Page 6 of King of the Unsightly

I didn’t dare glance back at the man standing before me and kept my focus on Jared, but Jared’s continued silence made me increasingly more nervous.

What did Jared even mean when he said I had it? The stupid key?

From the corner of my eye, the alabaster-haired man turned to Jared. His face twisted in disdain as his domineering posture became more apparent. He looked down on Jared like an insignificant bug he could squash whenever he desired.

“It’s a pity I have to repeat myself. I said I would consider it. Now my generosity is wavering.” The man didn’t give Jared any more attention as he looked back at me.

I wished to disappear or melt into the chair so I wouldn’t have to face the man any longer. I mean, couldn’t he continue to take out his animosity on Jared? That would be a win for the both of us. Fuck up his night, dude, not mine.

The man untied the cloth and ripped it away from my mouth.

In a low voice, he said, “Where is it?”

My mouth hung open. I wanted to say something, anything, to get out of this situation, but I got the feeling if I did, he wouldn’t appreciate the killer jokes that would spill out of my mouth like vomit.

I gulped. My mouth turned bone dry despite the words aching to pour out.

A flicker of light resembling a purple flame appeared in the man’s eyes, and he snatched the necklace off my neck.

I gasped from shock or flinched or maybe both before I realized what he had taken from me.

The man glowered as he turned to a lady in a midnight blue dress and black heels. “Valeria, get rid of her.”

“Of course.” The woman, Valeria, smirked, appearing from the dark; her blonde hair almost reached the cement as she bowed.

Jared took one step closer. “Wait you said—”

The man clicked his tongue and stalked toward Jared, glaring.

“What happens to someone who refuses to follow one ofmyorders?” Malice dripped from the man’s voice as he gripped Jared’s shoulder. All the color drained from Jared’s face as he stammered to speak, but ultimately stayed tight-lipped. The man laughed and bent down, inches from Jared’s face and whispered, “Good boy.” The man let go of Jared and snapped his fingers, and the others faithfully followed behind him as they walked out of the room.

Where in the mafia hell was I?

Jared mouthed the wordsI’m sorryand followed reluctantly behind them.

The reality of my situation sunk in, and betrayal and anger hit me all at once like a festering wound, worsening the farther Jared walked away from me.

“You coward!” I screamed.

I cursed and cursed at Jared again until his black curls disappeared from my view, and my voice went hoarse. Until I no longer heard his footfalls echo throughout the warehouse.

Until my anger turned into desperation.

Vanquished Foes

“Oh god.” I sniffled. “What did I ever do to deserve this?” I cried out between sobs. The woman pulled me behind her with such brute force my feet could barely keep up. So I carried on with my worthless plea. “I may have stolen a few things in my youth and hijacked a car, but who hasn’t impersonated a valet and taken a Lamborghini on a joyride? It was stupid teenager stuff. I swear, I’ll repent,” I cried out again.

I rambled on and on like it would somehow bring ondeus ex machinaand save me from this nightmare. But real life didn’t work that way, so I worked with what I had—which didn't feel like much.

The woman dragged me to a black SUV with no license plate. My heart rate dropped, and my teeth clattered.

No one had a car without a license plate unless they planned on doing some shady shit like burglary, trafficking, or goingon a stabbing spree.

I thrashed and wiggled against her, and I somehow escaped her grip and took off toward an open field. The forest beyond it appeared so far away, and I knew I wouldn’t make it in time before she snatched me. I frantically searched for a paved road, but only dead grass filled my vision for miles and miles.

My best chance of surviving: running and not looking back. If she managed to stuff me in the back, I was as good as dead.

I continued my pursuit to the open field despite my odds. Dealing with mice, snakes, and ticks seemed more pleasant than begging for my life again.

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