“You know what to tell your employer, right?”
“Yes, I’ll handle him.”
“If the cops ask you—”
“He wouldn’t involve the police, but I will say that you knocked me out before I could see your face.” He spat more blood onto the ground.
“Make sure to stick to that story no matter what. I got away with many lies because I was stubborn. Come help me get my treasure into the trunk.”
Chris tried to crawl away when they came for him. “Help!”
“Jesus, Danny, you used to be smarter. You think I would’ve chosen this place if there was anyone to hear you?”
They pulled him up and shoved him into the trunk. Trevor used duct tape to block Chris’s mouth, then used a knife to cut the zip tie from around his wrists. “Hands behind your back.”
Chris shook his head and tried to send a punch at Trevor’s stomach, but Dima grabbed his hands and pulled them back, twisting them painfully until Trevor finished duct-taping them together.
“How long are you going to drive with him?” Dima asked, blood dripping down his nose and lips.
“A couple of hours, but I can’t tell you where we’re going.”
“I don’t need to know.” Dima gave Trevor a warning glare. “Don’t make mistakes, and only speak with me when you have my share.”
“It will take some time.”
“I can wait.” He looked down at Chris. “You helped kill Tobias. You deserve this. Once I get the money, I’ll take care of Oscar.” He grinned, his teeth stained crimson. “Maybe I’ll take care of your friends as well.”
The trunk door slammed shut, covering Chris in thick darkness.
13
JAY
“You should totally come with us,” Stu said again. “They barely show old slashers at that drive-in anymore.”
Jay stepped out of the bathroom at the back of the garage, fresh after a shower and wearing his regular clothes. “That slasher sucks.”
“Yeah, all slashers suck, so what? I barely get to hang out with you anymore.”
“Are you for real? We work together.”
“That’s different.”
“Listen, we’ll watch whatever you want next week, okay? I told you I’m meeting Chris.”
Stu crossed his arms and shook his head. “For the life of me, I don’t get how you agreed to forgive him.”
Jay sighed and arranged the tools he’d used earlier on the wall. Both he and his brother were messy by nature, but they kept it tidy at work. “We’re not getting into this again. I told you there are things you wouldn’t get.”
“Oh, I get it just fine. Mister Success bats his eyelashes with his pretty blue eyes, and you forget that he landed you in prison.”
“Sure, Stu. It’s because of his eyelashes and pretty blue eyes.”
“You’re gonna get hurt again because of him. Rotten people like that—”
“Hey, zip it!” Jay took a breath to calm himself down. Stu was only being a protective big brother, albeit an annoying version of one. “Listen, Chris and I are cool now, and he needs my help.”
“Of course he needs your help! He’s a blood-sucking vampire who—”
