When the door finally opens up, a guy stands in front of me. He looks like the same age as Leanne with his dark blonde hair spiked and wearing a white T-shirt and baggy brown shorts.
“Who the fuck are you?” he asks, annoyed as he rubs his eyes and looks me up and down, hungover.
“You don't know me,” I begin, but he interrupts.
“Damn right I don't, now bye,” he confirms and tries to shut the door in my face, but before he can, I put my hand and foot in the door to stop him.
“Wait a minute.”
“What the hell you want?” He’s more annoyed than before and looks at me with a disgusted look.
“I need to talk to you about the party you had Saturday night,” I say as I raise my eyebrows, letting him know I was serious just from the look in my eyes. I don’t back down as he tries to stare me down. I’m not intimidated easily.
He sighs, giving up, and opens the door wider, letting me walk inside.
“So what's up?” he says as he stands behind the counter of the bar and takes out a bottle of alcohol with two glasses. He sets them down on the bar and starts to fill them up evenly, the sloshing of the drink echoes in my ears.
“The party you had that night, were you here?” I ask as I take a seat on the bar stool across from him.
“What the fuck kind of question is that? Hell yeah I was here. It was my party,” he scoffs and slides the cup of liquor my way.
“Look, I can deal without your attitude and sarcasm. Just answer my damn question.” I can’t help it, but I slam my fist down on the bar, making him jump. He knows then that I’m for real as the look in his eyes changes to someone who actually might care.
“Sorry. What happened?”
“My baby sister, Leanne, was here that night. Did you happen to see her when she walked in?” I ask, my eyes never leaving his.
“Oh, the one that came in wearing the purple striped shirt and had long, jet black hair? Yeah, I saw her, she was hot as fuck,” he says with a smirk and taking a sip of his drink, allowing the burning liquid to slide down his throat.
In reply, I roll my eyes, already feeling pissed off and wanting to sock him in the fucking face.
“Yeah, her,” I confirm, annoyed.
His eyes grow wide as he looks me over once more.
“Oh my God! You're the one that's in that gang! Big, overprotective brother, Collin! Nobody messes with you!” he says in a tremulous tone and takes a step back. “I apologize for earlier, the names Devon.” His voice is low and somewhat deep as he holds out his hand for me to shake.
“Devon,” I ignore his offer. “Don't worry I'm not going to kick your ass or anything, even though you deserve one after what you just said about my sister, but right now, I just need to know if you saw her leaving with anyone she did not come in with?”
“Nahh, I was in the garage getting fucked up high,” he laughs.
“Hmmm, I bet you were,” I reply sarcastically and nod.
“Why? Something wrong?” he questions, his head tilted to one side and taking another sip of his drink.
“Yeah, kind of, but that's none of your business. I just wanted to know if you'd seen anyone leave with her,” I say simply and get up ready to leave.
“Well, is there anything I can do?” He sounds genuinely concerned, but I shake my head.
“Nope, thank you for your time,” I mutter the last sentence as I open the door, the sunlight blinding me. As I step outside, Devon follows me out.
“Well if you need anything, come back anytime.”
As I'm walking out to my car, I see a black SUV driving by slowly. The windows are tinted so dark that I can't see who is inside. Everything seems to move in slow motion while my heart beats faster and my gut tells me something is wrong. I see the back window of the car roll down so I turn around as fast as I can, pushing Devon back inside.
“GET DOWN!” I yell to him as I pull him behind the bar counter.
Gun shots are being fired at us as the glass from the bottles are shattering around and falling on top of us. I cover my head and crouch down into a fetal position. Finally, after a few seconds which felt like a lifetime, the shots have stopped, but the sound still echoes in my ears, the sound I’ll never forget.
“Stay down,” I whisper to Devon as I raise up and look out the window and see that the SUV is gone. It had to be them. I remember faintly that was the car they were in when they shot me that night. Fuck! I stand up to my feet and brush myself off.
“You can get up now, they’re gone,” I say to Devon.
“What the fuck was that?!” he barks as he stands up, shaking the glass off of him. “Did you set this shit up?!”
“No, I didn't. That's the damn problem I'm having. Those mother fuckers have my sister!” It was unnecessary, but I yelled back at him as he stands down, realizing the severity of the situation.
“Oh shit,” he’s calm now.
“Yeah. I better go before anything else happens.” I run out the door and run across the street to my car. As I am getting in my car I can see a few neighbors walk out of their houses looking around, moments after that I can hear the sound of sirens coming behind me, but before they come any closer I turn the ignition and pull out of the side street and onto the main road.
Fear, anger, and worry rise inside me as I'm driving back home and my grip becomes tighter on my steering wheel as I get closer to my house.
*****
When I finally reach the house, I immediately get out of the car and run inside, the overwhelming feeling starts to overcome me. I run upstairs to my room and pace back and forth, my mind racing and my heart pounding. I can't believe I'm actually considering this choice.
I head to the garage and open the safe where I grab my gun and my box of bullets, putting them in my back pocket and the gun going in the back of my jeans. I walk out of the garage, shutting off the light and head to the bathroom. I stand in front of the mirror, holding onto the counter, and then lift my head up slowly to look at myself in the mirror. My tried brown eyes now looking a little red from the lack of sleep and skin pale over the last few days as I'm sick with worry, anger, fear, and regret. Right now, all that shit goes out the window. I'm about to go back to my turf. Fuck everything that has happened lately. I'm no longer going to keep running. I'm going for it, for my sister and for my life. This is my life and I can't do anything else.
I. Am. An. I-Ten gang member. For life.
This is all I know.
Chapter 9
I'm sitting on the end of my bed putting my shoes on and as I'm doing so my phone rings and buzzes loudly on my dresser. I get up to see who it is. The caller I.D. Reads restricted, but I answer it anyway.
“Hello?”
“Have you had enough?” the bitch’s voice rings in my ear.
“Just tell me where the fuck you are,” I spit out at her, quickly.
“So you've had enough?” I can hear her smile.
“Yeah. Where you all at?”
“Where we always be at, baby.”
I sigh. “I was over there. Where the fuck are you?”
“I'll text you the directions. Follow. Them. Exactly. Kay?” She speaks slowly and exaggerates each word as if I’m a child that needs directions.
“Yeah, okay, fine,” I say flatly.
“Good, see you soon. If you can make it here.” Her voice grates my ears and sends shivers down my spine. I linger on what she means if, but before I can ask, she hangs up the phone.
I shake my head and sigh as I wait for the text message to come through. The fact they went through all this trouble to get me back pisses me off.
*****
About an hour or so later, I finally get a text message from Leanne's number with the directions. I grab a pen and notepad out of my nightstand drawer and write them down. As I'm writing them down, I don't really know the name of these streets. I can't put my finger on if I have been there or not. Well, no skipping out now. I can only hope nothing happens as I head over th
ere. I put my phone in my pocket and rip out the paper on the notepad, folding it in my hand. I grab the purple bandana off the dresser and scramble through my drawers for a purple shirt to put on. Then, folding the bandana just enough to tie it across my forehead putting a knot in the back, I stand in front of my wall mirror as I put my shirt on. I sigh as I know this may be the last time I'll be standing in this room. I bolt downstairs and out the front door and into my car, I get settled in as I read the first direction.
Go down Hammer Lane and turn right at the first intersection.
I pull out of the driveway and drive down that street. When I reach Hammer Lane, I see nothing but trees, dirt, and abandoned farm houses. The drive is about ten minutes long when I finally hit the first intersection and make a right.
*****
As I get closer and closer to where the I-Ten's is located the guilty feeling is fading away slowly as I reach the dark road of Caraway Boulevard. Prostitutes are roaming the streets, the clock on my radio reads 10. I park in front of a Motel 6 and take out the written directions to go over the next street.
Suddenly, I hear a firm knock on my window, so I whip my head around and there is a female dressed in an all black mini skirt and halter top, her bright red hair blinding me and wearing dark make-up. I put my hand on my gun and roll down the window.
"What the fuck do you want?" I hissed as I grip my gun tightly, my knuckles turning white...
“Just wanted to know if you want to have a good time, big boy?” she says seductively as she twists hair with her index finger and bites her bottom lip.
I look her over for a moment before answering. “How much?”
“Come on into my room and I'll show you,” she winks, turning around walking away slowly. I look around and get out of my car to follow her as she opens the door and walks in, clicking on the light immediately taking off her clothes and plopping on the bed.
“You want some of this, baby?” She says as she leans back on the bed and pulls out a condom from between her breasts. I stand next to her with my head tilted to one side and, taking the condom from her hands, I toss it on the ground. I get on top of her pulling off my shirt and unbuckling my pants, pulling them down just enough. Leaning down, I kiss her neck, running my hand up her sides and hips as the other is grabbing a hold of her hair. She moans softly in my ear and bites down on it gently.
I continue to kiss her neck and then finally ram inside her. She wraps her arms around my neck and her legs around my waist as I thrust inside her, each one harder then the last as her legs are wrapping tighter around me. I push in one last thrust and cum inside her, moaning in pleasure.
*****
“Mmmm, that was good, baby?” she asks she fixes herself up. I look at her as I buckle my jeans back up and putting my gun back in its place.
I scoff and shake my head. “I bet it was.”
“So are you going to pay me?”
“I never got your name, cutie,” I smirk.
“Oh, it’s Kandy with a K,” she smiles innocently though we both know better.
“Well, Kandy, thank you for that good time. Oh, and here's your payment.” I pull out my gun as fast as possible shooting her twice in the chest. “Keep the change.”
I walk out of the motel room and back out to my car.
Chapter 10
The clock on my radio strikes Midnight as I turn into a twenty-four hour gas station and pull into a parking space, shutting off my engine and heading inside.
The bell rings as I open the door and I nod towards the cashier who looks me over with suspicion. I turn my head to the front and don’t look back at him until it is time to pay. I walk down the aisle and look in the chips section, grabbing a bag of hot Cheetos and a trail mix. I then head over to the refrigerator, taking a bottle of water and a Pepsi. Heading on over to the cashier, I take each step slowly setting down my stuff, my eyes meet his.
“How are you tonight?” he asks me.
“Good and you?” I reply firmly.
“Fine.” He nods as he continues to look me over. It looks like he's trying to figure out who I am. Does he know me or something? I wonder to myself. He scans the items and the price lights up in green on the register.
“That will be eight dollars and seventy-five cents.” His voice cracks as he speaks and for a moment, I try to stifle a laugh and play it off as if I’m annoyed. I’m not here for a lot of talk.
“All right.” I pull out my wallet and begin digging for the money, but he wants to talk and I can see it. He’s trying to see where he knows me from, but I don’t care.
“Where do I know you from?” he asks out of nowhere, his head tilted to one side and eyes squinted.
I look him over for a moment before giving him an answer.
“I don't know. You tell me,” I shrug and hand him the money.
“Just saying that I feel like I've seen you before. You from around here?” he questions as he takes the money and puts it in the cash register and hands me my change.
“Not really, have a good night,” I scoff and walk away from him, taking my bag with me.
“Wait! You're Collin!” he yells, stopping me before I can reach the door.
I sigh and turn around to face him. “Yeah. Yeah I am,” I admit.
“You're the one that's in that I-Ten gang. You know they were in my store about a month ago. Mother fuckers fucked up my store and took all of my money. You know anything about that?” he says as he comes around the counter and stands in front of it with his arms folded across his chest.
I roll my eyes. “No, no I don't. You see, I left that gang the night my mom died,” I smirk as I roll my eyes. I really hate talking.
“You sure? You sure are dressed like you still in it,” he tries to read me, looking at me suspiciously as if he’s debating on whether he needs to call the cops or something, but I put him down.
“Not anymore.” I confirm.
“How long ago did she die?” he asks as he takes a few steps towards me, but still a distance away.
“I believe that's none of your business, but it was a few years ago.” I growl, growing more and more annoyed.
“Oh. That's too bad,” he says in a blunt ‘I don't really give a fuck' way.”
“Yeah. I got to go. Have a nice night.”
“Oh, and Collin, tell your so called crew to stay the fuck away from my store. They're lucky I only called the cops on them. ‘Cause now. I'm packing,” He says as he pats the front of his pants. Did this bitch just threaten me? This only pisses me off more.
“I don't think you have to worry about that,” I say sarcastically. I pull out my gun as fast as I can and fire at him a few times, hitting him in the chest and head. His body falls to the floor as the blood streams out of him like a leaking faucet. I walk out of the store and into my car screeching out of the gas station, making a right at the nearest intersection. I roll down my window and switch on my radio. The night air is calm and cool, I love this spring weather and my mom did too. I open up my bag of chips and read the next direction on the paper.
*****
Later that night, I finally reach my next destination. I park across the street from a small abandoned house and look around me and there's no one to be seen. I slowly get out of the car and jog across the street to get a closer look at the house, wondering if they are here. Slowly, I open up the door and peek inside. It's dark and there are cobwebs everywhere. Am I supposed to be here? I wonder to myself. I shut the door and head around the back where I push open the metal gate and look around the yard. Nothing. Fuck! This has to be a damn joke, I think as my anger begins to boil up. Are these fuckers taking for some kind of game or are they testing me? I shake my head and run back out to my car. When I reach the front again, I see someone lurking around my car. Who the fuck is that?
“Hey! Hey, you!” I yell out to the person as I run towards him, pulling my gun out from the back of my pants. The person looks up at me and his eyes grow wide. Mine do too as I recognize who the
person is.
No way... Is that who I think it is?
What the fuck is he doing here?
Chapter 11
“Ryan?” I say in confusion as I walk a little closer to him.
He looks at me also confused with his head tilted to one side.
“Collin?” He scratches the top of his head with his index finger.
“Yeah man.” I say with relief putting my gun away.
“Where the hell you been? I mean.... Well, last I heard you were shot and dead,” he shrugs as he looks me up and down.
“And who told you that?” I roll my eyes.
“Just... Around the streets, I guess.”
“That's not telling me anything... But everyone thinks I'm dead?”
“Mmmhmm,” he nods. “Pretty much, at least some people do.” While he’s avoiding my eyes, he reaches up and scratches the back of his neck. I find that suspicious but ignore it.
“Hmmm. Well, they're fucking wrong. Yes, I was shot... But, look I'm in a bind, can you help me?”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“My sister,” I start, but he asks about her before I can continue.
“What happened to her?”
I sigh. “She was taken by my old gang,” I say softly.
“How do you know?” He’s skeptical and I don’t blame him.
“Long story short, she was kidnapped, they fucked up my car and house, shot at me once, and now I'm here.” I rush my words, but I know that he catches them, understanding every last word.
“Damn... Well, let's go find her. I saw them the other day, maybe they're still there.”
“Thank God,” I sigh as I unlock the car door and hop in.
I can't even remember the last time I saw Ryan. I know it was way before my mom was diagnosed with Cancer. We always use to hang out and for some reason I blame myself for not keeping touch with him. Although, I was in that gang and I guess in some sort of way, I didn't want him to know. Just like Leanne, he was one of the few people I could call family. It's nice to see him again, especially now.
Initiation: A Novella (Initiation Trilogy Book 1) Page 5