Page 32 of Claimed by the Lawman

Chapter 10

THE KNOCK CAME on the door of the trailer and Frankie looked up from his line of coke and swiped the back of his hand across his nose. “Go away,” he muttered.

Another pounding knock came and the man growled. “Hey, piece of shit! You’re going to wake up—” His words fizzled once he opened the door to find a stranger standing on his stoop.

“Are you Frankie Lutz?” The stranger took one last drag of his cigarette and flicked it into the gravel.

Frankie stared blankly. “Who the fuck are you?”

“Doesn’t matter. Are you Frankie?”

“Listen, dipshit. I don’t talk to FEDS.” Frankie started to slam the door, but the other man was faster. He pushed through, knocking Frankie’s head against the table, upsetting the empty beer bottles, mirror and powder . Several things cracked as they hit the floor. He swiped at the stream of blood on his forehead. “What the fuck! Get the hell out of my place before I fuck you up!”

The suited man bent down close to Frankie, a grin carving his thin lips and pockmarked expression. He pulled back his fist and struck Frankie hard in the cheek.

Frankie came to, not sure how long he’d been out, but long enough that when he awoke his hands and feet were tied to a chair. Through blurred vision he focused on the suited man standing across the cramped space. Frankie had to blink several times until he could finally see things clearer. The man had put a hurting on his face. “I-I don’t know where you’re from, but I’ll call the cops.”

“What criminal keeps evidence? Better yet, what jackass leaves evidence at the scene of a crime?” The suited man threw a pair of black gloves drenched in gasoline into Frankie’s chest and they landed in his lap.

Everything was starting to make sense. “I-I did what the old man asked. I waited for her to get home and then I set the building on fire. I thought I was supposed to make it an obvious arson?”

The suited man turned on the gas stove. He picked up a steel bar leaning against the wall and placed it into the flame. “The boss hates thieves,” the man, a short stocky, ugly bastard, swiped his chin. “But what he hates more is a clumsy thief.”

“What are you talking about?” Frankie stuttered. “I didn’t steal anything.”

“Cut the BS, my friend. You went into her house and she came home. That’s why the job was botched. You were in a hurry to set the fire. You were supposed to wait until she was in the building.”

“No one said anything about wanting her dead, just scared.”

“Yeah, that’s right. He wanted her to feel the heat to get the point across. Boss trusted you. Gave you the opportunity for a better life, and what did you do? You decided to stray from the plan. Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.” The suited man clicked off the burner and lifted the red-hot branding poker.

“What is that, man?” Frankie squirmed in the chair, pushing against the ropes that bound his hands and feet. “Get the hell away from me with that thing. I didn’t do anything.” Tears filled his eyes as the suited man held the hot brand close to his face.

“This is what happens when Boss’ people betray him.”

“I-I didn’t betray him. I did what I was supposed to. I only went inside her house because I was curious. I didn’t take nothing. I swear!” The tears now streamed down his face. “I know I made a mistake by leaving the can, but I didn’t leave behind any prints.”

“Don’t waste your breath. Good news is Boss wants to give you another chance. Beats me why, but that’s why I’m here.” The suit man brought the iron close to Frankie’s eye.

“Get the fuck away from me with that thing. Fuck you.”

“Are you listening? I’ll only say this one time. We have a place for you, but it comes with a requirement.” The man jerked his head toward the branding iron. “Boss will own you, and like all his livestock, you’ll wear a brand as a reminder that you breathe, eat, and even take a piss when he tells you to.”

“Wh-what? Are you fucking crazy?”

“You can say no, my friend.”

“Then I say no.”

“Is that really your choice?” The suited man pulled back his jacket a few inches, exposing the handle of a gun.

“I’ll leave town. He won’t see me again!” he squealed.

“That’s not part of the deal, Frankie. Make the decision, partner, or I’ll make it for you.”

Several minutes passed. “Fine,” Frankie muttered.

The suit man grinned and his eyes lit as if he enjoyed the power he held. “Take it like a man.”

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