Page 120 of Pope's Penance

The rest of the ride to our new location is focused as I let myself hope.

Hope that this will be the lead that takes me to my family.

If I let my mind travel to what the fuck they’re enduring, I’ll turn into a useless mess.They need me to be strong for them, so that’s what the fuck I’m going to do.Right now, my hope is my goddamn strength.

The house my phone leads us to is in the middle of nowhere, and it puts me on edge.What’s out here?Whois out here?

Holding my fist up then moving it to the right, I indicate we’re pulling off to the side of the road instead of traveling farther.We need to scope this place out so we know what we’re walking into.

“Butcher, you’ll come with me up to the house.The rest of you scope out the woods around here.Watch where you’re walking.Keep your eyes peeled for trouble.Weapons out,” I order.

Our steps are light against the leaves and gravel as Butcher and I make our way to the house.I spot a few cameras and use hand signals to warn Butcher.He lifts his gun with a suppressor attached and takes out each one that I point out.

If they’re watching their feed, they definitely know we’re here now.

We’re closing in on the porch when the first shot rings out.

“Fuck,” I spit out, jumping behind the tree next to me.

“I don’t know who you are, but you’re trespassing on private property,” the male voice calls out.

There’s a loud grunt, and then Malice informs us it’s all clear.

He’s standing on the porch, holding his gun to the male’s temple.“Inside is all clear.He’s the only one here.There’s a padlocked door off of the kitchen, though, and something tells me we won’t like what’s behind it.”

“Do something with him while I go see what he’s got locked up down there.”

“She’s mine.He gave her to me,” the man cries.

My heart pounds rapidly inside my chest.“Who gave her to you?Frankie?”

The man freezes and stares at me with terrified eyes.“You’re here for him?”

“You don’t see the family resemblance?”I ask, playing along.

“Yeah.Yeah, I do.Why didn’t you just say that instead of sneaking onto my property?”he asks suspiciously.

“Frankie told us we needed to be careful.”

“That makes sense.Being careful is important, he says.Other people don’t like it when someone has pets.”

My hand itches to rip this man’s throat out, but I need all the information I can get.“Frankie said it’s time for her to come home.He’s ready for the family reunion.”

The words Cypher told me Chimera picked up comes in handy because the man’s eyes light up eagerly.

“He got the other one?He said there was another one like her and if I paid him good money, I could have them both.”

“Sure does.You’re supposed to come with us to get her.But he wants to see the reunion, so she needs to come too.”

The man’s brows draw together as he shakes his head.“No, that’s not right.He said I wouldn’t have to leave here.That he’d bring them to me.I don’t like leaving here.”

Fuck it.I don’t have time for this shit.

“Butcher, get that fucking door open!”

I ignore the man’s manic screams as I head inside.The door caves under the weight of Butcher’s heavy boot.As I step past the threshold, the stench assaults my nostrils.I bring my arm up in front of my nose as I climb down the stairs.The basement is dark, and the hair on my arms rises the farther I travel into it.

“I need light down here.”

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