Chapter 36
Ronan
The roar of the engine fills the silence as we get closer to the compound. The place that my family uses to erase the abusers and predators of this world. Today, it will be the place I get peace for Colton.
“Where have you been lately?” Liam asks Conor, breaking the silence.
“None of your business.”
“Sure it is. Finn had to fill in for you twice.”
Conor smirks. “Anyone ever tell you you’re a nosy fucker? Besides, it’s more fun not to tell you. You can’t stand not knowing everything.”
I study my older brother’s profile. The tightening of his jaw is the only indication that Liam’s prodding is irritating him.
I keep my mouth shut. I have trackers on everyone’s phone.
None of them knows. Conor has been at the fights more in the last three months than in the last three years.
He’s also been following one of the fighters around.
I don’t know why, and right now I don’t care.
Liam drops it as we pull through the compound gate. A ten-foot electrified and razor-wire-topped fence protects the property. Dense woods surround it. Dad actually planted briers and thorn bushes in the underbrush. He said that it was nature’s own deterrent.
After Liam parks, I lead Colton through the front door of the large structure. From the outside, it looks like a modern contemporary house. It’s a front for the structure that is buried beneath it.
“Are you ready?” I ask Colton.
“As I will ever be.”
I take his face in my hands to make him look at me. “I’m right beside you.” I kiss him and lead him to the hidden door that takes us to the cells.
Finn meets us in the hallway. “I put both parents in cell one. I thought that would be better for Colton. One stop shop.”
“Thanks.” Finn is the baby of the family, but only by eleven months.
Everyone has the impression that he is the quiet one, and Liam is the loud one.
Finn is the shit stirrer of the family. He does it quietly and then sits back to watch the mayhem.
But he is reliable and steady when it comes to our vigilante business.
The hallway is stark white with polished concrete floors.
Every surface is sealed, so no evidence will be found once it’s cleaned.
I open the door and go in first. Daniel and Rebecca Peterson are tied to the metal chairs in the middle of the room, glaring at the door.
I see it on their faces the moment Colton enters behind me.
The hatred there was laser-focused on him.
I wanted to say something, wanted to gouge their eyes from their sockets.
I hear a sharp intake of breath behind me, and turning, I see Colton standing rigid in the doorway.
His body seems to be locked in place. His breathing is getting harder, and his eyes are wide as he stares at his parents.
I reach out and grip the base of his neck.
Pressing on his nape makes him look at me instead.
“They can’t hurt you. I’m right here with you.”
He nods his head and walks fully into the room.
“I hate you both,” he says quietly. “I hate you with every cell in my body. I hate what you did to me, what you were going to do to Ollie. And for what you did to those other kids. I just want to know why.”
I gesture to Conor to remove the tape and gags from their mouths.
I want them to answer him. But years of doing this sort of thing have shown me that he is not going to get the answers he wants.
Conor rips the tape from the father first, then the mother.
There are angry red patches where the skin was just seconds before.
When the tape is removed from his mother, she starts the tears.
“Colton, we’re your parents. We raised you, tell them to let us go, now.” Her voice tries to carry authority, but it falls short. She should be begging for forgiveness. She should be, but she’s not.
“Colton,” his father demands his attention. “You kidnapped our son and now us. The bible says that you should honor your mother.” I don’t give him a chance to finish his sentence. The punch landed hard on the side of his face, snapping his head to the side. His mother screams.
“You don’t get to preach at him. You answer his questions and listen.” I look to his mother. “The same will happen to you. I have no issue hitting a piece of garbage like you.”
“He asked you a question.” Conor yanks Daniel’s head back. The size difference is comical.
“I don’t have to tell him anything.” Daniel juts his chin out as much as Conor’s grip will allow.
“That choice is really going to make the next part extremely painful. You sure that’s your answer?
” I look between the two. “Rebecca Peterson, you had a baby just to sell him. Colton wants to know why.” She will be the one that I break first, so that is where I start.
I pick up a pair of metal snips from the tool cart.
Her hand is tied to the chair arm at her wrist. Conor understands immediately and grabs her hand.
She tries to keep it in a tight fist, but she can’t.
Conor splays her hand out, and I place the sharp metal cutting edge against her pinky finger.
“Are you going to answer the question?” I ask one last time. She shakes her head. I look back over my shoulder at Colton. His eyes are fixed on where the blade is already cutting into his mother’s finger.
“A stór, look away,” I tell him. Eyes that are open a little too wide glance up at mine. He turns his back on his parents. As soon as he does, I remove the first finger. The screams emanating from this bitch should be music to my ears, but they fall flat.
“Nine to go.” I place the snips on the next finger. “Ready to answer?” I don’t wait for her to answer. I just apply the necessary pressure, and the finger falls to the floor. Liam steps in with a blowtorch and cauterizes the stumps. Don’t want her to bleed out or pass out from the blood loss.
“The Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one,” Daniel yells into the room. Spouting scripture like an armor that will protect him from me. I don’t mind, I will be the evil one, the devil on earth, if that is what Colton needs me to be.
“Why?” I ask again.
“You are the evil in this world. I shall not be swayed in my faith.”
“Your faith? Is that what you call it? Faith in what? A false prophet who sells babies to monsters.” I hear from behind me.
Colton is no longer looking away. He moves closer to his parents.
Something has changed in his demeanor. He’s standing taller, meeting his father’s glare with one of his own.
His angelic face shows his righteous fury, and it’s beautiful.
“That’s what this is all about, isn’t it. Money. You joined Moses for the money.” He looks to his mother. “You had a child, created a life just to profit from it. You are what’s evil in this world.”
“You were supposed to be sold. We had a plan. You were small for your age. We had a buyer. Then you hit a growth spurt, and the buyer pulled out. It took us six years to get your replacement.” Daniel grits out with pure hate.
Colton steps back, stumbles for a second before he catches himself.
I wrap my arm around his waist to steady him.
Seeing his reaction, his father continues.
My vision darkens as I process the words Daniel just said.
They were going to sell Colton. A stór was to be given to someone for money.
I want to rip this fucker’s head from his shoulders.
I want to inflict so much damage that they both beg for death.
“That’s right. You’re the reason Oliver is here. Once we handed him over, your usefulness would have been done.”
Colton sways in my arms. His father’s words are like physical blows to him. I try to tighten my grip on Colton, but he pushes me away and steps closer to his sperm donor. I don’t stop him.
“You fucking piece of shit,” Colton says calmly, just as he rears back and punches Daniel in the face.