CHAPTER 32
THE PUNISHER
I pour the whiskey, the amber liquid sloshing against the glass as Sal strides over. He pushes a manila folder towards me as if it weighs a tonne.
‘In between our broken calls, I managed to dig up some info on your mother,’ he says.
I barely look at the folder, before shaking my head. ‘That chapter is done, Sal. I know what my father did, how they treated her, how it ended. I don’t need to live through it again.’
Sal’s jaw tightens, but he doesn’t push.
‘It’s there if you change your mind,’ he replies.
His posture stiffens, his gaze flickering to the window as the wild boars leave their pen.
They’re sniffing softly as they wander towards the window.
Their bristly, dark coats gleaming in the sharp, morning rays.
The boars dart nervously, their bodies twitching at the faintest snap of a branch.
Their movements are sudden and sharp and with a final burst of energy, they shoot off into the protective embrace of the woods.
‘They terrify the bajeebies outta me,’ he scoffs. He shifts back to the moment, his jaw tightening as his eyes look at the folder.
I nod, ‘Thanks, Sal!’ but he isn’t done. He moves closer as we stare out of the window, his voice dropping as he leans in. ‘Carlos and I had an interesting chat in the car.’
‘Oh yeah?’ I say, passing Tarran her glass.
‘Apparently, your grandfather bought this land from one of the original families from the area. They sold it to him with the understanding they could stay on it, live off it – like they always had. And for while, they left him alone and your grandfather kept his side of the bargain.’
I glare at him, urging him to continue. ‘Then what happened?’
Sal’s mouth twists. ‘Your grandfather had other plans. The animals started disappearing from over hunting, the land became unprofitable and the family was left abandoned, up there without a way to survive. Now, only three brothers remain.’
‘Wrong,’ Tarran cuts in suddenly. ‘There are four of them.’
We jerk our heads towards her, ‘Four?’ I ask, not remembering the fourth person.
‘Yes. When I got you out, I saw a girl – not much older than about twelve. But she was heavily pregnant. Very pregnant. ’
‘Then we have to go and rescue her!’ Sal remarks.
‘No,’ Tarran snaps, shaking her head. ‘She’s one of them. She didn’t move, just cowered in the corner when I took Gabriel. Her eyes had been stitched shut; I don’t think she even knew what was going on.’
‘One of them?’ Sal asks, his face contorting in confusion.
‘They’re disfigured, mutants, I d-don’t know what they are. But I’m sure as hell not going back.’
‘So what happens now?’ Sal asks, probing the void of awkwardness.
‘Carlos, those people, they killed my friends. All but one – Emma. If we can find the finca , we might find her.’
‘Very well, I’ll get on it,’ Sal nods, sensing the urgency in Tarran’s tone.
‘Yes, Sal, what do we do now...’ I consider the games – the twisted inheritance my father left behind. They are tradition after all, or a curse.
Traditions are meant to be broken.
Perhaps, like the club, it needs to be burnt down and reborn – thanks insurance.
Here, metaphorically speaking, of course. My lips curl into a sly smile as I knock back the whiskey while looking out of the window, Tarran huddling beside me.
‘What I’m thinking...’ I pause, as I look at Sal, ‘is to gather the most vile, corrupt souls this planet has to offer – and have them here – all in one place. A convention, if you will. Let them compete for their own depravity.’
‘What would be their prize?’ I mean,’ he clears his throat, ‘why would they come here?’
‘For fifty percent of the profits...’
Sal winces, but I press on, the idea sinking its teeth into me. ‘Think about it – it will clean up some of the filth, feeds The Trinity...’
‘Gross,’ Tarran adds.
‘And fattens my wallet. It’s a win-win,’ I shrug.
His eyes darken.
‘As for Tarran,’ I grip her hand, raising it to my lips to kiss. ‘I’ll take her home.’
‘Boss, see, you do have a heart,’ he smiles.
‘Yes, but often it’s cold and dead.’
‘Well, it might only beat once per minute, but it’s a beat nonetheless.’
A moment stretches. Tarran smiles, as Sal straightens his back, his mind kicking into gear. ‘The logistics of it will need to be ironed out, but it might be feasible,’ he nods.
A day in the life of Mr Lewis means pretending I’m not a monster.
What made me the way I am left a void inside, so I’ve spent my life blending in, camouflaging myself among normal people.
They make it look easy; forming emotional connection with others, and if I could have any other feeling than anger, I’d have it for Tarran.
To be her boyfriend, her confidant...her husband, protector, and maybe we’d even have a family.
If I play this role long enough, will it become reality? Can it become reality?
Maybe my father was right, maybe my role in life is just this, to be the head of the family, sacrificing what normal people have.
But right now, I’ve never wanted something so much in my life. The question is, what would become of me if I was normal?
Would my family be safe? Am I enough to keep them safe?
Tarran makes me feel something I’ve only ever dreamt of – what it is to be human.
The need to hope, to want, to care. But is being human enough these days?
Enough to stand against the monsters that lurk in the shadows, monsters far worse than anything I could ever be.
Maybe humanity is meant to face them. Or maybe. ..it’s destined to fall.
I let Sal mull over his thoughts. The sooner I get Tarran home, the sooner she can piece her life back together.
Her friends are gone, and there’s nothing I can do to change that.
I can’t bring them back, no matter how much she wishes I could.
But what I can do is make sure no one else dares to lay a finger on her – if they do, they’ll lose it, because, that privilege is reserved exclusively for me.
Oh, how I do love taunting Tarran.
So much so, it’s become an art form. Watching her grit her teeth, feeling the tension radiate off her – it’s the kind of game I could play all day long, and as long as her heart beats, it’ll never lose its thrill, for either of us.
I’m hard just thinking about it. Oh, little lamb, how I can’t wait to chase you again.