Chapter 196
Chapter 196
James(TW)
“As long as you answer our questions, you wont get hurt. Now, do you know what this guy looked like?” Travis’s voice changed to the one he used with his kids. It was void of any command but still held that fatherly demand.
“Yeah.” The boy panted, but his voice was steadier, “He had brown hair and a slim plastic looking face. Sketchy black eyes, and creepy ass smile. Reminded me of my sisters doll.”
As he spoke, I looked around for something to write the description down on when Travis pointed toward the camera mounted to the corner of the room. That was more my cousin’s set up. I nodded to indicate I understood and turned back toward the kid, “Then what happened after those two left?”
“I got out of there fast. Made myself scarce as soon as i found out about that woman getting killed. I knew it was that hot lady and the creepy guy. They probably used whatever was in the duffle bag I stashed. I wasn’t about to hang around and get offed for knowing shit. I’m stupid but not that dumb. I’m a loose end, man.” The kid paused and I gave him more water. He licked the last drops off his lips before speaking. “It wasn’t just the murder through. Weird shit stared happening. it’s insane but I saw this wolf following me. Which is impossible! this is Jersey. No fucking way a wolf is just roaming the streets of Jersey. I cant even sleep anymore.”
He began to sob, snot leaking from his nose. I glared at Travis who had a shit-eating grin. Travis in his wolf form was pretty scary so I don’t blame this kid for freaking out. The kid sniffled, loudly pulling his snot back in before he shifted in the chair again. “Then they raided my ma’s house. it was only a matter of time before they found me. I just wanted to get laid, not killed.”
“Who raided your mom’s house?” I asked when Travis silently signaled it wasn’t him.
“Two scary looking mother fuckers. I’m sure Jess and that guy sent them. They roughed up my mom’s current boyfriend and ransacked her house demanding to know where I went. Thank god my sister was at a friends house. So I went into hiding with the shady side of my dad’s family. The are gangsters, you know. I stayed in a safe house until you guys caught me.”
The kid began to sob again, “I wont tell anyone what happened. I told you everything that I know. I haven’t seen your faces or names or nothing. I really didn’t think anyone would be murdered. Please let me go. I wont tell no body nothing.”
“Thanks, you did good kid. Relax. We will be back.” I jerked my head toward the door in silent signal, and we slipped out of the room. Out in the dim hallway, the air felt heavier. The door muffled the kids pleas and sobs when it clicked shut behind us. My cousin and I immediately launched into frantic and silent exchange. After a few minutes of wild hand gestures and rapid facial expressions we both understood each other. this was a cluster fuck but one thing was certain, this kid needed protection. The creak of a step shattered the silent, jerky hand gestures. We froze and slowly turned toward the staircase as the unmistakable sound of my father’s heavy footsteps echoed above. My stomach twisted at the thought of having to deal with him again.
Alpha Marcus Knight stopped when we came into sight. His presence pulled the air tighter. A cigarette clung to the edge of his mouth, burned down to a glowing stub. My father flicked a cold yet calculating glance between us. His voice was a low hum of menace and mockery when he greeted us, “You ladies having a tea party?”
“The kid came to.” Travis said flatly, his tone stripped of emotion. “We got everything he knows.”
“Great.” My father clapped his hands together then rubbed them together slowly, as if warming up in excitement. He stubbed out the dying cigarette on the rough concrete wall. I scrubbed my hand over my face as if I could somehow erase the sickening dread that twisted my gut. My father pushed through the door without warning and something in me tensed. He was a little too eager to get in there. Travis and I exchanged confused looks then followed him. The moment we stepped into the room the air shifted. An electric zap hit me and time slowed. The next two breaths were in slow motion as Alpha Marcus crossed the room with the icy calm of a man brushing lint off his coat. He reached the table littered with tools and picked up a small, glinting knife. With a deranged smirk curing his lips my father plunged the knife into the boy's stomach. The sound wasn’t loud. Just a tiny, wet gasp but it reverberated like a scream against my skull. “Thanks for the info kid. Now die.”
I couldn’t move. I stood there, frozen, as the kid’s body slumped forward. A choking sob left his lips.
“Wrong choice.” Travis jumped forward and yanked my father back by his neck, pinning him to the cement wall. My father laughed.
“This is just how you make sure people talk and loose ends are tied up neat and tidy.” He said it like it was a lesson. In that moment I realized this wasn't about making the kid talk. No, this was my father reminding us who was in charge here. I felt anger bubbling up inside me. Fuck that. I wasn’t going to let him get away with it.
I rushed up to the kid. He let out a low, painful and choked moan. I felt my voice shake as I answered his moan, “Hey, sorry about that. I got you.”
“You said you wouldn’t hurt me.” The kid hissed through clenched teeth.
“I know man. I’m sorry. That guy wasn’t suppose to do that.” I grabbed another knife to cut through the restraints around his wrists. I held onto his good shoulder to ensure he didn’t bend over the knife wound. Finally the rope released and his bad shoulder rolled forward with his shriek. I maneuvered to squat down in front of him and lifted his shirt.