Chapter 19
Poison
Destruction above all
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I check the time on the radio, my phone, and then my watch. As if the numbers will rapidly flick to the time we should arrive for the kids. My nerves are fucking with me. There’s only enough time to drive to the site and ambush the whole setup. Two hours.
I zoom down the narrow pathway to GenCre, making sure to drive by the Censor detectors that remove any trace of my vehicle or anyone who drives down to the academy. You can put a GPS tracker on me, but once it hits this point on the roadway, it immediately detects and disarms it.
Speeding past it, I look at my phone again, then back up at the road. I watch the dark asphalt, only my bright headlights illuminating the path, and then look back at the phone. I swipe to the countdown that Victor has. Bedford was able to tap undetected into Victor's little system. He sends videos and clips of the kids to the parents, warning them of the severity. Piece of shit. After the kids are out and safe, I will make sure Victor doesn’t escape that building. It won’t be like Fred. If Jax is right, there won’t be anywhere Victor will go that won’t have one of my men posted, ready to intercede.
I need everyone ready, locked, and fucking loaded. I hope Anita is ready, it’s new for her, but she’ll adjust accordingly. She’s the perfect fit; there’s no doubt she won’t be successful at this line of work. It’s hard, can be depressing, but it’s rewarding all at the same time.
My phone rings, filling the car with its beeping tune. I reach for it, checking the name. My heart slams into my ribs at my father's name flashing bright on the caller ID. Fuck now I have to hear his shit. I lower the phone, deciding to ignore it instead, but the tune is annoying, and even clicking the button to turn it off doesn't seem to let up as if he's calling back-to-back. I blow out a frustrated sigh, and I grab my phone off the passenger, pressing the speaker button.
“Pai.”
“My son. He answers,” he says, almost shocked, in his groggy tone as usual. His tone changed as I became older and a full-grown man. As a child, the tone of his voice was more of an angry growl, like he couldn't stand the sight of me. Which I figured was true from the inflictions he would give me. I’m turning you into a man. A boss who will lead my business. Not a boy who plays with his trinkets.
“It hasn’t been a month yet.”
My father releases a ragged breath, dragging out the irritation of my comment. “Why do you do this? Why must you treat me this way? I’ve sacrificed—”
I bite down on my jaw as he rambles about every sacrifice he's ever made in order for me and Cruz to have the best life.
It was never a life, and it damn sure wasn't the best. The riches, the money? I would happily live a humble life if that meant my father wouldn't be how he was for his ‘sacrifices.’
“I’m busy. All of this will need to wait.” I look back at the clock on the dashboard.
“This cannot wait. I need you at the estate. I need you to come now.”
I drag my teeth over one another. “I’m busy,” I repeat. “I’ll stop by another night.”
“What has you busy? Huh? What are you possibly doing that is so important that you can't see your father?”
So much more than you know. I narrow in on the dark, hollow path. Manipulation at its highest. He never fails to make me feel bad for the choices I make, whether it’s making myself happy or to protect my own space.
Rustling with a thick sigh comes in the background, and I can practically hear him shaking his head. “Is this your goal to push your only family away? Me. Now your brother? After what happened to you, all we wanted was to be there, and you continue to treat this family as if we’re nothing but scum.”
You are scum! I want to shout, but I keep it in. I don't understand why I can stand up to him. I’ve never had a hard time speaking up for myself, but with him, the words become stuck like hair on tape.
Either way, I can't help the blaze of animosity that streams up my chest like magma spilling onto the surface. I don't want to argue, I just want to do my job and get to these kids.
“Come home, and we’ll talk over dinner,” he says tiredly.
Home . I squint at the phone with drawn brows. “What's the urgency? We only meet once a month.”
“Is it that hard to believe that I want to form a relationship with my oldest? I won't live forever.”
Something warms in my chest, and I almost believe it.
“Whatever you're doing. It can hold off. Come home. Have dinner. Share a drink with your brother,” he says in our native language, and it only makes me want to believe it all. His genuineness, his excuse to have a bond with me finally. To understand me, at least. Can I put aside all the pain he's caused me as a child to a young man?
If I were to tell him all that I've done, all the lives that I’ve saved, would he be proud of me?
“I’ll stop by after,” I say, regretfully though because some part of me knows it's not what I hope it will be. Our relationship is too far gone, but my stupid inner child falls for it, anyway.
He breathes exasperatedly like he gave it his all to convince me. “I’ll see you then.”
I click the end call before he can say anything else. Why do I answer his calls?
Now I have to muster up the will to face him again. Anita's face pops into my mind, and I think of asking if she would want to go. My heart dulls because I could never let her meet him; she’ll see right through his shit. If my mother were alive, she would love Anita instantly and welcome her with open arms as if she were her own filha.
Bright lights flash in my rearview.
What the fuck? My eyes squint from the blaring white light. I look again to see a truck near my size. Must be Mal. What the hell? She was supposed to be with Anita getting ready.
First the phone call with my pai now this?
I tap my thumb onto the wheel, my teeth biting the meat at the side of my mouth. Her car is now on my ass, so I speed up. She better explains herself, or I'm chewing her alive.
I arrive at the front of the academy, my tires drifting, practically doing a donut over the G statue, dirt blowing up into the air. I swing open the door and hop out, ready to get on Mal—until her door opens and out rushes Anita.
My brows furrow, the slight frustration I had dies and drifts away like the dirt caused from the tires. Now I’m confused; where the hell did she go?
Her hands fly up past her waist already in an attempt to explain herself. “I know. I made it back as fast as I could. I’ll get the gear ready for us to go.” Her words tumbled out at her own accord. I’m still lost as to where she went off to, so I wrap my hand under her waist before she brushes past me. I bring her back into my view.
“Red and the men already set it up. You would know that if you were here.”
It doesn’t bother me if she leaves randomly or skips out of town for a bit, I’m not the type of idiot who becomes insecure about his girl's whereabouts.
What I don’t appreciate is not having a heads-up. I give her that respect, and I expect it back. I don’t give a fuck if I’m only down the hall brushing my teeth, I’m letting you know. This world we live in— not the other one where the majority of humanity's eyes are shut from the cruelty that possesses the streets—the one where we are the ones snuffing out the dirtiest and grimiest people; it comes with shit baggage, and a kidnapping could happen even to us.
I have no doubt she can stand on her own, but sometimes you never know. Call me crazy, but I would put a tracker on her if she didn’t sniff it out. To keep her safe and in my arms, I’ll do it anytime.
Promise me .
I circle her face, her eyes big and pinched, like she's irritated, but also gleaming from my grip around her waist.
“My Serpent Sisters, Eve and Kyra, stopped into town to check on me. They were at the bookstore,” she says calmly, her eyes looking into mine to present honesty.
I don’t have trust issues, I never would, and I won’t start now. But what she says doesn’t add up.
I look down at her shoulder as I skim my hand down the puffy material.
“Isn’t the bookstore closed at this time?” My eyes skate back to her looking for answers, waiting for something.
She only smirks with a casual shrug. “They broke in.”
Those questions and accusations disappear. That makes sense, knowing who she was associated with. Serpents, are they?
She tilts her head, her dark eyes twinkle and dance like shimmers on glass under the moonlight. I trust her answer full-heartedly, even if she gave me a bullshit lie, I’ll never know. I’m not very sure if I would care, either.
Her eyes drift downward, taking away the sparkle that shone a second ago, practically peeling me from her like she doesn't want me to touch her.
I notice the shift, but I still step back, even when I want to do the opposite. “Either way, are you okay?”
“Of course.” She brushes down her curls, peering her gaze to the academy, avoiding my stare. Or maybe it's just me thinking too much about it.
I eye her a second longer.
“If we can get this show on the road, that’ll be great. You know kids' lives are at stake!” Mal's loud voice snaps me out of my trance as she approaches with the rest of my men. I gathered enough of us because Victor won’t be getting away.
At least four trucks round the corner of the academy, including a mini-bus, and park in the front, their revving engines loud and echoing around us. The tires and dust from their arrival, the bright lights, and men packing duffle bags into the vehicles shoot a spark of thrill and chaotic rage into my blood.
“I’m aware of the stake, Mal,” I reply as they walk past us. “And shouldn't you be laying somewhere,” I say, stepping in her way as the men continue on. She bumps into me and groans with frustration.
“Ro, I am fine. Stop treating me like I’m some weak, nimble person.”
“I’m treating you like how I should; you're hurt, this may cause more damage to your body.”
“It won't. Dr. Rio already stitched me up. I am okay.”
My lips pinch as my heart caves in a bit. “You lost a lot of blood.”
“He was also kind enough to give me blood transfusions like I was some fucking vampire.” Before I can say anything else, she pats my shoulder and strolls away with her head held high. I let out an exasperated breath, shaking my head before facing Anita.
She walks around me. “I’m going to change really fast, then I’ll be down. How much time do we have left?”
I lift my arm, pulling down the cuff to look at my watch then the clock on my phone. “Two hours exactly. Grab your clothes and change in the car.”
She stops and looks over her shoulder. Her brow draws down for a minute, then she shrugs before sauntering off. There are men walking around outside preparing for the mission. But I keep my eyes steady on her; it's lascivious as fuck, and I can’t help roaming over her curvy ass in those tight jeans that give a fold right underneath the cup of her cheek. She has a sway of a woman that can lure men in just by looking. I leer around, making sure no other fucker is looking at her. Not a soul.
Good.
Pai- Father
Filha- Daughter