“Hmm…Argh!” Mateo groaned in pain, but it turned into a muffled sound because of the tape. Blood oozed from the wound and soaked the white garment on him.
An anxious Hayley jumped from the couch. “Are you outta your mind, Matthew Kings? I don’t know where Veronica is. Mateo is innocent. Let him go!” Matthew deemed that as nonsense, motioning Dean to fling another whip on Mateo.
“Mmm…” Mateo could not scream, yet it was enough to tell how much pain he was in from the protruded veins, widened eyes, and reddened face. “Hmm… Mmm…” He wriggled and groaned in agony. However, no one could make out what he was cursing because it was drowned by the tape.
“Sorry, Mateo. A dutiful man has to repay his family’s debt. Don’t blame me for this.” Matthew. let out a faint smile, and Dean whipped Mateo again. “Someone, track down Mateo’s whereabouts!” Hayley shouted in their hidden tongue.
Matthew could understand the language, but he was not bothered in the slightest. He placed the phone atop the table, focusing the camera on Mateo. A while later, the bound man had over ten red stripes on his body. His shirt was all ripped, revealing those appalling and striking cuts. “Remove the tape,” ordered Matthew.
Dean approached Mateo to do as Matthew told him to. Fighting through the drowsiness, Mateo kneeled on the ground as the rope fettered him so tightly that his skin was scraped. Blood covered his lips, and he hung his head low. “Matthew Kings, you son of a b*tch! Let me go! I-I’ll go one on one against you!” He squeezed every ounce of strength to chew Matthew out, and blood flowed from his mouth.
“You’re no match for me,” declared Matthew haughtily before he turned to the phone. “If I don’t see Veronica in two hours, tell Waylen to be prepared for his grandson’s funeral.” Then, he terminated the call and stood up. Looking at the pitiful man, he waved his hand. “Take him to the beach.”
“Yes, boss.” Dean subsequently ordered a few men to carry Mateo away. From the second Mateo was kidnapped, he had not expected Matthew to go full-out on him, considering old times’ sake. They had been getting along for three months, and he thought Matthew would not hurt him. Guess it was just his wishful thinking.
He wanted to free himself, but the churning pain from the wounds that ripped his skin was too much for him to put up with. Dean kicked the mush-like man. “Mateo Elrod, you better tell us where you took Miss Murphy. Otherwise, don’t blame our boss for settling the score with your life.”
“I… don’t know.” Mateo gave an eye-roll, for he carried no information about Veronica’s disappearance. He doubted that it had anything to do with his grandpa either!
