Chapter Twenty Three #2
“M-Milo, is that necessary?” Sawyer asked the moment Benji started panicking.
He doubted it was going to do anything, but he still appreciated the effort because, honestly, getting his teeth pulled out of his skull sounded like an awful time.
At least, he assumed that was the plan. Doing anything with his tongue would be counter intuitive.
“Yes it’s fucking necessary, Sawyer. Stay out of it or I’ll pull yours next.” Milo seethed towards his nephew. A sigh fell from Sawyer and he met Benji’s gaze for a moment before he shifted them towards the ground.
A soft whine fell from Benji as the forceps were inserted in his mouth.
He felt Milo poking and prodding at his top molars on the left side of his mouth.
It made more sense why he kept focusing on that side.
His eyes clenched shut once Milo found a tooth that he was apparently interested in and began to pull on it.
It was a pain that he couldn’t recall experiencing before.
He had never even had a tooth pulled at the dentist and that would have been with anesthetic.
“Last chance to save this tooth, Andi. Do you remember your mission?”
If he were smarter, he probably would have made up a lie but what would be the point?
Milo had already asked him the question four times.
One more and he would be dead. His whole plan with Sawyer was about to go out of the window and that hurt him just as much as the feeling of getting his molar ripped out of his skull.
But Benji didn’t answer. He kept his eyes shut and that was enough of an answer for the man.
He felt the tooth get tugged and tugged on until it slowly started to budge.
He could already feel the blood seeping from his gums. He felt one side of the forceps digging into his gums which wasn’t helping anything.
Unwanted tears leaked from the corners of his eyes and it took just about every ounce of effort in his body not to scream like a banshee.
Sweat beaded on his brow and quiet ‘ah ah ah’s fell from Benji as the tooth slowly dislodged from his mouth.
With one final good tug, Milo pulled the molar out and laughed at the sight.
Benji didn’t even want to look. His mouth felt totally violated.
Tank dropped his head once Milo stepped away and Benji just opened his mouth to let the blood seep out onto his chest. “I’ll hang onto this as a memory of our time together, Andi,” Milo laughed.
He eventually forced himself to open his eyes and he looked towards Sawyer, who looked like he was going to be sick.
Whether it was from what he just saw or what was to come, he didn’t know.
Both would be valid, he supposed. Benji lolled his head back towards Milo and watched as he pulled a gun from the back of his pants.
The more he talked and dreamt of escaping with Sawyer, the more he wished it was something they could have experienced.
But now that he thought about it, it really was a pipe dream.
Sure, they had a plan and it was a pretty decent plan all things considered, but it just wasn’t in the cards for them.
Benji had worn out his welcome, so to say, and Milo was making sure to get rid of him because of that.
His captor stepped forward once again and placed the cold barrel of the gun directly against Benji’s forehead. He flicked the safety off and kept his hard stare upon Benji. “For the final time. Do you remember your mission with John Raymond, Andi?”
Silent tears trekked down his cheeks as he stared at Milo. He couldn’t help it. The pain from the tooth being yanked out of his head and now, he was staring down the barrel of a gun. He didn’t answer his question. Instead, he just looked over towards Sawyer.
He looked so sad. Distraught even. He looked like he was going to throw up. But he didn’t look away from Benji. Not that time.
He wished he could say something to him.
Anything.
He wanted to tell him to find Andi. She would help him. Benji knew in his heart of hearts she didn’t do anything wrong. Andi wouldn’t do that to him or anyone. She would help Sawyer the moment he mentioned him…
But he didn’t want to make things worse for him than they already were. He just appreciated that he was looking at him in his last few moments. At least he had something pretty to look at before he died.
Milo clicked his tongue disapprovingly. “I was hoping you would change your tune, Andi. I really want that money…”
From the corner of his eye, he could see his finger beginning to twitch on the trigger and Benji held his breath, waiting for the end to come.
But it never did.
Instead, a series of loud alarms were heard upstairs.
Milo’s head dropped backwards so he could look up at the ceiling.
The five men in the basement were quiet as he they heard plenty of footsteps stomping around up there.
Suddenly, a loud pounding was heard on the basement door, followed by some shouting.
“Boss man, get outta there. There’s a fire up here. Shit’s going up fast.”
“A fucking fire?!” Milo shouted and immediately stomped off towards the stairs, clearly forgetting about everything he was doing.
Tank and Clay were quickly behind him. The door was unlocked and smoke was already beginning to seep into the basement.
“Jesus Christ!” Benji heard Milo shout but that was it.
His gaze immediately shifted to Sawyer and he looked just as confused as he did. “What the fuck?”
Sawyer shrugged his shoulders and quickly jumped into action, beginning to untie Benji’s restraints. “I have no idea, but I don’t think we have time to think about it. We have to leave. Right now.”
“Yeah, okay,” Benji said through his swollen, bloodied mouth. He was right. They didn’t have another choice. It was now or never.