Page 57 of Quiet Rage
I feel like someone just sucker punched me. It takes everything in me not to physically react.Fuck. This can’t be happening.
Keeping my voice even and uninterested, I ask, “Isn't his pay date tomorrow?”
Dad gives me a threatening glare. “Don’t question me,” he snaps. “Just do what you are told.”
He doesn’t wait for me to respond. Spinning around, he walks back out of the room, closing the door behind him.
Dante’s is the first one up. “Let’s go, boys!” He says all hyped up.
Vinnie gets on his feet next. Reaching back, he pulls his gun from his waistband to check if there is a bullet in the chamber. Paul stands up, and my eyes fall on his gun poking out from underneath his jacket. Dante doesn’t have a gun, but I know he has a knife in his boot.
I might be the biggest guy in the room, but I’m outnumbered and outgunned.
My heart races in my chest and my mind is going a million miles per hour. Countless scenarios about how the next few hours are going to go run through my mind. Not a single one of them end well.
I get up and stand on unsteady legs. My body moves on autopilot as I follow the guys out of the room and down the hall to the back entrance. We exit the building and walk out into the parking lot. The sudden rush of fresh air does nothing to clear my mind.
Dante unlocks one of our SUVs with the key fob, and we all pile into the car. Vinnie drives, Dante gets into the passenger side, while me and Paul slide into the back seat.
The engine roars to life, and techno music starts blaring from the stereo. Vinnie turns up the volume even more, nodding his head to the beat. The loud sound hurts my ear drums, but I don’t say anything.
We pull out of the parking lot, and panic claws its way up my spine. I desperately try to come up with a way out of this. Anything that would keep Tamson safe tonight. The closer we get to her neighborhood, the more unsettled I become.
Shifting in my seat, I stare out of the window at the buildings passing us by, wishing that something out there would give me the answers. The solution I search for never comes, and the drive is over too soon.
Vinnie parks in front of Tamson’s house, and the realization that I’m out of time settles in. Suddenly, there is a tightness in my chest that makes it hard to breathe. I haven't felt this way in so long it takes me a moment to recognize the feeling.
Fear. I’m scared. Scared for Tamson, for her parents, and everything they’re going to have to go through tonight.
The guys get out of the car, and I force myself to move. I open the door and climb out after them with a lump in my throat. We walk around the house, through the small yard, and to the back porch. Paul lifts his foot and swiftly kicks in the worn door. The old wood gives way with a loud crack.
Everything happens so fast, and I helplessly watch it happen. Vinnie rushes into the house first, his gun drawn. Paul and Dante force their way into the house next, and I’m right behind them. Fearful screaming and angry shouting draws me to the living room.
I pause in the doorway, taking in what's happening around me like I’m an outsider looking in. Paul has his gun pointed at Tamson’s mother’s head. She is crying hysterically, her hands clasped together in a praying position. Vinnie has Frank byhis neck, shoving him to the ground before kicking him in his stomach. Frank curls up into a ball, groaning in pain.
“Kellen!” Dante calls out my name and my head snaps to the direction his voice is coming from.
He is standing on the other side of the room, holding Tamson by her hair while he has his knife pressed against her neck. My blood runs cold, and I make the mistake of looking at her face. Fear has taken over her beautiful features, and her eyes are wide with panic as they land on me.
I’m almost certain my heart stops beating for a moment. For a split second, I see the hope in her stare, the hope that I will keep my promise and protect her. I tear my gaze away from her, because I can’t take seeing her realize what a failure I am.
“What’s the fucking matter with you?” Dante yells. “Don’t just stand there! Help me with this bitch.” He walks across the room, dragging Tamson with him.
Everything inside of me wants to grab Dante by his neck and squeeze until he takes his last breath. I want to scoop Tamson up, hold her against my chest and tell her everything is going to be alright. But I can’t. So, I do the only thing I know to do. I turn it off. I shove all these feelings down, banning them to the darkest corner of myself. I forget every happy memory I created with Tamson, every touch, every laugh. I let go of everything I want to be and turn into the monster my father raised me to become.
“Put her on the kitchen table,” I order, and step back into the kitchen.
Dante drags Tamson past me and forces her to lay down on the table.
“Hold her down so I can fuck her,” Dante says, while running his blade across Tamson’s chest.
“No, I’m going first,” I state firmly. “You hold her.”
I don’t give Dante the time to object. I walk up to the table and grab Tamson’s hips, pulling her toward me. I reach for her pajama shorts, ripping them down her legs until they are bunched up around her knees. I do the same with her panties.
Keeping my eyes on her pussy, I unbutton and unzip my jeans. Reaching into my boxers, I pull my cock out and start to stroke it.
“Damn, kid, what are you feeding that thing?” Dante laughs. The sound of his voice makes me want to rearrange his teeth.
