Page 27 of Legions

“You’ll be evicted from this apartment once I leave,” I told him, then took out a piece of paper with information that he would need. “First is the address to your new pad. It’s lovely. Comes with pet rats. The second is your new place of employment. I hope you enjoy the smell of garbage. I hear you get used to it. Third is the two different soup kitchens and shelters you are signed up to volunteer at five nights a week.”

His eyes went to the paper, then snapped back up to me.

“Should you choose to miss work, not show up to volunteer, or go anywhere near your wife or daughter, I will know. And you will pay. It won’t be enjoyable, Clark.”

I put the cigarette out on his coffee table.

His voice wavered as he said, “I’ll tell the feds all I know about you and your family. “

I smirked. “While you’re at it, tell them I said hello.”

Understanding slowly lit his eyes as he clung to anything that he thought might save him.

“I’m serious! I will tell anyone who will listen! I will talk until I find someone who isn’t in your back pocket!”

I stood then, growing weary of his threats. No one threatened me. Yet I couldn’t kill this one. His eyes had a wild look in them as I walked over to tower over him. With one well-rehearsed move, I slid the blade from my boot and held it at his neck whileI grabbed a handful of his thinning hair and jerked his head back.

“You’re alive because of Capri. But don’t test me. I’ve killed for her many times before, and she forgave me. Besides, she didn’t say I couldn’t slice out your tongue and make you eat it.”

The terror staring up at me was what I liked to see. That was respectful. Shame I had to get it by going to these means.

“Now, you piece of shit,” I said, then took the microdevice I’d had Wilder get me and, using the injecting needle, shoved it up his nose while he screamed. His eyes widened, and his body shook while I made sure it was secure before withdrawing the injector.

“That’s a tracker. If you try to take it out yourself, it will kill you. Don’t touch it. Or do. Every step you take, I will know,” I told him, then let his hair go and left a slight prick on his neck from my blade, just enough so that blood would trickle out.

Wiping my knife off on his towel, I held his horrified stare.

“I own you, Clark. You may get to live, but it will be a life of… what is it called… Oh, yes, penance. And while you do that, the woman’s life you wasted will get a new one. A wealthy, single woman with enough money to start over. Do anything she chooses. My hope is she fucks her way through the southeast. Tries a wide variety of dick.”

I slipped my knife back into my boot and then headed for the door. Stopping just as I reached it. “And Clark, be careful who you threaten. The family will know, and I can’t stop my father from killing you. He’ll make it appear an accident. I won’t even know he’s done it.”

With that, I opened the door and walked out.

• Fifteen •

“He’s afraid to breathe the same air as me.”

Capri

The shelter I helped serve dinner in welcomed me back after two weeks with applause and cheering. It had taken a lot of arguing and demanding, then coming to an agreement we could both live with, to get Thatcher to let me come back once we had gotten together. Taking off again for the past two weeks to deal with my mom’s life had been necessary.

I had missed being here, not just because I felt like I was doing something to help out but because the people here were my friends. I knew the regulars by name and some of their stories. If I could help each one of them get back on their feet, I would. But right now, the best I could do was serve them food and donate to the shelter, which I did from every paycheck I received.

When my shift was over, I stopped by to say goodbye to Willie, Big John, Velma, Disco, and Burtie and then slipped them each a roll of twenty-dollar bills before leaving. Now that she couldafford another bus pass, I hoped Burtie would get that swollen tooth seen at the free clinic and Willie would get cleaned up enough to meet with his oldest grandson, who had been asking around about him.

Stepping out into the cool evening breeze, I shivered. It had been warm when I got here but spring in the south can change temps on you fast. I glanced around, looking for Sebastian, assuming that would be who was out here, not only waiting on me but also making sure I was safe inside since Thatcher had gone to have my father sign the divorce papers.

A trickle of feminine laughter came from my right, and I turned my head to see an attractive redhead smiling brightly up at a guy beside her. I noticed her arm wrapped around his and smiled at the connection while my eyes lifted to see the man. They looked like they were headed to the small market with fresh produce.

I paused mid-step, then began walking toward them, unable to stop myself. I hadn’t seen JB since he left Shephard’s Stables working as a stable hand. Granted, Thatcher had done something to him, and I had never been told what exactly, but my gaze quickly checked his fingers and found all ten in place. That was a relief. He had a short beard now, but that was the only difference. When my gaze moved back to his face, he stopped walking. Shock then panic morphed his previous happy expression. His head swung left then right as he scanned the around me. Searching for someone. I could guess who.

Forcing my feet to keep moving forward, I smiled at the girl he was with. She looked from me to him, confused, and I wanted to wave my hand at her and say, “Hi, it’s me. I’m the problem.” But I doubted she’d find humor in it.

“Hello, JB,” I said, wishing he wouldn’t look at me as if I were a demon straight from hell.

“Uh,” he said, still scanning the area. “um.”

“It’s okay, JB. Thatcher isn’t here, and even if he was, I canpromise you that it’s fine.”

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