulnerable because they like it. Those I can squash beneath my shoe without a second thought, just like the insects they mimic.

Rayne rapidly swivels her chair before her fingers fly over the keys. In a blur of movement, she takes me through how she’s used Viper’s daughter’s name to search on Facebook.

“Hold on. You only had her first name.”

“Noooo.” She drags out the word like she was talking to a simpleton. “I only told you her first name.”

I seriously contemplate getting into eye rolls. “And her full name is?”

She grins up at me. “Cherish Ruth Kavanaugh. Fourteen years old and the apple of her father’s eye.” She touches the screen a few times. “And here is her Facebook profile.” She holds both hands out toward the screen in a “voila” movement. She brushes the touch screen a few more times, opening one of Cherish’s photo albums. “See. There he is. He sure cleans up nicely.” She sounds almost impressed.

I’m not going to examine too closely why this bothers me. “He’s still scum.”

“Yes, he’s scum. But now I have to think about him being somebody’s father. And she obviously loves him. And he obviously dotes on her. So, it’s all kind of fucked up. Just like the rest of my life story.”

“I don’t know how you can see one shred of good in him. He sells humans—some of them babies. Period. He hurts children. Period. He’s worse than pond scum. Period.” I emphasize each point with a raised finger. “I have no doubt he caused some if not all of those scars you’re sporting.” My middle finger joins the thumb and index. “He—”

“Okay, okay. Gheesh.” She spins back to the computer. “Wanna know where he lives or don’t ya?”

“Talk to me like I’m a goddamned moron again, and I’m out of here.”

Not that I know where the hell I’d go when we’re in my lab. My sanctuary. I must have lost my mind when I brought this one here. I rarely bring people to the compound, and I’ve never let anyone other than Sasha into The Hole as I fondly call it. Even my majordomo, Steve, isn’t allowed in here. I excavated the caves housed in the bowels of the escarpment, safe from all prying eyes and outside intrusion. Safe from the world. Not only have I brought this little dragon into my lair, but I’ve also let my guard down.

She looks at me with hooded eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do. Don’t play stupid. You most certainly aren’t. You only talk like an idiot when you’re addressing someone you believe to be just that.”

She sighs and rolls her eyes. “Viper’s real name is George Kavanaugh. He has a cottage on Lake Joseph. The address is on the screen.” The chill in her voice makes icicles feel warm. She picks up the laptop and walks out of the room.

So the little dragon doesn’t like to be challenged. The hell with her. She can’t leave The Hole as long as I have it on lockdown. I sit down and get to work.

I have a name. I have an address. Plenty to follow his footprint using Maltego. That site gives me access to documents, and information means power. I quickly locate his cottage and do a title search for a copy of the deed. The home address listed is in Toronto. Of course. What better place to hide his stable, although his operatives mostly use hotel rooms to convert new “recruits.”

I set up a port scan before checking my usual chat rooms. I’ve solicited the help of a couple of hackers I trust named Joker and Treadmill. Old high school buddies, we help each other on occasion, no questions asked. The relationships thrive because of the quality of information generated and our guaranteed anonymity. My hacker handle is Blade, in honor of the switchblades I consider the gems of my collection. I read Joker’s messages.

So, Viper’s getting set to relocate his slave cell. Joker’s one of the best for locating targets. He sends an encrypted email to my secure account. Viper is due at the Masquerade Club tonight with three of his goons. I send a quick text to my buddy Connor, owner of the Masquerade Club, asking him to let his people know I’ll be arriving at the club with Rayne. He’ll make sure that reinforcements are ready.

I go in search of Rayne and find her sitting on the couch with the computer in her lap. I sit on the edge of the couch beside her, eyeing her a bit warily. Every vibe coming from her announces she’s one pissed off lady.

“Can we call a truce here? I have a lead on Viper. You need something to wear. We leave in an hour.”

She says nothing, just keeps on staring at the computer screen. Fine. Be that way. I vow to wait her out, all the while knowing I won’t. I’m only patient with two things: young children and the disabled. The rest of humanity makes me crazy.

“Did you hear me?” I don’t even try to keep the annoyance from my voice.

She doesn’t look up from the screen. “I heard you. I’m just not sure what makes you think you can order me around. And I don’t like being accused of something I didn’t do.”

I’m shocked Rayne has lived this long with that attitude on her. Yet more than a grudging admiration grows in my belly. I don’t know whether I want to slap her or kiss her. Where the hell did that come from? I haven’t kissed anyone, nor wanted to kiss anyone, since Savannah. I sigh and roll my head around my shoulders. We don’t have time for this.

“I apologize. I have a lead on Viper. He’ll be at my buddy’s sex club tonight. Seems he’s looking for fresh meat and thinks the Masquerade Club is fertile ground.”

She looks up, eyes alight. “He mentioned that club. He’s dying to go there.”

“That wasn’t on your list. When did you hear all this stuff, anyway?”

“I know. I forgot until you mentioned it, but he definitely talked about it. I overheard him at one of his dinner parties.”

“He threw dinner parties?”

“Male Buddy Bonding dinner parties. Viper loves to eat, and he loves to get together with his friends and show off his power with the slaves. I had to serve their food and let them do things like suck my tits and finger my clit.”

She says this as if it means nothing, but I know better. I hold my breath and stomp on my rage. Now is not the time to undermine her defiance and expose the truth that must be tearing her apart.