Page 132 of Gabriel's Salvation

“Nice to see you’re back with us,” a sinister voice comes from behind me. A voice that I know belongs to Marko, even though I can't yet see him as the barn is thrown into darkness again.

“What the fuck do you think you're doing?” I bellow as I tug harder trying to free myself from the rope currently pinning me to a chair.

“Reminding you where the fuck you belong,” Marko snaps back as he finally comes into focus, closely followed behind by Pheonix.

“Who the fuck do you think you are? Are you forgetting you work for ME!” I roar.

An evil cackle leaves his throat. “Work for you? YOU don't even fucking work for YOU recently!”

I see the way Marko’s nostrils flare as the room becomes illuminated once more by the headlights from a truck as it pulls up just outside. “Maybe you forgot the motherfucking oath we all took to put the Sinners and the job before anyone else.”

“And maybe YOU forgot who fucking made you all take that goddamn oath,” I huff. Seriously, who the fuck does this prick think he’s talking to?

Moments later I hear more voices outside. “Untie me now before I fucking kill you all. ” I shout loud enough to be heard by whomever the footsteps belong to that I can hear closing in on me.

“Oh believe me, we all know exactly what you're capable of, don't we boys.” Marko laughs as he looks past me towards his little fan group.

“Yep, we all know about Johnny Boy’s precious prodigy,” Micheal pipes up as he and two other guys in masks appear and take up their place beside Marko and Phoenix.

Micheal rips off his mask, “Only twelve years old and already killed his first man . . .” he mocks, as he repeats the words I know John has boasted about so many times. “. . . perhaps being back here will remind you of who exactly you are.”

“Must be nice to have inherited the empire,'' Marko remarks venomously as he kicks my chair. Oh, so that's what this is about. Marko is making his play to be head of the pack. He’s fucking welcome to it. I never wanted any of it. But now is not the time to roll over or back down.

“Oh dear, are we a little upset that Daddy never showed us enough love?” I mock. I see the anger rising on Marko's face, and decide to push him more. “No matter what you do, you'll never be his favorite, will you?”

His hand flies to the gun in his waistband as he thrusts it towards me. Both Michael and Phoenix reach out their hands to stop him.

“Don't do it,” Phoenix whispers. “He’s the only one who knows how it runs at the top.”

I know he can't kill me, John would never allow it. As well as the promise to stick together, that stupid oath also guaranteed protection for our families. It was the only reason I agreed to it in the first place. As a small, malnourished thirteen year old, it was the only way I could guarantee Nate's protection from all the assholes my father pissed off throughout the years. If this jackass breaks that by killing me, his whole family and that of every other guy here will be in jeopardy.

“I'm calm, I'm calm!” Marko snaps as he pulls out of their grips and runs his hand through his hair.

“That's it, be a good boy and do as you're told,” I mock.

“What I wouldn’t give to blow your brains out right here!” Marko sneers through gritted teeth as he brings his face so close to mine that I’m almost knocked back unconscious by the stench of his breath.

“Then what the fuck is stopping you? Worried that John would have you dead and buried before the night was out?”

“Dead men don't have much power now do they? Not unless his ghost is gonna haunt me to death,” He replies venomously.

“What the fuck are you talking about Marko? Seems like you’ve been sniffing a bit to much coke and it’s fucked with your ability to string a coherent sentence together.”

“Oh, you don't know, do you?” Marko says with a sinister grin. “Daddy’s dead... or should I say another daddy is dead, since didn't your old man drop dead as well?”

I'm about to question him further when I see Phoenix move over toward a worn out tarp on the floor, one that until now I didn't even notice. As he pulls back the tarp I see it’s hiding a body, and worse of all, it's John's cold, lifeless body.

“What the fuck have you done?” I bellow as I fight against my restraints. “He took you in when you were nothing but a punk kid living on the streets,” I remind him as I turn my attention to Phoenix, knowing Marko is beyond reason. “And you,” I say, turning my attention to Michael, who's been relatively quiet, “Who took you in when you had nothing? When you were nothing more than a junky kid, passing out blowjobs in return for the next high?”

Micheal dips his head in shame, or perhaps guilt. “We didn't plan it,” he mumbles, his voice barely audible.

“No, it was you we wanted dead,” Marko snaps. “John was only supposed to see the error of his ways and be brought here to agree to let me lead instead of you, realizing I was the real alpha of this pack,” Marko explains as he takes out a joint and begins pacing back and forth.

“How was I supposed to know the old fucker would have a heart attack or something?”

I feel slightly better knowing John didn't suffer, but still, I plan to get my retribution for this. I may have had my ups and downs with John over the years, but he’s the closest I've ever had to a parent; he took care of me when I had no idea how to take care of myself. He’s been good to me, even if it's in an unconventional way.

“So now what? You're gonna kill me too? Take over the business? Then what?” I question as I turn my attention to Phoenix, having already resigned myself to my inevitable fate.

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