I, Vigilante: When Prey Becomes Predator by Steven Moore

Author:Steven Moore [Moore, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-10-28T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Seven

"He beats you," Ridley observed. It wasn't a question.

Taara looked away instinctively, preparing to deny it. Then her hand returned to her face, where her tears had re-smudged her makeup, the bruises around her eye again peeking through.

"Yes," she said quietly. "He does. We all get beaten, it seems, whenever it’s our turn. Azim is a violent man. When he is away, his people do it for him. But he is the worst." Taara looked up at Kayla and Ridley, each in turn. "You cannot beat him, though! He is powerful, and has many men at his disposal. Evil men with cruel weapons and little honour. Worse, he is part of an even bigger outfit. He has a boss, too. I hear that one is evil incarnate."

"The Vulture?" Ridley asked.

Taara's eyes grew wide. "You know of him?"

"Only by reputation. Yes, we know of him. Don't worry about me and Kayla. We can take care of ourselves. However, we lack information. That's why we have come to you. Can you help us?"

"I will help however I can," Taara said, “but I must think of my own safety, too, and that of my family. They may be put in danger if I do anything to upset these men. Anyhow, I do not know how I can help. I don't know much about Azim, or the Vulture. They do not talk to us about such things."

"We won't ask you to do anything that would jeopardise you or your family," Ridley told her flatly. "You have my word on that. Really, all we need is information. Kayla and I will do the rest."

"The rest?" Taara asked. “What does that entail? If you kick that hornets’ nest, it may make it worse for me and the others, whether you intended that or not."

Ridley leaned back against the seat and looked Taara in the eyes. "We're not just going to kick the nest, Taara. We're going to exterminate them."

Taara looked doubtful. "There are so many of them. They are well armed, well trained, and they are evil. I have just met you two… I’m sorry… I fear for you."

Kayla and Ridley stayed silent, letting Taara work her thoughts out. After a moment, she took the last sip from her coffee cup, set it down, and said, "God forgive me for telling you this. Azim… he has a daughter. She is his world. I have been around him when the girl has called him. He pauses what he is doing and takes the call, every time. I believe her name is Yasmine. For those few moments, Azim is a different man. Almost human, in the way he speaks with her. When he hangs up, the shadow falls back over his face and he is again the Azim that everyone knows and fears. If there is a chink in his armour, it is his love for his daughter." Taara looked down into her lap and said, again, "God help me."

Kayla looked at Ridley, who nodded back, gravely.

"Taara, we won't harm the child," Kayla said.

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