“What do you mean?”
“Clyde wants you to be the one to kill him. He was under your watch, so this will serve as a punishment to you, too.”
I scoff. “Punishment? He must not know me as well as he thinks.”
He shakes his head again. “No, he knows exactly how you are— how you would never turn away the opportunity to shed blood. He has something else planned. Something that ends with your life, as well.”
I stay silent with my eyes locked on his, waiting for him to continue.
“He sees his hold on you slipping, Eric. I don’t know when, but he plans to use you as an example as well. You need to be careful with how you proceed from here on out.”
“Why are you telling me this? I thought your loyalty lies with him.”
He sucks in a deep breath. “It did but you’re like a son to me. I’ve watched you grow from a skittish, angry boy into a man with an agenda. I’ve just come to realize maybe I’m on the wrong side of things lately.”
“And what agenda do you think I have?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know but I’m hoping you’ll let me stick around to find out.”
“What makes you think I want you on my side? If you’re so easily swayed away from him by me, who’s to say you won’t do the same to me when someone else comes around?”
He flashes me a smile. “Like I said, you’re like a son to me. I feel I’ve helped mold you in some way and since I don’t have kids of my own, I don’t want to walk away from that.”
He isn’t wrong.
Alfredo has been around longer than me, driving me to jobs, helping me make the right decisions. He’s the one I always went to when I needed advice, and by that, I mean to bitch about Clyde. It’s no secret to anyone in Clyde’s close circle that he’s changing, and not in a good way. Maybe he just doesn’t want to be stuck in the crossfire when someone finally comes unglued and gives Clyde what he deserves.
And that someone will be me.
“So are you asking for a job?”
“No. You’ll ask me. Just wanted to let you know where I stand.” He turns back around and looks out the windshield.
I turn, letting the conversation die, and glance out the window and see all the lights finally flipped off in the boy’s home. Glancing at my watch, I note how late it is. By now, all of the kids and Lily should be snuggled in their beds.
“I’ll be back.”
Alfredo nods as I step out of the SUV.
Crossing the street, I pull my lock rake from the inside pocket of my jacket and hope Lily took my advice. Regardless, I’ll get inside, but I want to gauge how well she follows orders—my orders specifically.
Taking the steps two at a time, I stop when I make it to the door. I jiggle the knob, surprised it’s actually locked. I slip the rake inside the hole and shimmy it until I feel it hit the tumbler. I wiggle it again before turning it and disengaging the lock completely.
Once I open the door, I pull the rake from the keyhole and slip it back into my pocket. I make sure I close it softly behind me before starting up the steps. Since I lived here before, I have an advantage by knowing the layout. If someone wakes up, I can sneak around like a shadow— knowing exactly where I can go to remain unseen.
When I make it to the hallway at the top of the stairs, I pause. Everything is silent. No creaking wood, no hushed voices. One by one, I open doors slowly, only giving myself long enough to let my eyes adjust from the dim light in the hallway to the dark rooms before closing them and moving to the next. Opening the last door, I find what I’m looking for.
Her room is small and almost identical to all the others, with dingy-looking walls and ugly green carpet. But one thing that stands out is the old metal crib across from her small twin-sized bed.
I pad over to her bed, thankful for the small lamp on her nightstand because it gives me just enough light to see her features. I already know what she looks like— every curve, freckle— It’s burned into my memory, but this is a side I haven’t got to see before. She looks peaceful. Completely unbothered and unaware I’m even here.
I could stand here and watch her sleep all night. Count the strands of blonde hair splayed across her pillow, try and decode the words spilling from her lips with no sound, but that isn’t why I’m here. I’m here to send a message.
Brushing the few strands of wayward hair from her face, I tuck them behind her ear and tear my gaze from her. Moving to the crib, I do the same thing.
Pause.
Watch.
