Page 43 of Wrath

“I ain’t a boy anymore. I’m a Soul.” I remind him, warning him with my eyes that one day he will pay worse than all of ‘em.

“Aaron?” Ruck stands up looking confused as hell, and I shake my head “I’m sorry.” I tell him, hanging my head and getting the hell out of this place. Four of the eight men I intend to kill are in that room, it would be easy to start here, but it wouldn’t be smart. I’m much better off being by myself for a while. I need space and time to think. I need a plan to ensure each man suffers for the part they played in what happened tonight. I already know that I won’t get my vengeance on Cliff for a long while, but he’ll know I’m coming for him, and all he’ll be able to do is wait.

It took me four days to find out who the other men in that room were; by the ninth day, all five of them were dead. I pull the knuckle duster I took from the last one I killed, outta my cut and slide it over my fingers. It’s a handy little weapon that I’ve used many times over in the years since I’ve obtained it. Just thinking about using it on the man who caused all of this is about the only thing that can distract me from the agony of hearing what happened to Eden after I left. When she first came back, I was so determined to prove to her how much I’d changed. I wanted to show her that I was strong and that I could protect her. Instead, I’ve been a coward and walked away from her, again.I’m pathetic. I should never have promised her she’d be okay, and now I know just how deeply she’s suffered, I’ll never forgive myself. I pick up the bottle of Jack and unscrew the lid, knocking it back and hoping it’ll numb all the emotions battling it out in my head.

“Tryin’ it out for size?” I hear Raze laughing and when I open my eyes, I realize that I’m still in church.

“I was just…” I stroke my head when it starts to hurt and as Raze lifts up the empty bottle of Jack, he shakes his head but doesn’t look surprised.

“When d’ya think the power got to him?” I ask, looking at all the empty seats and fearing that one day I might become the man I detest.

“I don’t know, I guess when people started showin’ him their fear,” he takes the seat Ruckus usually occupies.

“People fear you and you ain’t a cunt,” I point out.

“That’s a matter of opinion,” he smirks.

“What time is it?” I’m feeling real groggy, especially when everything Eden hit me with last night comes flooding back to me.

“It’s 8 am, I’m just about to set off for Colorado. I really need to speak to this Anita woman Vex told me about.”

“Let me go, instead,” I blurt out. Right now, I need some space between me and this place.

“You wanna go all the way to Colorado?” Raze looks surprised

“Ineedto go, Raze. Eden told me some shit last night, shit that’s made me even more determined to find Cliff.”

“What kinda shit?”

“The kinda shit she needs to tell you herself. It’s worse than what we thought.” I hang my head in shame.

“You tell me, right the fucknowwhat you know.” He pierces me with his eyes.

“Cliff killed her family, he killed her cat, and then while I was off lickin’mywounds he took her to his house and kept her there.” I glance up, and when I see his face, I know I don't need to say anymore.

“I want him fuckin’ dead!” Raze stands up, slamming his fist on the table and shaking with fury.

“He will be. Letmego find this woman and letmespeak to her. We’ll find him.” I may be struggling to believe that my father was ever in love, but if this crazy woman has answers I’m prepared to try.

“And what about Eden? It kills me to say it but… Wrath, she needs ya.” He steadily lowers himself back into the chair as it starts to sink in that his sister was abused by Cliff.

“Raze, I need some space from here. I need to try and find some kinda peace with what I let happen to her. It was my fault. I left her, Raze, and I have to live with knowin’ that none of what happened to her after that night would’ve gone down if I’d stayed.”

“And none of it would have happened at all ifIwasn’t in fuckin’ jail.” Raze looks back up at me with a newfound determination. “There’s one person who’s to blame for all this, and that’s your fuckin’ father,” he tells me, his jaw is tense, and there’s pure fuckin’ fury in his eyes.

“I need to do this,” I tell him, seriously. “I need to be the one who fixes it. And I need a few days on the road to clear my fuckin’ head,” I beg him because right now, all I wanna do is tear this place the fuck up.

“You can go.” His answer surprises me. “Hell, I got problems of my own to deal with.” He shakes his head as his hand slides over his mouth.

“What kinda problems?” Now I’m curious, I thought I’d have to put up a much harder fight than that.

“This kinda problem.” Reaching into his cut, he takes out a white stick and carefully places it on the table between us.

“Congratulations, how far along are ya?” I somehow manage a smile for him.

“I found it in the bathroom trash, yesterday when we got back from New Mexico. Peyton was talkin’ with Eden after you upset her and I went home alone for that rest. She must have taken it before we left.” he explains.

“It looks positive to me.” I lean forward and read the result.

---