LOCK

by Debra Anastasia

  I nodded. There was a sense of control and power coming off of him. His steady hand was holding a crystal tumbler of what must have been whiskey. Dice clearly didn’t get the same vibe; he started in immediately.

  “Where the fuck is Booker? Are you his goddamn grandfather? Shit. This is what happens. Booker said he’d pay me to bring him in.” Dice gestured at me. “Now Booker’s gone.”

  I swivelled my head in his direction. “You were going to get paid? Where’s the goddamn loyalty, Dice?”

  Rage boiled that he’d accept money for a bounty on my head. I looked back at the old man. A new picture caught my attention. Actually, a ton of new pictures. But the biggest was just behind the stranger’s head. It was Booker’s picture in a huge frame. And it was hella crooked.

  Dice pushed forward, yelling at the man. A quick glance and I took in all the pictures of the men who’d called us Pussy and Ball Sack in the recent past. I tried to signal to Dice to shut the fuck up, but he was going all in.

  “…you old, dried-up hag. What the hell do you think you’re doing, sitting in Booker’s chair? I’m his best guy. ”

  The man tilted his head, listening. Amused. A slow smile spread across his face. “So, you’re loyal to Booker? Through and through? All Coke?” He swirled the amber liquid in his glass.

  “Fuck yeah. Coke till death.” Dice threw up the Coke sign.

  I didn’t join in.

  The old man swung his feet off the desk. When he stood, I realized he was wearing his suit jacket as a cape. Between that oddity and the pictures of the other men, the strangeness was overwhelming.

  He gave me a slight bow. “I’m Olin Feybi. Formally Olin Dutch. Are you loyal to Booker, too?” He looked me over like I was a hooker he’d just paid for.

  “No.” A gamble.

  The old man’s mouth opened a smidge. I heard his teeth clack together when he closed his jaw.

  “You from the Feybi family up north then?” I’d seen that last name mentioned in the newspapers my father would read in the morning. Back before he was in prison.

  “That’s a great question. You pay attention to current events?” He rubbed his palms together and his dry skin made an audible swish.

  “I like to read.” I could feel my heart beating in my ears. “Don’t know too much about Dutch family, though.” This was a lie, of course. The Cokes were an offshoot of the Dutch family, after all. But the longer I could keep the old man talking, the longer I could keep Dice and me alive.

  Olin bared his teeth in what was an obvious attempt at a smile. “Oh, let’s get into my family history. I love dragging ghosts up out of their graves. My older brother, Bat Feybi, was the family prince. Our father revered him. But I, I was revered by my mother. Thank heavens. Where Bat was dipping into the illegal pursuits, I learned at my mother’s feet. The Dutch family was better at making legal money, though we used gangs every now and again. After Father died, he of course put Bat in charge. But I accumulated wealth. Power. As head of the Dutch family, I have connections he couldn’t possibly have.”

  Olin slowly paced the room, his cape/jacket swishing menacingly. “I even brought our youngest brother, Felon, into the fold. He was my father’s bastard child with the housekeeper. But I know how to not burn bridges. I had everything Bat thought he wanted. Now that he’s dead, I’m taking the one thing he had over me: his name. I’m taking the business that’s owed to me. And these gangs?” He snorted derisively. “These Cokes and other neighborhood gangs that were beholden to my mother’s family, that protect our interests neighborhood? They need guidance. And that’s why I’m here. Now, you say that you are not loyal to Booker? Tell me more.” He stopped pacing and stood before me, offering his hand, palm up, like he was hoping I would hold it.

  My father often said I’d been a details guy when I was young. I’d see things other people skated over. I was good at puzzles. I never missed it when he and Ma fought, even when they did their best to hide it.

  How Dice had missed the giant picture of Booker over Olin’s head was beyond me. I wondered how much money he’d been promised to bring me in. I hoped he’d been paid at least some of it up front and given it to his family. ’Cause this shit was about to get bloody. Pledging allegiance to the Cokes seemed like the wrong lean. So I jumped the other way.

  “Booker was brash. He couldn’t decide what the hell he wanted to do. Threw money around. Didn’t know how to make a good deal to save his life.” I folded my hands in front of me.

  The silence was as thick as a noose.

  “You say was. Booker was. Do you know something I don’t?” Olin dropped his hand and twirled, cape/jacket flaring out.

  “Booker’s dead. You killed him. He hung that picture first, though.” I lifted my chin in the direction of the big, gaudy photograph.

  The old man started clapping loudly. His age-spotted hands almost curved like bowls. “Clever. You’ve got balls, kid. I like it. I might take in a few of Booker’s guys here today to help me with the new Feybi buildings around Valston. You want in?” Olin swayed in front of Booker’s chair before sitting.

  I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  I glanced at Dice. He lost all the color in his face and the rage in his fists at the same time. He’d flipped on me, but I still didn’t want to watch him die. And I had no doubt that the old guy was worse than Booker had ever hoped to be.

  “Dice is good, though. Like, he’s solid. Follows directions. Even if it means turning in a friend.” I held out my fist and saw the gratefulness in Dice’s face. Apology, too. I knew he’d done me dirty and I was still trying to help him out. Maybe, if my choice was the correct one. He tapped my fist in an apology.

  Olin crossed his arms in front of him and nodded.

  I knew we weren’t in the room alone, but I was still startled by the quick movement to my left. I flinched and crouched, but Dice never saw it coming; one of the men who’d led us into the room put a gun to the back of his head.

  I wished I’d closed my eyes and not watched how it ended for Dice. He was there, lights on, and then he was gone.

  He was gone before he hit the floor. Olin had blood splatters on his pants; he flicked his hand at them like they were breadcrumbs. I’d seen dead bodies before. My neighborhood was like that. But always covered with a blanket. Always with the story of what happened filling my ears from the surrounding crowd. Never like this.

  The numbness that followed, the instant anesthesia from reality was a function of my nervous system. A protection.

  I was escorted out of the room. My fight for my friend became dust on my tongue. I was hustled out of the building bodily and pushed into a black SUV. Olin walked easily, despite his age. He was already on the phone, talking and laughing. He ordered directions that I couldn’t hear. I wasn’t sure where I was headed when my SUV pulled out to follow the procession, but when I turned my head, I watched the building that had been Booker’s headquarters going up in flames.

  Survival mode. I had to switch it on, and soon. But I couldn’t get my hands to stop shaking. And every time I blinked I saw Dice’s end.

  I tried to picture Ember, just to make it stop, to think of someone beautiful, but I couldn’t bring her to mind.

  Chapter 26

  Ember

  WARDON HAD SLEPT ON my extra bed for a while. That bed was getting a lot of use, but not the way I’d intended. It was supposed to be the kissing bed. For kissing the hot guys at college. But instead, it was a free hotel room for my gatekeepers.

  The increased proximity of Wardon’s actual body was a concern. Nix was going to have to explain himself to me. I wanted space and this was far from it. He refused to tell me anything, the same as the night before.

  Just when I was about to say something, Wardon’s phone buzzed and he excused himself.

  Finally alone, I checked my phone. No texts or pictures from Lock. None. I curled on my side and snuggled into my pillow. It took me a bit to fall asleep.

  I wasn’t sure what made me wake. A
noise? The feeling of not being alone?

  The man standing over me was a stranger. Another person was right behind him. My scream was almost out of my mouth. Instead of noise, I had a mouthful of a disgusting cloth. My lips went numb and my nostrils burned.

  My last thought was of Nix. This would unhinge him. And then I slipped into unconsciousness.

  _______________

  When I woke, I was in the back of an SUV. My head was pounding. I was still in the clothes I fell asleep in—low-slung sweats and a tank top. It hadn’t been too long, because it was still dark out. Or it had been really long and it was dark again. There was a guy sitting next to me. He noted that I was awake and offered me two white pills and a bottle of water. Like he’d been waiting for that exact moment. I looked at his face and hands a few times before shaking my head. And then regretted it instantly.

  “Fine. Have it your way. Boss wanted you to be comfortable.” He put the bottle in one cup holder and the pills in the other. They clearly said Tylenol on them. The water bottle still had the safety seal. After a few more splitting, sharp pains, I caved and took the pills. There were two more men in the SUV. The driver and the front passenger hadn’t said anything to me, acting like I wasn’t there at all.

  Dark suits. No music. It was very businesslike.

  My mouth was dry. I drank the rest of the water.

  “What did you do to me?” I coughed.

  The man next to me gave me a blank stare. Not answering.

  I set down my bottle and held my head. Soon, I was going to have to pee. Anxiety clawed its way into my chest as I came out of whatever drug they had given to me. This was a clear kidnapping.

  Nix would be unglued; the bodyguards would be sounding the alarm.

  I said as much to the man next to me, but he ignored me as the SUV slowed down. We stopped at what looked to be a warehouse.

  The men hopped out and held open the door. I folded my arms. I wasn’t going anywhere.

  Never get taken to another location.

  One of the men took a gun out of his holster. And I got the hell out of the SUV. The location thing was great advice unless someone was armed. My heart was hammering in my chest, the drugs lifting completely. Actually, I think this was considered the third location. It didn’t matter. This was it. I was done. They were going to kill me. Maybe do worse. Maybe they were Nix’s enemies.

  The man who’d sat beside me in the back seat grabbed my upper arm. I kept my arms folded. I didn’t have on a bra. A rock bit into my foot. I didn’t have on shoes either.

  I started fighting then, the pain in my foot spurring me to action. I swung at the man holding my arm. I tried to kick his leg. He backhanded me across my face. I stumbled, but his viselike grip on my arm kept me standing.

  The man next to him stepped between us. “Asshole. She’s not to have a mark.”

  Then the driver simply scooped me up into his arms and continued the march toward the door. There was a light on in the building; it almost seemed welcoming.

  I tried struggling out of the driver’s arms. He leaned close. “Hey. Pretty. No one’s going to hurt you again. But this place is covered with our guys. Snipers. Don’t waste your energy. If you impress him, you live. If you don’t... well… I wouldn’t concentrate on that part.”

  Before I could formulate a response, I was through the door and placed on my feet.

  The warehouse was huge and hot. The guy who’d been holding me hadn’t been wrong. There had to be fifteen men in the room. There was a single chair in the center, and an old man sat in it. He was wearing a white suit, the jacket draped over his shoulders like a cape. He was a sickly color of orange. Or, at least he looked orange under the burning lights.

  My blood started to pound in my head. Sheer panic was starting to win. I put my hands on my knees like Aunt Dor had taught me when I was a kid. Deep breaths. Focus on the in and the out.

  “She’s scared. God, I bet if I still had a dick, that would be arousing, you know?”

  I peered up at the old man. He got out of the chair like a showgirl. Elaborate steps. Deep knee bends. He came close to me and I could smell his cologne. Something was familiar about the scent, but I couldn’t place it.

  As he approached, I straightened up. I willed myself not to cry. The tear that streaked my cheek was not a great listener.

  He circled me. “You say she was sleeping? That’s wonderful. Can you imagine? Cosmo getting to wake up next to this sight?”

  He ran a hand across the tops of my bare shoulders. None of the men around us said anything. He stepped in front of me and pulled at my arms, clearly wanting me to drop them. I struggled, but the men around me shifted their coats, showing off their guns.

  I let my arms dangle on either side.

  “I’m Olin Feybi, by the way. Let’s take a look at what we’re getting. ’Cause sometimes, you get this kind of face…” The man touched my cheek and I flinched. “The body is shit, you know? But if we’re going through all this trouble…” He started to lift up my tank top from the hem.

  I grabbed his forearm and snarled at him. It wasn’t the first time a guy had done something stupid to me. I reacted on instinct.

  “That’s fine, you’re shy. But still.” He used his other hand to pull out the neck of my tank top and peer down it. I felt the fire of embarrassment fill my cheeks.

  “Oh. Those are spectacular. Cosmo will love me for those.” He let go of my shirt and grabbed at the waistband of my sweatpants.

  I clamped my hand on his, holding it there. “No. You creepy old fuck.” I heard the shuffle around me. The men were pointing their weapons at me again. I didn’t budge. “Find a new hobby.”

  The old man burst out laughing. The men around him joined in, their laughter sounding almost canned, mechanical.

  “This is good, no? I mean, Cosmo needs a challenge. Make him fight for it a little, you know?” He was using big gestures to the men in the circle. “While I’m here, I’m noticing she has a mark on her face. Where’d you get that mark, sunshine?”

  He rubbed his palms together.

  The men were a blur now. I shook my head. I couldn’t remember.

  “Who was it, Volt?” He pointed at one of the men.

  “Files.” The answer came quickly. The guy presumably called Files stepped forward.

  The old man flicked his hand toward him. Volt pointed his gun and shot Files in the leg. I jumped. The bang and the instant blood were a slap to my entire being.

  Files fell to one knee but did not fight back or even scream. He stammered, “Sorry, sir.”

  “Sorry sucks a lot of dick, you know? The plan will only work if we put her back in her bed in just a few hours. How will she explain the mark you put on her?” He came closer to me and touched my cheek lightly. “Someone get her some ice. Maybe we can bring the swelling down.”

  I watched him like he was a venomous snake. Getting to go back to my dorm alive was not something I thought would happen. Hope was growing. If I could get back to the dorm, I could tell Wardon and the others about what had happened. I could be safe again. Warn Nix and Animal and T.

  The old man handed me my ice. It was really just a water bottle frozen solid, but I did as I was asked and put it to where my face throbbed.

  Files had his head down like a kid getting scolded, blood seeping onto the floor.

  When Volt walked up to him, I thought he was going to hit him. Instead, he lifted his hand close to Files’ chest.

  A pop from the gun and it was over. Files’ knees bent and he fell to the ground like a robot that had been unplugged.

  There wasn’t a ton of blood, so I wondered if it was just a warning. But his eyes stayed open. And didn’t blink. When the frozen water bottle exploded at my feet, I jumped back, scared. I had to look at it before I could tell what had happened.

  I wrapped my arms around my middle and started to cry. I had dropped my bottle. Then I flat out sobbed. I wanted it all to stop, this nightmare where I had no control, no frien
ds.

  The old man patted my back. “I guess we forget how it was at first? Right? God, seeing our first man killed? Hits us all right in the balls.” He put pressure on my shoulders, making me stand.

  I couldn’t take my eyes off Files’ lifeless body. The old man sidestepped, blocking everything but his face.

  “You’re an innocent. That’s unbelievable. I knew you and your brother were separated for a long time. Wonderful.”

  My brain snapped back into focus.

  “Oh, yes. Your brother? I know just who he is. And who you are to him. You don’t get to be related to murderers and have a normal life. He has sins he needs to pay for. And you’re the price.” He touched my chin.

  I was out of my depth. I thought of T and how she’d handle the situation. I came up with nothing. I’d been protected. Always protected. I wasn’t prepared for this. I didn’t want this.

  “Still tears. My son, Cosmo, is a lucky man. I’ve picked the perfect girl for him. We’ll have you meet, of course. Set a date, will you, Volt? Fill her in on the way back.”

  The old man twirled and smiled over his shoulder like an evil cover girl. “Can’t wait until we’re family, little one.”

  He strutted out the side door and four of the men went with him.

  I hugged myself again. It was cold here. Or hot. I couldn’t tell. I started shaking.

  Volt wiped his gun on his shirt as he approached me. Another guy had a rag he wiped on the center of Files’ chest before also heading to me.

  I knew I was next. Volt was going to kill me. I closed my eyes. Despite the old man’s assurances, I knew this was a deadly situation. I didn’t want to watch. When he took my hand and I felt the hard metal in it, I looked.

  He was pressing my hand all over the gun. It made no sense. Then the other guy brought the towel to me. He wiped it down the front of my shirt and across my hips. Then with a devious smile he dragged the cloth to my right breast. Before he could start fondling me, Volt slapped his hand away.