Page 6 of Waging War
Kenneth stares through me, and I notice the deep-set wrinkles covering his face. He’s got a reputation around town. He’s murdered men, stolen cars, and God knows what else. But he and the gang have kept out of trouble for a long time now. They’re nothing like the vigilantes they used to be.
He adjusts in the bed, jostling his leads and the sling hanging around his neck. “What could I possibly do?”
“Once you leave here tomorrow, I’ll give you two weeks to get healed up. Unfortunately, the police chief has his hands tied, and he’s not willing to turn his back on the boss unless his family can be removed from the situation completely. To do that, I need someone I can trust to hide them elsewhere until we can get Diablo into custody.”
I fold my arms over my chest and direct my gaze to the mayor. “You’ve been busy scheming.”
“I’ve got a card or two up my sleeve,” he says with a smirk. “But I need the two of you with me on this. Bruce is going to use your brother’s child against you any chance he can, and Jack’s been through enough, don’t you think?”
The jab has my molars aching. He knows he’s rubbing a hot iron in an open wound, but what other choice do I have than to trust him? Bruce won’t go down easily, and Jackie’s right, it’s going to take an army.
Quiet beeps sound between us as we wait for Kenneth to agree. Like a stubborn mule, he’s digging his heels in.
“I’m not doing shit for either of you until my daughter is back at the garage where she belongs,” Kenneth grumbles.
Between Jackie’s threats and Kenneth’s reluctance to agree, the fragile thread that is my patience is wearing thin.
I growl before gripping the edge of the bed, allowing the enforcer mask I’ve been wearing to slowly slide down my face. Like Jekyll and Hyde, I immerse myself in a black void of hatred, drawing strength from this space in my mind I’ve become familiar with.
“Listen you miserable, old dog. The truth is, you don’t have a say in any of this. If you don’t want Hazel delivered to your doorstep in a body bag, then you’ll not only agree to help us but you’ll do it with a goddamn smile.”
His sneer delights the sickness inside me, and I can’t help but think this is what Jackie meant when he told me to worry about being the enforcer. He brought me here to strong-arm the gang leader into agreeing, and intimidating the weak minded into submission is what I’m good at. This is the monster I’ve become. The monster I’m paid generously to be. And though I despise the man I see in the mirror, there’s no denying the pull I’m constantly fighting toward him.
I do bad things, and I do them well.
Stepping to his side, I press a fist into the pillow propping up his healing shoulder and lean in.
“Ben,” Jackie warns, but I blatantly defy him.
“We all want the same thing here,” I tell Hazel’s father. The irrefutable hatred in his gaze is palpable. “Agree to help us, or I’ll hold that pillow over your head while our dear mayor finishes what he started.”
Those ever-present voices laugh gleefully, excited by my burst of violence.
I think of my family and my unborn niece or nephew and can’t find a single part of me that regrets doing what has to be done. I’ll rough people up for Bruce, run his drugs, and do whatever else I need to protect them, even if it costs me the last few shreds of my humanity.
“There’s some ill-timed out-of-town business I need to tend to, so I’m leaving Ben in charge of keeping an eye on Hazel until we can meet with the Wolves again.”
What?
“No,” Kenneth and I say at the same time.
“I’m not a fucking babysitter. She’s a big girl. Chain her up somewhere with some food and water. She’ll be just fine.”
Kenneth’s grunt is the only warning I get before he swings at me with his good arm. I jump out of reach just in time, but the sound that escapes him is agonizing.
“If you put… a single… hand on her… I promise it’ll be the last thing you do,” he says between pants.
Even in his weakened state, I know he’s deathly serious.
“Enough.” Jackie stands, signaling the end of our meeting. “Despite Ben’sglowingpersonality, he knows his role. Hazel will be fine, but I need your word that the Wolves will cease their attacks and form an alliance for the time being.”
Kenneth’s breath saws in and out of his bruised chest.
“You have my word that Ben will hand deliver your daughter to you—alive.” He reaches for Kenneth’s hand. “The annual charity rally is two weeks from today. There, we’ll sneak the chief’s family off with your comrades. Once they’re safe, we can continue building our allies and gather more evidence to pull the rug right out from under the devil himself.”
I’m not thrilled to be playing nanny to that wild woman while he runs off doing God knows what and leaving me to Diablo’s wrath should he find out about this. Yet, a part of me anticipates the opportunity to see her again. The very thought is like spinning a roulette wheel and waiting for the ball to drop. She probably hates me. Not that I blame her. She was drugged and kidnapped because of my carelessness, and her father wouldn’t even be here if it weren’t for that very mistake.
A group of nurses laugh loudly outside the hospital room, shattering the silence.
