Page 80 of Home Again

Sebastian knew the layout of his home, so he took a shot that he’d be headed for either the kitchen or a shower and bed. So he went around back and peeked up into the kitchen window. No sign of Darnell. When he went around to the side, he didn’t see him in the back bedroom either, but the door to the bathroom was now closed, and it had been partially open before. Sebastian hustled to the front door.

“Son of a bitch,” he hissed when he found the door locked. He pulled out his lock-pick set and let himself in. He went over to a kitchen drawer and pulled out the roll of duct tape he’d seen. He pulled off a strip, then took out his Glock 19 and went to the bathroom door. He hoped like hell that Darnell would come out dressed; it would make all of this so much easier. The door opened, and Sebastian cursed.

“Hands up.”

“What the hell?” Darnell screeched as he dropped his towel.

“I won’t say it again, hands on the back of your head. You know the damned drill.”

“You can’t come into my home—” Darnell started.

Sebastian grabbed him by his wet hair and slapped the duct tape over his mouth.

“You’re going to get dressed. Then you and I are going to go for a little ride. Got it?”

Darnell took a swing at him. In the cramped hallway, there wasn’t much power behind it. Sebastian pulled Darnell’s swinging arm towards him and shoved the hand into the wall. Sebastian heard the sound of bones breaking. Darnell lowered his head, aiming at Sebastian’s chest. Sebastian side-stepped, this time shoving Darnell so hard into the wall that his head broke through to the bathroom. Sebastian wrenched him out of the wall and Darnell slumped to his knees with the pain.

“Let’s try this again. You’re going to get dressed, then we’re going to go on a little ride. Nod if you’ve got me.”

Darnell looked up at him, his eyes dazed.

“I said nod.”

Darnell nodded.

Sebastian followed him into his bedroom and watched as he attempted to get dressed with broken fingers. It took a long time. When he was done, Sebastian grabbed his wounded hand and twisted, then shoved it up Darnell’s back, marching him to the living room.

“Darnell, you’re going to tell me where Gianna is. You don’t, I’m going to shoot your kneecap. I’m going to ask you a second time. You don’t tell me again, I’ll shoot your second knee. That will have been your last chance, because the third shot will be your crotch and you’ll bleed out. It won’t be pleasant. Are you hearing me?”

Darnell nodded.

“Good,” Sebastian smiled.

They went out to the car and Sebastian shoved Darnell into the passenger seat, where he huddled against the door. They got to where they’d left the airboats in record time.

Sebastian’s phone pinged. He was so close to success, he wanted to ignore it, but that would be stupid. He looked at the text. It was from Gideon.

Call me.