Page 133 of Callan

“Nothing’s wrong. We’re going to my place,” he announces. “It’s better that way.”

21

MACKENZIE

My impression wasthat we’d drive back to Brooklyn.

I met him there.

The woman who works for him lives there. His men patrolled the streets over there.

I ran into him in Brooklyn this evening.

So, all the signs point to Brooklyn, as far as I’m concerned.

Then I realize we’re headed to Long Island.

I’m fine with it, although it’s far from where I live, and it might be difficult for me to come back home.

Mulling over that thought, I check the view outside.

“We’ll get there soon,” he says as if aware of my concerns.

The road is, for the most part, empty as Christmas is now celebrated between the walls of these cozy places.

I expect him to turn right and enter the driveway of any of these homes and don’t expect anything out of the ordinary.

If you ask me, I thought he’d be living in a condo.Or maybe a brownstone.But I’ve gotten quite a few things wrong about him. And I have a feeling I may be wrong about this one, too.

We take a turn and enter a densely wooded area before reaching a large clearing where a two-story house looms in front of us behind a gate.

Most windows are dark, and only a few are dimly lit.

My mouth falls open with surprise.

“Is this your house?” I ask.

“It’s my parents’ house,” he says dryly, and my heart skips a beat.

Is he taking me to his parents now?

“Don’t worry,” he says, steering his ride into the round driveway. “They’re dead,” he adds unceremoniously.

It sounds like a dark joke, yet neither of us smiles.

The gate we've passed through slides closed and clicks locked while he’s pointing to the entrance.

“Shall we?” he murmurs as I still stare at the gate.

“Is it locked for good?”

“Locked for good. And that is an electric fence,” he says casually, pointing over his shoulder. “No one can get in. And no one can get out.”

He seems serious. Or he’s fucking with me.

Not that I see myself climbing the fence. And then getting home, how exactly?

“Are you kidnapping me?” I timidly joke.

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