Chapter 19 Past
Someone placed a firm hand on my arm and shook me gently. “Dorran? Dorran, wake up.”
I tried to blink, but my eyelids felt weighed down.
“Dude, seriously; wake up.” More shaking.
I tried to move away from it, but ended up groaning at the stiffness in my neck and shoulders.
“Dorran, I swear to God, if you don–”
“Fine, fine.” I finally managed to open my eyes, and found Jayce looking down at me.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I asked as I sat up. It was so dark that I could barely see him, with only a faint streak of moonlight streaming into the cell. It illuminated the dust particles surrounding us, and not the actual room.
It was also disgustingly hot, which was making me break into a sweat.
Jayce jerked his head to the side, and when I followed his direction, I found Sheriff Solo sitting in a chair a few feet away from us.
“Sheriff,” I greeted clinically, then sat up in bed and moved sideways to make space for Jayce to join me. “Buried my mom’s body yet?” I asked.
The sheriff arched a brow at me. “Sure did.”
“Was an autopsy performed?”
He shook his head. “No.”
Interesting.
“Where was she buried?”
“Next to your father.”
“And I assume she got a proper burial?”
He pursed his lips as he studied me. “Only the basic formalities were undertaken, I’ll tell you that.”
That was still more than what she deserved, which was absolutely nothing.
“Right.” I sniffed and pushed my messy hair away from my face. “So, to what do we owe the pleasure, then?”
The sheriff again lifted a brow, and glanced between Jayce and I. “So, it’s ‘we’ now, is it?”
“Let’s just cut to the chase, shall we?” Jayce stated, and I realized that his posture was rigid.
Sheriff Solo chuckled. “Well, if we’re being blunt,” he said to us, “then let me be open and tell you that I have a proposition for the two of you.”
I looked at Jayce, who in turn looked at me.
“A proposition?” he asked carefully.
“One that comes with your immediate release from this prison,” Sheriff Solo added.
I scoffed. “Go fuck with someone else, Sheriff, because I sure as hell am not in the mood.”
“I’m not here at 4 in the morning to crack a joke, Dorran. I meant what I said, so you can either choose to listen, or I can leave right now and save my time and energy.”
“We’ll hear what you have to say,” Jayce piped in, then sent a quick glance my way.
I wanted to glare at him, but realized he was right in wanting to know what the sheriff had in mind. The two of us didn’t exactly have much to lose anyway.
“Dorran?” came the sheriff’s voice.
I blinked and cleared my throat. “Yeah, let’s hear it.” I gave him a nod.
“Perfect.” He leaned back in his chair and crossed one ankle over the other. “So, how does killing for cash sound to the two of you?” he asked casually, like he hadn’t just thrown a fucking grenade in my direction.
“I’m sorry, what?” Jayce said, appearing thoroughly bewildered.
“Told you he was fucking with us,” I muttered.
“I’m really not,” the sheriff countered. “You’re good at what you do, and that’s exactly what I need: the best there is.”
“I didn’t realize I was auditioning to be your puppet when I killed my mother,” I told him.
“You know that’s not what I meant.”
“Didn’t you?” added Jayce. “Because it kinda sounds like you did.”
“We didn’t kill for passion, Sheriff,” I said, then clenched my jaw. “We killed because it was necessary.”
Jayce looked at me, and gave me a slight smile to let me know that he agreed with what I’d said.
“And still, the thrill of it made you feel indestructible; made every single bone in your body thrum in delight,” the sheriff stated.
“Fuck yeah, it did,” I admitted. “But that doesn’t mean every kill’s gonna have the same effect.”
“Why not?”
“Because we wouldn’t be executing those for ourselves,” Jayce provided.
“Unfortunately, not everything in this world is about you.” Sheriff Solo exhaled audibly and ran a hand over his slicked-back hair.
“Have you thought about how many people there might be in Riverside that don’t have the opportunity, strength, or means of discretion to do what the two of you have done?
” he asked. “People of power; people who simply want justice. Victims of violence, theft, abduction, trafficking.” His eyes bore into mine. “Rape.”
My entire body went cold at that. My throat closed up; my palms turned clammy.
“But why should we kill for others?” Jayce inquired. “It’s not like we owe them anything.”
“True, but it’s the right thing to do, don’t you think? And, you’ll only kill those who deserve to be killed.”
I let go of a crude laugh. “We’re not vigilantes, Sheriff.”
“Of course not, but there’s a motherfucking load of money involved in this – enough to keep you and your future secured. If the idea of being righteous isn’t your forte, then maybe being rich is.”
“For how long are we to do this?” I questioned.
“Until you don’t wanna do it anymore. You say the word, and you’re out. I won’t ask questions or force you to stay if you don’t wish to.”
“And what about the safety of our person?” Jayce asked.
Sheriff Solo leaned in and placed his elbows on his thighs before giving us a smirk. “You’ll be untouchable. Invincible.”
“Why us, though?” I had to know. “There’s literally a prison full of potential candidates just outside, and yet, you chose to pitch your proposal to me and Jayce.”
“Let’s just say I have a soft spot for assholes who talk back,” he answered.
I snorted, whereas Jayce chuckled.
“So…” The sheriff’s eyes gleamed against the dwindling nightlight as he straightened. “Are you guys in?”
“Do we have time to think about it?” Jayce asked.
“Given how the two of you are to meet the magistrate in a few hours, I’d say no.”
“And if we decline your offer?” I added. “What then?”
Sheriff Solo lifted a shoulder. “You’ll be tried for murder, of course, and will have to serve time. 20 years, if not more.”
Again, Jayce looked at me, and I looked at him. And, even though we’d barely known each other for a few hours, I knew exactly what he was thinking, and exactly what his answer to the sheriff’s proposition was going to be.