Page 69 of One
You’re only good for one thing.
“I’ll see you later,” King said, walking back to the haunted house.
Was he going back to Ally? I had the key, but I’m sure if he wanted to, he could get her out.
“King!” I yelled and he turned back to me.
I jogged to him, but I didn’t know what to say. I was prepared for the fallout with Ally, and maybe a little arguing with King, but this—this felt like I had fractured us. I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out.
“What, Boogie?”
“I—” I took a deep breath. “You should send Roman to Valentine Town to see if he can pick up any information there.”
“That’s a good idea,” he said, turning around.
I wanted to yell for his attention, maybe even stab him as he walked away from me, smoking another cigarette. This was just temporary. We would kill this fucker and then everything would go back to normal. I said that over and over until I almost believed it.
“How bad are her injuries?”Arthur said as I walked through Christmas Town.
He was able to have it up and running in a day. Nothing looked out of place, and I weaved in and out of all the happy people, I could almost believe it hadn’t happened.
“Her concussion is worse and her ribs seem to be giving her a problem too,” I said, heading back towards the compound. “Falling off of the bike, and getting shot at really fucked her up.”
The happiness around me was making me feel murdery, and I needed to reign that in before some random Joe disappeared by accident.
“Are we sure she wouldn’t be better here?” he asked again.
I turned around to look at him. That was the second time he asked the same question. I was starting to get suspicious as to why he was so adamant about her coming back. I narrowed my eyes at him.
“She runs Christmas Town,” Arthur said immediately. “This is her home and?—”
“That has been breached,” I interrupted him.
“We’ve already taken care of that, and I've secured two men that Maverick had vetted already,” he said with a glare. “I think?—”
“Look, you think you’re tough shit here, and that you have her trust, but you allowed this to happen by not being prepared, so if you want to continue with this shit attitude, be my fucking guest.” I pulled a knife out, backing him into a wall. “Ally might be pissed, but I have no problem gutting you, and making it look like you were taken out.”
Arthur finally had the common sense to look afraid.
“You’re right,” he sighed. “I’m tired and stressed about this entire situation. I just want her home safe, and I want her to know I can do this. That she can do this.”
He let his head hang. I studied him, wanting to believe whatever he was doing, but until we figured out who the fuck attacked my girl, everyone was on my shit list.
“Help me find the asshole who did this to her, and we can bring her home,” I said, backing away.
He nodded. “I’ve been looking for Lance.”
“Why do you think it’s him? What proof do you have?” I asked as he rolled his shoulder, and walked into the kitchen.
“Not much, but he is still missing,” he said, pouring two cups of coffee.
“Could he have been kidnapped? Has anything been sent, like a letter or calls?” I grabbed one of the cups, grateful for the caffeine.
He shook his head.
“What about his room, anything taken?” I stirred my coffee.
“His clothes and things are still in there, even his car is here,” Arthur replied.
