Page 97 of Before Broken Vows
"You piece of shit," I say, walking over to Milo and punching him in the face.
He winces, but with all his blood loss, I'm not sure how much pain he feels.
I go to hit him again.
"The sons will follow the father," he says in a low tone.
"What did you say?"
"I said it! You hear me? I said it. They live," Milo says, his voice growing louder as if he's speaking to someone other than me.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" I ask.
"They made me say it. Said they'd let my family live."
"What?"
"The message—'the sons will follow the father.' You were supposed to hear it. They wanted you to know."
Milo looks up. His eyes are bloodshot, his face puffy and swollen, his teeth stained red.
"For them," he says, looking over my head.
I look up.
"Is that a camera?"
Shit. It's a camera.
"Someone's watching us?" Andrew asks.
"I SAID IT!" Milo yells.
"Andrew, get the camera," I say.
He nods and goes to find a way to get it down. Maybe we can use it.
I kneel down, making sure to keep my distance.
"Where is my son?"
Milo doesn't answer.
"Milo," I say, raising my gun, "you have five seconds to answer me."
He looks at me. "Theo, I didn't know it was your?—"
Bang.
I shoot him in the knee.
He screams.
"Four."
"Please. He said he'd?—"
Bang.
