Page 103 of Ruin

“Remember Mr. Crawford, I found someone from The Pit to tell me who killed my son-”

“What did you give him for the information?” I ask. The sick bastard laughs, I know what he gave him. A child, some poor, innocent little child got hurt repeatedly so he could get my name. I should shoot him right now.

“Who knows? I might be able to get information into The Pit.”

My glance moves to Cain, does he have a mole down there? Sending information to people outside.

“We will see what happens in three days. Mr. Riley,” I tell him, not backing down to his fucking word. Who does he think he is? He doesn't control The Pit. We do.

“Declan, my son came out of there, nowhere close to the way I sent him in there. What did you do to him?” The question hits me hard. I’ve never told my brothers everything that happened down there, mainly because I hate how it makes me feel.

“The same as he did. He killed people down there. Should I go find the families of the people he killed, and tell them it was your son, so you have a target on your back?” He stays quiet, but I continue. “Because it’s a long fucking list. You think he was an angel down there. No sir, The Pit keeps you safe from the enemies you have up here, but it doesn't keep you safe from down there. You get your food, get your water. If you've been on good behavior, you get a fucking shower. But if I want to take someone's food, I can take it, they say no, you fight. Winner gets the food. How do you think those fights end? Mostly death.” I stop for a moment to get my breath back, and ready to say something I haven’t even told my brothers.

“There might be a time where someone doesn't have the energy to kill someone, because it takes a lot of energy to kill someone with your bare hands. Hell, I let people go, I beat them up so much they couldn't even stand, never mind have the fucking energy to kill them. So sometimes a person survives another day. Don't think your son didn't kill anyone. He killed plenty, raped a few too. So, you think of that before you continue this countdown.” Without another word, I leave the office, and my brothers follow me.

Taking in a few deep breaths, I look down at my hands, remembering the blood which was once on them, and no matter how many times I clean them, it will always be there. They begin shaking at the memory of the fights I had, and how sometimes I could have died because I couldn’t fight anymore.

“D, you okay?” Miles asks, but I can't reply because my mouth has gone so dry. “D?” I finally nod still not turning to my brothers. Not yet anyway.

Taking a few more deep breaths, I look up at the night sky, closing my eyes for a moment, then turn to my brothers.

“You good?” Hayden asks.

“I’m good.” I see Cain walking out, shaking his head.

“Right, the countdown has started. Today is day one. Now I know you Declan, you won’t hide, and he won’t touch you until the last day. So, the last day we stay at home, then we will figure it out after that.” Before I can say I agree, my brothers all tell me they’ll be in the house with me to make sure I don’t leave, which makes me laugh and they all look at me.

“I was going to agree.” I walk to the driver side of the car, and tell Hayden to throw me the keys. “You drive like a girl.” He tells me to fuck off, but he still throws the keys to me. I’m not going to lie and say I’m not scared, because I am. I don’t want to die, but I’m not going to tell my brothers that, I have to keep a strong head. As I get into the car, I lock eyes with Cain, and without asking, or me saying a word he knows. I don’t care what he says, he’s a mind reader.

I give him a nod, and he returns one. Our silent conversation saying we will win this, no matter what.

* * *

I lean on the hood of my car, Trixie said she didn’t want to get out. She feels safer in the car, even after I told her if anyone lays a finger on her they will suffer. But I don’t want her to get upset, as I think this is going to be hard enough for her.

Miles parks the van in front of my car, and I walk over to them as they get out. Mason and Miles are both arguing about some girl they’ve seen in college and Hayden shakes his head annoyed with them both which makes me laugh.

“Is she okay?” Hayden nods to Trixie still in the car.

“Yeah, she’s scared what her dad will do.” I turn back to my brothers and take the file off Miles, then walk over to my car and open the door for Trixie. “Can’t hide forever. I promise no one will touch you.” She finally looks at me, and I give her a smile as I put my hand out for her. “I’m never going to let anyone touch you ever again.”

She places her hand in mine, and she smiles at my brothers, then moves in closer to me as we walk to the house, and Trixie hands me her keys to open the door, but just as I’m about to put the key in the lock, the door opens.

“Trixie,” her dad goes to take a step closer to her, but she steps back a little. “Is everything okay? I’ve been calling you.” I take a step into the house, Trixie behind me, followed by my brothers.

“Trixie, go pack everything you want to take. Take the whole room if you want,” I tell her, and she gives me a nod. Hayden and Mason follow her up to her room. Stopping her dad from following her, I take a look around to see if the bitch and her son are here. I don’t see them, that's a shame, I was hoping to have a word with them both. “I’d call your wife if I was you.” Slamming the file into his chest. “You have some reading to do. Don’t come upstairs-”

“It’s my house.” I have to laugh at his comment.

“It is. But before you do anything stupid, read the fucking file.” Not letting him answer, I walk up the stairs. I asked Miles to find every report Trixie did make, which got ignored because her stepmom was protecting her son, and some of the pictures I took of her wrists. It’s time he finds out the truth, and why she will not be living in the house which has given her so much pain. No one protected her here, no one listened to her, to the point she completely stopped talking.

Not anymore, I’m going to make sure she’s smiling everyday of her life, and finally feels confident enough to talk again.

Walking into the bedroom, I look over at Trixie looking at the sewing machine, it’s old school, I bet it’s her mom’s. There is a large desk with all her sewing things on it, and also some material on it.

“Trixie, what do you want to take?” I ask, Mason and Hayden are standing there, doing nothing.

If my dad doesn’t give me my money, I don’t have anything.

---