Charlie had thought he could escape them if he didn’t drive his pathetically recognizable car around. But they found it anyway, stashed at some cousin’s house. It didn’t take long to get that cousin to give away that Charlie was only hiding out for a couple of days.
They left the apartment and lingered in an alley just outside. The stench of piss and old trash coated the insides of his nose and he couldn’t wait to get away from this shit side of town.
Leaning against the brick, he toyed with his lighter. His fingers twitched, feeling that familiar click as he resisted the urge to reach for the non-existent pack in his pocket. He had quit two months ago and the worst cravings came when his hands were idle.
So, he’d taken to being an annoying fuck by fidgeting with the lighter. It was a nice one that his dad had given him before he’d gotten Ryker stuck working for one of the most ruthlesssharks in the city. Gambling. Always fucking gambling. Many would get so deep, they could never hope to see the surface.
That was his dad. At least, until Ryker had stepped in.
Only a few more years of smashing shit and roughing people up. Then, they’d all be free from this.
As long as his mom kept his dad on a tight leash. That was the hardest part. His dad hated being bossed around by her, but it was necessary.
Click. Click. Click.
It was cold and the rain had left the air feeling even more damp. Fuck, he wanted to go back inside, but they needed to do this out here.
He glanced at Ezra who was swiping through profiles on some dating app.
“What was wrong with that one?” Ryker asked. He’d only lingered for a couple seconds, but she looked hot enough.
“I don’t know.” He sighed. “I’m five seconds away from deleting this fucking thing.”
That girl who smacked into him outside K-Shop came to mind. At first he thought nothing of her, but her icy blue eyes had caught him. He couldn’t help getting a better look. A cute little thing, with black hair that barely reached her shoulders and a piercing in each nostril. She tried to avoid his gaze when he called her pretty.
“You get a good look at that girl we saw?” Ryker said, chewing his lip. Fuck, he could kill for a smoke.
Ezra chuckled. “Yeah, she went into that fuckin’ noodle joint you love so much. Should’ve known you would want to snatch her up.”
Ryker snorted. He wasn’t wrong. It had been a while since he’d hooked up with someone who had anything remotely in common with him.
Lazy footsteps shuffled at the end of the alley.
Ezra pushed himself away from the wall and pocketed his phone. They had only interacted with Charlie a few times, but that footfall was unmistakable.
They rushed out of the alley. Charlie staggered back with his mouth hanging open in shock. His bleary eyes were unfocused as he took in his two assailants.
“N-no!” he objected.
Ezra grabbed him by his greasy hair and dragged him into the alley. He pressed their target’s face against the wall and Ryker started his part, punching and elbowing.
He hated doing this.
Charlie gasped as the punches stole his air. Ezra leaned in. “Xan is done asking nicely,” he seethed. “So you better figure out something quick.”
A sob escaped his throat. “I c-can’t pay it… p-please don’t take my fingers.”
Ryker withdrew his knife. Ezra pressed Charlie’s hand against the brick wall, trying to pry his fingers open. He wasn’t budging so Ryker kicked him in the Achilles.
“Ahh!” Charlie shrieked. “Don’t do it! I’ll do anything!”
Ryker clenched his teeth and lowered the knife to Charlie’s index finger. His stomach clenched as he got closer.
“Oh my God!”
They all jumped at the sudden voice that came from the end of the alley. A woman turned and ran.
“Shit!” Ezra yelled, dropping Charlie. He slumped to the ground as they took off after her. Xan wouldn’t tolerate witnesses, they had to catch her.
