Page 55 of Beg for Death
Daddy's face was scrunched up in concentration like he'd lost himself in his hobby. Some people had Legos or cooking. My man had killing.
The sound of a knife scrapping over bone isn't one I was ever going to forget. It was similar to nails on Styrofoam. It made my ears hurt and my teeth grind.
Ezra seemed unfazed as he moved to kneel next to Jasper. He put the knife to the side to shove two hands into my father's back. His forearms bulged as he pulled. There was an audible crack that could be heard over Jasper's pathetic cries.
My father's right ribcage was flayed out like a wing.
"One to go," Ezra announced happily.
I'm not sure what made him do it, but he looked up at me as if checking if I was still there. The moment our eyes locked, his shoulders visibly relaxed.
"You never got to ask your question," Ezra said, yanking the soggy piece of papers out of Jasper's mouth.
I looked at my father, a bloody broken mess. I shook my head. "Doesn't matter. His answer would have been a lie anyway."
"P-p-pl-ease." Jasper's voice broke as he pleaded. He coughed as more blood coated his once straight white teeth. There were a few missing now.
I looked at my daddy. The grin on his face was the brightest I'd ever seen. Warmth filled me at the sight of him so happy. Everything else was static when I watched Ezra do what he was good at.
Killing was a part of him, and honestly, it wasn't so bad. Messy, and I wouldn't be joining in, but there was something special about cheering on someone you cared about while they did something they were passionate about.
Not to mention only I could do this with Ezra. It was our special connection.
"I love you," I blurted out.
Ezra paused, holding Jasper slightly off the ground. Blood pooled around the both of them. Soaking into the loose paperson the ground and some of the cardboard boxes. His head slowly lifted until I was met with deep brown eyes. He didn't blink. There was blood splattered right over his left eyebrow.
"What did you say?"
I cleared my throat, anxiety twitching in my stomach with having to repeat the words. My daddy wasn't exactly openly affectionate but he showed me he cared more than anyone ever had.
"Fe-Felix, help," Jasper interrupted. His eyes were unfocused. Every shaky breath sounded like it would be his last.
There was no amount of help that would save him.
Ezra's lips dipped into a frown. He slammed the end of the pliers down and Jasper's entire body jolted. The broken cry that left him was barely above a whisper.
"Interrupt again, and I will—" he chuckled. "Oh wait, I'm already torturing you." His head tilted. "Well, I'll think of something." He forced his gaze back on me. "Say it again, baby."
My heart skipped a beat. I didn't give a damn he was covered in blood. I pushed off the wall and hopped over my father and threw myself at my daddy. He caught me, his strong arms wrapped around my midsection and his hot hands pressed against my spine. Covered in blood, sweat, and grime. I didn't want to be anywhere else.
"I love you."
Ezra looked deeply into my eyes again as if he was searching for the lie.
"I love everything about you, Papi." I dared to pepper a kiss on his lips. His facial hair tickled my skin.
Jasper's whining droned on until it was impossible to ignore him. "P-please… lease… st-stop."
Ezra cupped his hand around his ear. "What was that? Don't you see I'm having a moment with my toy?"
The way he so easily called me his never failed to make me smile.
"Kill me," Jasper whimpered.
"Huh?"
"Ki—me." His words were getting weaker by the second.
