“What’s your name?”
“Uh, Dave.”
“Okay, Dave. Do you want to know what’s going to happen, or are you keen on surprises?”
“Mr. Hendrix, please. I didn’t?—”
“I don’t want to hear anything other than your answer to my question. Because here’s the thing, Dave. If the tables were turned and I was on that hook, you’d be smirking and loving every second of pain you delved out. So, again, I ask you: do you want to know or be surprised?”
He sniffed, eyes bloodshot from crying. “Tell me.”
I grinned. “Listen up, Lorcan, because you’re going to be enjoying the same treatment.” I walked over to the table and picked up a knife. “Danny here will be slicing you across the chest first. Then Toni and Gino will decimate your face until you can’t see or breathe, and after that they’ll work on your ribs. Once that’s done, Danny will stick this knife into your gut.” I pointed to another one of my guys, Sal. “That guy is going to break your leg using his weapon of choice.”
Dave was a blubbering mess at this point, but I wasn’t done.
“And when it’s as if you can’t go on anymore. We’re going to douse you in gasoline and light you on fire.” I tapped his forehead with the knife. “For all the things you did to Penn and everything intended for my family. That, Dave, that’s how you seek vengeance.” I flipped the knife and handed it to Danny. “Have at it.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Pennsylvania
“But it doesn’t hurt, Tenny.”
“That’s because you don’t feel pain. You know this. Just because it feels like you can go out and about and do regular activities, that’s not the case. Now go sit and watch some TV or read a book.”
“I’m bored. Why can’t I take a walk?”
“You listen to me, boy. I’m about at my wits end with you. I get that you think you’re fine to do whatever it is you want, but you can’t.”
I sighed and scuffed my toe on the rug. “This stinks, Tenny. It’s one broken arm. I got another one.”
She tilted her head, and a soft smile played on her lips. “Come here.” She patted the chair beside her in the kitchen. I shuffled to her and plopped in the seat.
“What?”
“I won’t sit here and pretend I understand. Because the truth is, if I were you I’d be hurting and on pain medicine, pretty much asleep half the day. I can only imagine howhard this is. But remember something—because you can’t feel it means you can hurt yourself further, and what if we don’t figure it out in time and something happens to you that I can’t fix?”
She slipped off the chair and kneeled in front of me. I looked into her honey-brown eyes that always seemed to sparkle.
“Sweet boy, I wouldn’t survive if anything happened to you like that. I need to see you grow up into a strapping young man and take over the world.”
I chuckled. “The world?”
“Yes, sir. Because if anyone could do it, I one hundred percent believe it could be you.”
I leaned forward and she met me halfway so I could rest my head on her shoulder. She hugged me like she had all the love to give.
The distant sound of voices started to flood my memory. I heard some beeps here and there, the sliding of maybe a door. Where was I?
I tried opening my eyes but they were so heavy. I remembered Lorcan and the beating, but my eyes didn’t feel like they were as swollen as they had been, just tired.
“Penn.” Someone was softly calling my name, a woman I recognized. Through squinted eyes, I saw Rita smiling at me. “There you are.”
“Wha…” My voice was rough likely from not talking, or some damage I couldn’t feel.
“Hold on, let me get the water. We’ve been waiting for you to wake up, but the nurse said one sip was okay if you opened your eyes before she returned. Maybe I’ll let you have two.” She winked and returned to my side with a small cup with a straw.
I sipped it twice and closed my eyes. I was too tired to do anything more than sleep.
