Page 1 of Locked Souls

Chapter 1

BEFORE

Leaving my family is one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. After growing up an orphan, all alone, I never thought I would find the people I could call my home.

I know that if I ever do return, things will never be the same again, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

Saving Jonas’ soul was worth it and I would do it again, over and over. Slinging my duffel bag over my shoulder, I wait at the gates of Holy Cross for the man on the phone to come collect me.

After ditching my phone in my room as I packed, I don’t have any way to contact him. It’s better this way. I don’t think I could handle it if I had the opportunity to listen to the voicemails and texts that are inevitably coming my way.

Levi will understand, but Chas, Bast, and Jonas won’t. I should have left a note, but there was no time. They have to be worrying about me by now, after I disappeared outside of the music store.

An old, rumbly muscle car with blacked out windows pulls up beside me and I open the door. I don’t look at the man beside me as he exhales a lung full of smoke, filling the air between us in this enclosed space.

“So you’re the pissant I’m supposed to mentor?” he asks with a grumble, and I turn to face him while he speeds off down the hill and onto the main road, leaving my lovers and family behind in his exhaust smoke.

My heart aches, but I know I need to put all my emotions into a box and lock it away with a key. Mask firmly in place, I cross my arms and give him a smirk.

He has dark hair and familiar eyes, but I’m not sure who he is or why I feel like I’ve met him before.

“I’m Ash,” I grunt, and he scoffs, flicking his smoke out the window as he cranks the radio, not bothering to say another word.

My fingers fidget, and I wish I had my phone or something to play with. I have never been good with idle hands.

He drives in silence until we reach our destination. I don't recognize the area, but it doesn't exactly look like a nice spot.

Dumpsters line the sidewalks, with a pungent odor that hits me in the face like a right hook to the cheekbone as we climb out of the car.

The man walks over to a door with broken glass that's covered in spray paint. I follow, watching where I step, avoiding the broken needles on the ground.

I'm expecting the inside to be a shitshow as well, and when a man covered in facial tattoos opens the door for us, I keep my mask firmly in place.

Following the tattooed man, we walk through a warehouse and another door, before stopping and waiting in front of a large wooden wall that looks like it slides open.

“Snake, I was surprised to get your call. Who's the new guy?” the man with the tats asks, and I keep my eyes averted from him.

I'm getting shady fucking vibes from him and I don't need to be shot or stabbed today.

I know this job won't be easy, but I'd like to come out of this alive.

“Boss needed someone young, so I found a recruit,” Snake grunts and the man nods. Knocking on the door, he then opens a hidden side panel and types in a code.

The door buzzes before sliding open, and I bite the inside of my cheek to hide my gasp.

I think I just found the Underbelly of the Mafia.

Low lighting casts shadows over a large group of men sitting around tables, smoking cigars and doing business.

There is a bar in the corner, and a few women in cages underneath the counter.

My stomach flips and I take a slow deep breath before following Snake and the other guy to a table in the center.

This must be where the bosses are. Two men sit, smoking and laughing, as men with guns stand behind them, watching me closely. The older man looks up and stands, moving over to Snake and shaking his hand.

I am so fucking confused right now. I didn’t think I’d be thrown into the job blind. Snake should have told me what was going on during the drive. Fucking dick.

“Richard, Isa told me we needed some young blood around here, so meet Spider,” Snake says to the old guy, and I huff out a laugh at the ridiculous name he’s given me.

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