Page 28 of The Aftermath

“What can I help you with?” I smirk at him casually as if I’m not going to blow his fucking head off soon.

“You worked with my dad. I’d like to know a little more about that.”

“I don’t recall working with your dad, Silas.” Now I’m getting annoyed. I raise my gun and slam the butt into the side of his head. He reaches up as blood begins to trickle down his temple.

“Let me ask again. What business did you have with my dad?” He seems to think about his answer for a minute.

“A business transaction.”

“What for?”

“Why aren’t you asking your dad about this?”

“Because I’m here asking you,” I tell him calmly. He’s being careful with what he says, and I get it. I would be too, but now isn’t the time to piss me off. I’m already on edge from all the shit with Angel.

“It was a deal for chain stores. We worked out a deal,” he says, looking anywhere but at me.

“What did that deal entail?” I ask.

“That was a private matter. Maybe it’s best if you ask your dad about this,” he adds, slowly rising from his chair. I wave the gun in his face and shake my head. He remains sitting but reaches slowly for his top drawer as if I don’t see him.

“That gun you’re reaching for isn’t there,” I tell him. “Let’s do this another way. How about for every time you don’t tell me what I want to hear, I blow off a body part,” I tell him.

“Silas,” he begins, raising his hands. That works for me. I aim and fire, blowing his pinky off. He howls in pain, but he doesn’t live near anyone, so there’s no one to hear him scream.

“Shall we go for another?” I ask him. He’s grabbing his hand, holding it tightly, shaking his head.

“It was a business transaction!”

“Involving underage girls.” That got his attention. His head snaps up, his eyes locking with mine. “Why don’t you tell me who it was?”

“I-I-I don’t know who she was.”

“Then tell me the deal!” I roar this time. He jolts, but when he doesn’t answer me, I aim at him again.

“Okay! Your dad wanted the property to build his chain stores. I had the only way he could do it!”

“And the girl?” I ask him, becoming angrier by the second. My insides begin to shake, and I know I’m going to explode at any second. “The girl, motherfucker! Who was the fucking girl!” I roar this time.

Ron jolts when he opens his mouth to speak.

“I don’t know who she was. I didn’t ask questions. All I know is she was young.”

“And my dad? He knew about this, yes?”

“He’s the one who brought her to me.” That’s all I needed to know. Fury boils in my veins, and there’s no stopping it now. I move close and shove the gun into his mouth, making sure I angle it up toward his brain.

“Why a kid? Huh? You’re a sick fuck who will never look at another kid again,” I growl as I pull the trigger. The bullet rips through his head, spraying blood and brain matter all over the wall behind him. I’m breathing heavily, and when I pull back, I can’t stop myself. I shoot the motherfucker once more in the cock. I know he can’t feel it and that’s fine.

“That was for the little girl,” I say to the dead fucker. I turn on my heel and leave the house, climbing back in my car. I take a second to breathe and collect myself. Killing doesn’t bother me. That’s not what this is. Hearing him say it out loud is what’s pissing me off. He said it, he fucking said. My dad brought the girl, which means he knows who the fuck she is.

I take deep breaths through my nose, trying to settle myself. I pull out my cell and dial Rylan, putting it on speaker as I pull off.

“What’s up?”

“Meet me at Chaos.”

“What’s going on? You good?” No. I’m not good. Not at all.

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