Chapter 14 One Last Contract #2
People close to him would become targets.
Finn included.
Especially Finn.
The realization poisoned everything.
The mechanic moved into the farmhouse office.
Sat behind the desk.
Opened the folder Marcus had given him.
The photographs stared back.
The names.
The locations.
The operation.
All of it felt like another life.
A life he'd spent years escaping.
A life that had finally found him again.
Deck stared at the paperwork for a long time.
Long enough for the anger to fade.
Long enough for fear to replace it.
Because beneath all the justifications lived one brutal truth.
Part of him believed Finn deserved better.
Still.
Even after everything.
Even after the confessions.
Even after the late-night conversations.
Even after hearing Finn say he was falling in love.
The self-loathing remained stubborn.
Persistent.
Like rust beneath paint.
The doctor saw someone worth loving.
Deck saw scars.
Failures.
Ghosts.
The difference mattered.
The mechanic closed the folder.
Then opened a drawer.
Inside sat property records.
Bank statements.
Insurance paperwork.
Practical things.
Necessary things.
The beginning of a plan.
A terrible plan.
A familiar plan.
The kind he'd spent most of his life making.
Leave first.
Disappear first.
Get hurt first.
That way nobody else had to.
The logic felt flawed.
He knew that.
The problem was that it also felt safe.
And Deck had spent years choosing safe over happy.
The following days became an exercise in deception.
Something he hated.
Something he happened to be good at.
The realization left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Finn noticed changes immediately.
Not enough to understand.
Enough to ask questions.
The doctor always noticed.
Always.
"Everything okay?"
The question came Tuesday night while they washed dishes together.
The farmhouse felt warm.
Comfortable.
Normal.
Everything Deck suddenly feared losing.
The mechanic forced a smile.
"Yeah."
A lie.
Finn frowned.
The expression lingered.
The doctor clearly didn't believe him.
Unfortunately.
Deck changed the subject.
The conversation moved on.
The guilt remained.
Wednesday proved worse.
Finn fell asleep against him while reading medical journals on the couch.
The sight nearly broke him.
The doctor's head rested on his shoulder.
His breathing slow and even.
Completely trusting.
Completely unaware.
Deck sat motionless for nearly an hour.
Afraid to move.
Afraid to think.
Because all he could see was what he'd lose.
What he'd willingly walk away from.
The realization felt unbearable.
Yet somehow he kept moving forward.
Toward the plan.
Toward the mistake.
Toward disaster.
Thursday afternoon found him inside the garage office reviewing financial records.
Again.
The numbers looked better than they had in years.
Business remained strong.
Recovery continued.
The future should have looked bright.
Instead, Deck focused on exit strategies.
Property values.
Potential buyers.
Savings accounts.
The practical details of disappearing.
A knock interrupted his concentration.
The mechanic immediately closed the folder.
Too late.
Kane Whitaker stepped inside.
The older man took one look at his face.
Then immediately looked suspicious.
A dangerous development.
Riot possessed many talents.
Being annoyingly observant ranked near the top.
"What are you hiding?"
Deck sighed.
The question arrived far too quickly.
"Nothing."
The lie sounded terrible.
The older mechanic laughed.
Actually laughed.
The reaction felt deeply offensive.
"Right."
Kane closed the office door behind him.
Then sat down without permission.
As usual.
The mechanic immediately knew he was trapped.
Wonderful.
The older man folded his arms.
Watching.
Waiting.
Like a predator.
Or a friend.
Sometimes it was difficult to tell the difference.
Neither spoke initially.
The silence stretched.
Then Riot's gaze landed on the partially hidden paperwork.
His expression changed instantly.
Subtly.
Dangerously.
The amusement disappeared.
Concern replaced it.
"What is that?"
Deck didn't answer.
The mistake proved significant.
Because silence told Kane everything.
The older mechanic's eyes narrowed.
The realization visibly clicked into place.
One piece.
Then another.
Then another.
The transformation happened right in front of him.
Understanding.
Disbelief.
Anger.
The sight immediately made Deck uncomfortable.
Because Kane rarely looked angry anymore.
Especially not with him.
The older mechanic leaned forward.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
"What did Marcus offer you?"
The question landed like a hammer.
Direct.
Accurate.
Impossible to avoid.
Deck looked away.
The reaction alone served as confirmation.
Riot swore.
Quietly.
Violently.
The mechanic remained silent.
The older man stood abruptly.
Running a hand across his face.
The movement reminded Deck of Elias.
Exactly the same gesture.
Exactly the same frustration.
"Jesus Christ."
The words emerged rough.
Disbelieving.
Kane turned toward him.
"What are you doing?"
The question sounded genuine.
Not accusatory.
Confused.
The mechanic finally answered.
Partially.
"Protecting people."
The older man stared.
Then laughed.
A short sound.
Without humor.
Without patience.
Without mercy.
"No."
The response arrived instantly.
Certain.
The mechanic frowned.
"What?"
Riot pointed directly at him.
The anger in his eyes felt startling.
"You're running."
Silence.
Heavy silence.
The accusation hit too close.
Much too close.
The older mechanic stepped closer.
Not backing down.
Not letting him hide.
The way true friends never did.
"You think I don't recognize this?"
The question sounded almost offended.
Deck remained silent.
The older man continued anyway.
Because stopping wasn't an option anymore.
"This is exactly what I did with Eli."
The truth landed hard.
Painfully hard.
The mechanic hated that comparison.
Mostly because it was accurate.
Riot laughed bitterly.
Shaking his head.
"You've convinced yourself you're the problem."
Another hit.
Directly on target.
The older mechanic looked furious now.
Not because of the contract.
Because of the reason behind it.
The self-destruction.
The sacrifice.
The stupidity.
All of it.
"You love him."
The statement hung in the air.
Simple.
Obvious.
Terrifying.
Deck looked away.
The movement counted as confirmation.
Riot pointed toward the farmhouse visible through the office window.
Toward Finn.
Toward everything.
"And he loves you."
The words landed even harder.
The mechanic swallowed.
His throat suddenly felt tight.
The older man stepped closer.
Voice lowering.
Growing serious.
Dead serious.
"If you leave without talking to him..."
The warning settled heavily between them.
The garage suddenly felt very quiet.
Very small.
Kane held his gaze.
Not letting him escape.
Not letting him look away.
The next words emerged slowly.
Deliberately.
Like a verdict.
"You're about to make the biggest mistake of your life."
Silence followed.
Absolute silence.
Because deep down, in the place where honesty lived, Deck already knew Kane was right.
And that realization scared him far more than the contract ever could.
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