Page 31 of Redemption
“Consider my curiosity piqued. I’ll text you the details for the meet. Don’t start doing anything stupid now. The kid’s life depends on it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Mount
“You’re going to let me go?” the kid asks as I reach for another roll of duct tape out of the toolbox.
“Don’t ask questions, kid. You’re so far out on a limb here, it’s a miracle you’re still alive. Any other day but today …” I trail off as I rip a strip from the roll and turn to face him.
His eyes widen at the duct tape. “Come on, man. Not again. That shit sucks coming off.”
I can’t help but laugh. Only a stupid seventeen-year-old would think he gets any say in what happens when he’s duct-taped to a chair in a room where many lives have ended.
“I don’t trust you, kid. You’re a wild card. Your uncle is lucky he and his old man have always been helpful and never fucked me over before.”
I slap the tape over his lips before he can reply. I crouch in front of him and meet his hardened blue gaze.
“If you’re fortunate enough to be alive when someone rips this tape off your lips again, take that pain as a reminder that children shouldn’t be playing men’s games. Go back to school—back to Lily—play football, and then do something fucking useful with your life that doesn’t involve trying to kill grown men who would normally tear you apart limb from limb simply for the insult. Do you understand me, kid? You will never be hard enough for this life. Never. And trust me, you don’t fucking want to be.”
He narrows his eyes, and I can’t tell if I’ve gotten through to him, but at this point, I don’t care.
I rise and brush my hands off on my suit pants—reminding me that I’ll need to shower and change before I go home to my wife.
I turn around and cross the room to grab a black hood from beside the tool chest. “Now that the after-school-special part of this is over, it’s time to get back to work,” I murmur as I drop it over his head.
With three strides, I reach the heavy metal door and haul it open. My brother waits outside, leaning against the wall, as I shut it and throw the heavy metal bar to bolt the kid inside.
“Ready?”
He nods. “Of course. Whatever you need me to do.”
“That’s exactly what I hoped you’d say. We have a meet to set up. And I can’t do this without someone I trust, and today, that just happens to be you.”
His lips curve into an instant smile as he pulls the sunglasses down. “You’ve never had someone at your back that you could trust more, brother.”
“I’m starting to believe that. Let’s see how you handle what’s coming next.”
“A boat? Really? Is that safe?” Marco asks as I drive us in a nondescript Toyota Camry along the river while explaining where I plan to meet Leo.
“You’re going to make sure I’m safe. How are you at long-range high-caliber target shooting?”
“You want me to be your sniper?”
As I brake for a red light, I glance over at him. “Can you do that? If not, tell me now, and I’ll find someone else.”
“No, no. I can do it. Our father loves target shooting. He trained me himself in the Dolomites.”
Our father. I have a father. The reality of the statement nearly causes me to miss the gas pedal as the light turns green.
As much as I want to ask what our father is like, I can’t think about that right now. “Good. Then, you’ll be fine. I have a sniper’s perch for you and a few different options for rifles.”
“You’ve used this spot before?”
“Yes. And no shots have ever had to be fired, so I consider it a lucky one.”
“Good, because while I will do whatever I must do to protect you, brother, I will be very honest with you. Taking a life is not on my agenda for today.”
“I wonder what that’s like,” I can’t help but whisper under my breath.
