Page 44 of Beg for Death
"Did what?" I asked, feigning confusion.
"You know what the fuck you did, you convict piece of shit!" he shouted. "Where the fuck is my son!"
I forced myself to remain calm even though all I wanted to do was lash out or laugh in his face. That wouldn't help the current situation. Instead, I gave him a minute with his feelings before I spoke again.
"Jasper, I have no idea what you're talking about," I said evenly. "What the hell are you even talking about? Who's Felix?"
I wasn't so stupid that I didn't know the cops were with him. They were listening, waiting. Hoping that I was the one that had taken Felix. And while I absolutely had, I wasn't going to say that. I walked further into the woods and listened quietly. Finally, Jasper's breathing became words again.
"Ezra, I know I had you put away…"
"You mean you lied and had me put away," I said. "But I don't have a problem with that. I'm out now, and I want nothing to do with you. I don't even know how you still have this number," I said. "What do you want from me?"
I could hear the frustration in the growl that slipped from his lips. He was pissed, but you know what? So was I. And I was a hell of a lot more patient about it. I could take my time, toy with him, dangle him on the edge of a string. I had nothing else better to do in my life. And making Jasper miserable? That had always been the ultimate goal.
Jasper snapped. "You know what I want. My son. You took him. No one has seen him in weeks and he's not been at school, to his classes, none of it."
I hummed. "I can see why that's concerning, but you never told me anything about him, remember? So why and how the hell should I know?" I gave an exasperated sigh. "Jasper, we both know I want nothing to do with you. At this point, I just want to live my life in peace. Is that okay with you?"
The smirk finally came to my lips. As much fun as I was having with Felix, this was so much better. Watching Jasper suffer, watching him try to corner me as I did it so effortlessly made it hilarious. I didn't give anything away, just spoke and made him feel as if he was going crazy.
Good. Fuck him.
"Ezra, people are looking for him. If you were stupid enough to do anything…"
"Listen," I said. "Whatever you're on right now, whatever new drug you've discovered? I don't have time for it. Like I said before, I have a new life. Please, stop contacting me. Okay? I just want to be left alone."
When I hit the big red end button, I smiled. I knew Jasper was stammering and looking both pissed and confused. Sure,everything I said was bullshit, but my words were so sure. So normal, I knew he would have a hard time explaining to the cops that no he wasn't some drug addict who was stalking his ex-convict boyfriend. He was predictable, and that was what made screwing with him so much fun.
Finally, I pocketed my phone and lit a smoke. The entire time I'd been on the phone with him, I hadn't taken my eyes off the cabin door. I smiled. Felix was still nestled inside, probably watching TV and waiting for me to come back so he could snuggle up against me and beg me for more attention or whatever the fuck he would ask for.
"Shit." I laughed. "This just keeps getting more insane."
Surprisingly, the best part of my day wasn't fucking with Jasper. It was the thought of walking back into the cabin, seeing my little pet all snuggled up on the couch, and hearing another one of his annoying fucking questions.
I couldn't wait.
Chapter Eighteen
Felix
That saying “If you go looking for trouble, you’re bound to find it” hit me over the head like a sledgehammer.
The world around me shattered like glass. My breathing shallowed as my gaze flicked between the picture of Ezra and my dad holding hands at some restaurant. The way they looked at each other, there was no denying they had been together. On the other side of the screen was a messaging app that I was familiar with. It was one I’d used earlier in the year, when I’d finally made the leap to seek out friends. My name was right there, and along with it was the chat I had with Tony.
The churro funnel cake I'd eaten at the arcade was threatening to come up, burning the back of my throat. It was all planned.
I couldn’t figure out what hurt more. The chat or the fact that Ezra was in love with my dad. He got everything while I was left with nothing. My insides twisted until I was bent over, saliva pooling in my mouth. My vision went fuzzy as my mind tried to come to terms with everything.
I knew it was all too good to be true.
Friendship had meant nothing, it was all bullshit. Who was to say Ezra wasn’t toying with me now until he could get the man he really wanted?
The front step creaked, and I quickly clicked out of everything and put it back exactly how I’d found it.
The idea of sitting down on the couch or being in the cabin for one more second made me nauseous. It wasn’t fair. I never got to have anything, and the one time I finally thought I did, it turned out to be a lie.
“Felix, how about we watch one of those dumb movies you keep pestering me about?”
