“Wh— no. I can’t leave the other children and you’re delusional if you think I’ll be going anywhere with you.” Her voice is raised a few octaves as she shrills.
“This isn’t up for debate, Lily. You’re not safe. Clyde doesn’t give two fucks about the other children— he won’t touch them— but he thinks by taking you, it will lure Amy out, so please, let me help.”
I may have lied just a bit, but I don’t think telling her he has plans to kill her will make her feel any better.
“You’re cut from the same cloth as him. How do I know you’re not lying to me?” I can hear the uncertainty in her voice.
I suck in a breath, trying to settle my annoyance. Why can’t she just listen to me and do as I say? “I have no reason to lie to you.”
“Yeah? Well you have no reason to be truthful either, do you?” Before I can reply, she ends the call.
“Fuck!” I yell, gripping the phone too hard in my hand, almost snapping it in two.
I try to call again and again the entire way to the warehouse with no luck.
“Use mine to keep trying her,” I start when we pull up to the warehouse and toss him my phone. “And try to get in touch with Gavin Smith. He’ll have a safe house nearby. You know him?”
Alfredo nods and pulls his phone from his pocket. “Yeah, I know him. Want me to give him details?”
I shake my head as I step out of the car. “No. He owes me a favor and doesn’t need to know.” I say before I close the door.
Walking inside, something feels off, but I can’t figure out why. Something tells me it’s just because I’m on edge because of the shit with Clyde, but I know that isn’t the case.
Alwaystrust your gut. Another lesson Clyde taught me.
When I cross the concrete floor to the spot where blood still stains it from CJ, the asshole from last night comes from behind the boxes lining the wall holding a black trash bag with gloves on.
As soon as his stare catches me, he jumps before settling. “Oh fuck, Eric. You scared me.” He laughs nervously.
I watch him for a moment. Sweat beads start to form along his brow, as the plastic bag in his hand starts to rattle as his hand shakes slightly. Tipping my head, I step closer to him. “Why so on edge?”
He laughs again, trying to mask his fright. “Edge? Nah, man. You just startled me. I wasn’t expecting anyone to show up. I’m only cleaning the blood from the floor then calling it done.”
“I don’t like liars.” I deadpan, knowing damn well he’s hiding something.
He drops the bag and holds up his hands in surrender— his demeanor completely changes. “I swear I didn’t tell him, Eric.”
Squinting my eyes, I take another step closer. “Tell who what?” I let the words slip out low and relaxed. I’m sure he knows better— that I don’t give a fuck and will snap his neck without a second thought— but the impression of composure always makes people more comfortable and likely to open up.
“Clyde. I don’t know what he told you, but I swear I didn’t say a thing.” He moves, wanting to put some distance between us, but I take a step forward for everyone he takes back.
“And what is it you think Clyde said you said?” I ask, speaking to him like a child since that’s the only way I will get answers.
“The shit CJ popped off with last night— about you and the girl conspiring.”
I nod in understanding, pausing to scratch my chin. “I see.”
“But I didn’t tell him. I mean, I may have said it in joking— how CJ was trying to save his own ass with whatever he could think of— but he knew I wasn’t serious and neither was CJ.”
I smirk with a scoff. What a poor unfortunate soul. I knew this mother fucker was moldable when I saw him and probably only worked for Clyde because he cracks under the slightest sign of pressure.
But that’s another instance where Clyde is so wrong. He thinks that because he runs shit by fear, these punks who will spill their guts at the inkling of something wrong will make sure they stay honest with him. Clearly, that isn’t the case, though, because the moment I saw him and the way his body language changed, I knew he was hiding something. I knew he knew something I didn’t. And that’s bad for Clyde.
Now I know what he’s up to, and I won’t be playing it safe. I need to get to Lily and save her before he does.
Swiftly, I pull the gun tucked behind me and aim it at his head. Not even a second later, I pull the trigger. Brain matter and blood splatter the wooden crates behind him as his body crumbles and falls to the ground with a loud thud, and I know he won’t be getting up.
I turn on my heel and haul ass back out the warehouse, practically screaming at Alfredo as I do. He may not know exactly what’s going on because I haven’t given him a run down, and in this business, you don’t ask questions, but if he wants to stick by my side and work for me when I take shit over, now will be the time to prove himself.
