Page 14 of Nitro

“Get out of here?” She looks up at me, those gorgeous eyes sparkling with unshed tears. “Are you going to get them out of here?”

I can’t lie, I just want someone else to be with me. I’m tired of feeling like I’m the only one here that’s sane. I’m tired of feeling like at any second someone is going to figure out that I’m still with the Spawns and not Rooster. “We’re going to get them out of here.”

The second the words come out of my mouth it feels like a weight is lifted off my shoulders.

“I knew it. You’re not like them. Why are you here?” She grabs hold of me and whispers.

“Shepard and the Spawns are tired of Rooster making a fucking mess out of everything. I’m here to find a way to bring him down. A way that doesn’t involve him being able to run away.”

“Thank fuck! Thank fucking hell!” Tink jumps slightly where she is standing in excitement. “Who else is here with you?”

Her joy is infectious. I smile at her, but push her back slightly, I don’t want to give her any more false hope than I have to. “It’s just me Tink. I’m all alone here.”

“No, you’re not.” She puts a hand on my chest and I can feel the strength that I was supposed to be giving to her funneling right back into me. Now it's her time to support me. “I’m here with you. We are in this together.”

I pull her back into a hug and let her small body mold to mine. Now that I’ve brought someone else into this mess, how the hell am I going to make sure that we both get out of here?

Nitro

“I have to say I’m more impressed than I thought I would be.” Yemen puffs on a cigar as Rooster and I walk him out of the compound. The auction's a success for them. For me it feels like my stomach is doing a million little flips.

“But, if I ever hear that you’re trying to push into my business again, you’ll be the ones up for auction do you understand?” He peers into Roosters eyes and I can tell that my so called president isn’t holding on very well.

“We understand. We’d never think of letting this misunderstanding happen again." I quickly answer. Yemen isn’t someone I want to cross no matter what side I’m on. Rooster's eyes cut over to me, but he doesn’t say anything.

“That’s what I like to hear.” Yemen claps me on the back before he looks over to Rooster once again. “Now kid, you’re going to need to keep up with the supply. I want you to have an auction at least once every two weeks to start. I’ll make sure you have the buyers.”

“Buyers, from what we talked about today I’m not seeing any of this so-called money, what fucking buyers? You want me to take all the fucking risk, but reap no fucking reward. What is the point of fucking doing business with you if I’m not going to see any profit? This is my fucking compound and these are my fucking women.”

I don’t know what the fuck had got into Rooster, but the second he starts going off on a tangent there is nothing that I can do to stop him, no matter how badly I want to. I don’t want to back away and force Yemen to think that we’re not together on this, but Rooster is being reckless as fuck.

“Who the fuck are you talking to like that boyo?” He asks taking a step forward and that’s all it takes for everyone with him to draw their weapons on Rooster and me.

I turn my back on Yemen and get right into Rooster’s ear. I need to calm the situation down the best I can. “Rooster, we can’t fucking do this here. What are you thinking man?”

He doesn’t say a word just stares at me for a second.

“Look man, I know this shit ain't fair, but if you want to live until we can make it fair. You need to just keep your mouth closed and do what he asks us to do. You and I both know what kind of fucked up people he has on his payroll, we can’t fucking do this, not today, not with the force that we have.” I pull back and look into his eyes hoping to see some sort of understanding. Instead, I see nothing but dead blank space. Rooster nods his head and I take a step back before turning towards Yemen.

“I apologize about that. We are all on edge right now. We understand what we need to do in order for everyone to come out on top.” I put on the best customer service voice I can muster and watch Yemen’s shoulders drop slightly. He’s relaxing.

“I’m starting to think maybe you should have been president of the Purged instead of Rooster. I have a feeling I’m going to have to kill him sooner than later.” Yemen says loud enough that I’m sure Rooster can hear.

“I wouldn’t do the seat justice." I reply trying to keep Rooster in line, but still remain respectful to Yemen. I feel like a fucking babysitter.

“Hmm.” Yemen turns then and simply takes his people. He walks out without a care in the world, like he doesn’t have to worry about people looking for him or anyone trying to take him out. I need to find out if he is really a free man or if we can use his escape as some sort of leverage against him. I doubt it, but I had to try.

Whatever Shepard is planning to do he needs to do it fast, because Rooster is losing the game and he’s losing it fast.

I watch the rest of the Purged members lock up the compound as Yemen and his people leave. Rooster doesn’t move from behind me so I don’t move either.

“You think he’s right Nitro?” Rooster speaks, his voice a dead whisper.

“What are you talking about?”

“That you should be president? You think you could run the Purged better than me?” Rooster takes a slow step and puts himself in front of me.

“Don’t be stupid. You were right here when I told him that I wouldn’t be a good fit for the chair. You know I’m not trying to be anyone’s fucking president, that’s not for me.” I keep his gaze trying to maintain my fearlessness.

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