The fucker was working with Osamu.
Zhuang was glad he was dead. It meant he wouldn’t have to kill the guy.
“I think he plans to start a new clan somewhere else, sir.”
Not if Zhuang could help it. He pointed directly down the hallway. “You go down there and knock on that door. You ask to speak to Elder Shen, and only Elder Shen. You tell him what you told me. You tell him everything.”
“Uh…”
“What?” Zhuang snapped.
“Our families, sir. Osamu threatened to kill them if we betrayed him again.”
Zhuang lowered his eyebrows in a menacing glare. “Do what I told you to do. Elder Shen is the only one I trust to treat you fairly.”
The man gulped. “Yes, sir.”
Zhuang shifted and headed out the door. He knew of only one road that led south away from the council estate. Osamu had a head start on him, but Zhuang had grown up here. He knew every shortcut to and from the place. If he went through the woods, he’d be able to cut Osamu off even if he was in a car.
“Tao, call my father and tell him Osamu has Xias. He’s on the road headed south. I’m going after him.”
“Zian and Shiro are here,”Tao replied. “Do you want me to send them to join you?”
Zhuang was so relieved he almost stumbled. “Yes, send Zian. He’s quicker. Tell him to get to the road as fast as he can. Osamu is in a vehicle. I’m going to cut him off through the woods to the southeast of where you are.”
“He’s on his way, Zhuang,” Tao said.
“Also tell my father two shifters are about to knock on his office door. He needs to listen to what they have to say. They were supposed to fight me and slow me down, but they gave up pretty quickly. They have a lot to say about what’s happening in Osamu’s clan.”
“Yeah, okay, I’m calling him now.”
“And tell him Elder Yang was up to his neck in this shit.”
Tao growled. “Too bad the guy is dead.”
Elder Yang might be dead, but someone more dangerous was still breathing. For now. If Zhuang had anything to say about it, Osamu wouldn’t live to see the next sunrise.
Zhuang just had to kill him.
Chapter Fourteen
Xias tugged on the hand wrapped around his wrist. It felt as if he were trying to pull his arm out of a vice grip. Just once he wished these bigger guys would experience what it was like to be at the mercy of someone stronger than them.
It was a pipe dream, but a dream nonetheless.
He dug his feet into the dirt and refused to take a step. Osamu kept on going, simply dragging Xias behind him. Xias hopped along, toeing his shoes off. He winced when he stepped on some pine needles.
“Move it!” Osamu snapped.
“I am not going with you.” Xias tugged on his wrist again. “I hate you.”
Xias cried out and fell to the ground when pain exploded in his cheek. He grabbed the side of his face where Osamu had hit him and stared up at the man. The level of violence was nothing new, but it was something he had thought he’d left behind.
“Do you think I care how you feel, boy? I don’t need you to like me to get cubs off of you.”
True, but… “I’ll kill myself before I let you have me again.”
Osamu stared for a moment, then laughed. “You actually think you can stop me?”
