Page 94 of Fragile Facade
But we’re all getting fucked over tonight. Because Lockan Tate is already here, and he’s rabid.
“Are you fucking kidding me, Ghost?” he shouts with Yates in a chokehold while two other Misfits restrain Tom on the ground of Janie’s Woods. Discarded weapons litter the forest floor, and Yates’ mouth is duct-taped. “You know he’s mine! After everything I put up with from him and all the shit he did to my crew, you think I’m gonna let you take him? Fuck off.”
I can’t say I blame him for feeling betrayed. We had a deal, and Yates was his to handle. Silently, I close the distance between us, making sure his crew members keep their hands where I can see them. We’re allied, but there’s still a traitor in his crew, and since we don’t know who it is, I don’t trust any of them.
“Where's Wentworth?”
He looks confused. “Not here.”
I scan the forest, wondering if those two lied to Krypt and Riot or if Wentworth already fled.
“Don’t fucking fight me on this. You know I deserve to punish him.” Lock throws Yates to the ground while he spits and gags, trying to speak through the cloth gag under the tape.
Idoknow he deserves this. He made Moros a promise to punish Yates and march anyone found helping him down Death Row for the town to see. I’ve been in The Misfits’ madness for years with Lock, so I see myself entitled to Yates’ downfall, too. Plus, I want top spot in rank.
“I’m helping you.”
“No.”
“Lockan.”
Lock steps over Yates and butts his firm chest to mine. He knows who I am under this mask and what I’m capable of. I respect him more for challenging me. “My crew needs this more than you do. You have Vile House. We’re still pulling ourselves together.”
Softly, so his two men don’t hear, I say, “I put up with him, too.”
“While always having Vile House at your back. We didn’t have anyone at our backs.” He fists his hand in the front of my jacket, tugging me forward so he can speak in my ear. “He’s fucking mine, Sauder. I might act calm, but I’ve got years of rage built up and I need somewhere to fucking aim it.”
“Hands off what’s mine or I’ll cut ‘em off and force ‘em up your ass, Tate.”
I close my eyes behind my mask, unsure if I’m pissed at his protectiveness or if I’m even more pissed that it’s possessiveness. His voice is calm, but it’s that threatening kind of calm that comes before something unleashes. Lock must sense it because he drops my jacket and faces Killian.
“Riot,” he greets through clenched teeth.
“Pleasure,” Riot greets him back, nodding at how close he’s standing to me. When Lock takes a single step back but otherwise does nothing to submit, Riot laughs. “You’d make a good Vile Boy.”
“Even better Misfit. I’m taking Yates and Tom whether I gotta fight you for them or not.” He squares up to both of us while Killian’s hand touches mine, teasing a grip that has no fucking right to be appealing at a time like this. “What’s it going to be?”
“What do ya think, sweetheart?” he asks me.
I smack his hand away and shove him off. “What’re you going to do with him?” I ask Lock.
“Whatever the fuck I want, but he won’t get off easy.”
“Promise?” Riot asks.
“Promise,” Lock agrees, nodding.
I tilt my head to let them go, unsure why I’m allowing it. Yeah, I get that Lock deserves this, and I even get that it’s his crew’s business, not ours, but I’m not someone who passes up opportunities to climb ladders. Yates gets me top rank, and as I watch Lock and his guys drag them out of the woods, I see my second-to-last spot become my reality for a lot longer.
I don’t know what to think, so I take a silent step to leave this place, but Killian’s fingers tighten around my wrist.
“Not a chance, sweetheart. No slipping into shadows tonight.”
Am I letting him pull me back or am I playing a game? “Where’s Krypt?”
“Gone. Looking for Wentworth. Everyone else will be stalking Lock now. Just you and me taking a walk down memory lane.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders and turns me to face the pond. “Remember the night we made our first deal? I drowned you and you blinked.”
“I got a brush with death and blinked to drag you down with me.”
