LOCK

by Debra Anastasia

  “You asshole. Girls don’t kill people with their tits. Why you putting his blood there? And Olin said no one touches her. What part of that don’t you understand?” Volt let out an exasperated sigh. “I’ll fucking take her back. You fuck twits can follow. Butch and Echo, clean up Files.”

  Volt grabbed my arm and handed the gun to one of the more alert looking men. I staggered as he pulled.

  “Listen, I can’t carry you now. You’ve got his blood on you. Don’t make me use the sedative again.” Volt was tall, with thick hair and a low forehead. I concentrated on walking. My tank top was covered. My hand was covered. In blood.

  I couldn’t get one straight thought to hold any weight in my head. I was still shaking. Volt stopped outside of the SUV and told me to stay like a dog.

  I should maybe run. This was technically taking me to a fourth location, but the old man had said I was going home. Maybe that would actually happen. Before I could figure out any kind of plan, Volt had the front seat covered in trash bags. He made me sit on top of them.

  He didn’t buckle the seatbelt and I couldn’t find it. The trash bags were a bad sign. Maybe that was how they planned to dump my body. I was crying again. I almost put my face in my hands but stopped when my fingers stuck together. The blood. Volt started to drive. The first part of our drive was dominated by the seatbelt alarm. He ignored it. He tossed a bag to me.

  When the alarm stopped dinging, he started talking. “Put these clothes on and put what you are wearing into that bag and zip it up.”

  I did as he asked. I kept on my underwear and covered my breasts as best I could. I now had on leggings and a T-shirt.

  “Okay. To anyone that investigates it, you just killed Files.”

  “What?” That was the exact opposite of what had happened. “No one would ever believe that.”

  “Really?” He glanced back at me. “Your old clothes are covered in his blood. Your prints are all over the gun that killed him. And by the time I get you back to your dorm, your obsessive text messages to him can be all over your phone and in your email with the snap of a finger.”

  “But I never. I don’t. I didn’t even know him!” I couldn’t put things together. Nothing made sense.

  “Listen, you don’t need to talk right now. You’re probably in shock. All you need to know is that you’re guilty. And we have proof. We’re good at this. You’re not the first and you won’t be the last. If you tell your brother about any of this, or anyone at all, we will start the process of killing people you love. It’s horrible watching someone die, isn’t it?” Volt turned on the heat.

  I was still shaking.

  “I don’t understand. Why?” I put my hands on my pants.

  “You will tell no one about any of this. Go on a few dates with Cosmo and then drop out of school. You need to distance yourself from your brother and his associates. Make them believe it. You tell anyone else, someone dies. Someone you love. And you will be framed for Files’ death.” Volt seemed to be delivering a script.

  I put my hand to my chest, my heart pounding. I thought I might pass out.

  “You’ll know how serious we are in the morning. Get into that dorm. Figure out how to get rid of the evidence you have on you. Protect yourself. You’re ours now. Remember that.” He pulled over to the side of the road and hopped out of the car. We were back in Harmony Hills, near campus, by the pizza place. He opened my door and hauled me out.

  “Get home. We’ll be watching.”

  As he rounded the car, only one clear question came to mind.

  “I’ve got bodyguards. How do I get past them?” I shouted.

  Volt ignored me and drove away. I had no choice. I had to walk. I let my hair fall over my face. It was all a nightmare. I would wake up and this would all be a giant brain spasm. I told myself that with every step I took.

  Chapter 27

  Animal

  NIX AND I WERE already on our way. Early this morning, Bowen was found dead in his car. Thrice and Wardon had checked in and Ember was fine. Still in her dorm room; she’d been there all night. She’d even answered their frantic knocks. Her hair was wet like she’d just taken a shower. Wardon said she looked exhausted and spooked. Even more so when they told her Bowen had been killed and she needed to stay in her dorm room.

  T was headed to the new Feybi buildings to see what she could scope out. Because Nix and I both knew to start where there was smoke whenever we wanted to find the fire.

  Nix had a laptop and two phones with him and he was disappointed. The security cameras he had in place showed nothing. More importantly, when after viewing the footage, we could see that Bowen got into the car and died with no interference at all.

  Thrice was on speakerphone. He moved the car with Bowen’s body so we could determine what the fuck had happened. Wardon was sitting with Ember in her dorm room.

  She was barely talking; both Nix and I wondered how close she had actually been to Bowen. Maybe they’d been friendlier than it seemed. Of course, she wasn’t as used to the death that came from being in this business. And that was purposeful.

  From Thrice’s guesses, it seemed like Bowen had been poisoned. Foam around his mouth was the biggest indicator.

  Nix wasn’t even talking. His fingers were flying over his computers. Becca was on lockdown in the house. He had a visual on her from his smart watch.

  A ten-hour drive took us eight hours. I wondered how Ember would take to getting packed and brought home.

  Chapter 28

  Lock

  AT EIGHT IN THE morning, I let myself into my apartment. My mother was waiting.

  She sobbed in my arms, “I thought it would be you. This time. So many boys are missing. So many. What happened, son? What happened?”

  That was a great question. One I’d never answer for her. I pulled a wad of cash from inside my jacket and put it on the kitchen table. It landed with a loud thwack.

  “Where did this money come from, Sherlock? Where are all the boys?” She rubbed my arms and hugged me again.

  As far as I could tell, they were all dead. All the ones that reported to Booker yesterday had been wiped off the face of the earth. Certainly not all the Cokes, but enough of them that the neighborhood would feel the loss deeply.

  “I got a new job, Ma. I’ll be making money. You and Rhy will be okay.” I hugged her back.

  “Why are you crying, sweet one?” She wiped at my cheeks.

  She used to call me “sweet one” when I was little. I had to give her something. She needed to know that I might be marked now, working for the new guy.

  “My smart mouth got me a new job. I grew up last night.” That was as far as I was willing to go. Knowing crossed her face. She’d lived in this neighborhood her whole life. She’d seen a lot of people learn a shit-ton of life lessons in the span of twelve hours.

  I saw regret. “I wish I’d have gotten you out of here. A long time ago.”

  “Nah. Dad had work here. He was helping. And this is where family is. You did the best you could, Ma. No regrets.” After she sat down by the money, giving it a dirty look, I went to my dresser. I filled a duffle bag with my favorite things. It was hilarious how much of it wasn’t the least bit useful now. I would be in suits. I would have an earpiece and a gun. I untied my Coke bandana off and left it in the top drawer.

  Olin Feybi wanted me. Felt I’d be an asset. Could tell I wasn’t loyal to the Cokes. Or so he said. I would work for him. Well, not directly, but he was the boss at the end of it all.

  After getting to the former Feybi compound last night (well, now it was the hybrid Olin had created for himself—Dutch/Feybi), I knew I was in. There was either death or this job. No other choices.

  Ironically, you could get out of the Cokes. It wasn’t easy, but it could be done. The minute I got the tour, I knew this wasn’t any kind of neighborhood setup. These were contract killers, earning the kind of money that only could be minted in evil. Details. The cost of the vase by the front door was probably more t
han I’d ever seen in my entire life. It was an afterthought decoration. It wasn’t even given a prominent spot.

  The floors were marble. This was a level I’d never seen. I’d only get paid for as long as I lived. I didn’t think it would be too fucking long either. But at least with my mom’s long history here and the fact that the community loved Rhy, I knew they’d be relatively safe when I was gone.

  I slung the bag over my shoulder and walked back to Ma. I wasn’t coming back anytime soon and told her as much.

  She stood and put her hands on my face. “Sweet one. This happens to most of the young men

  I’ve known. And everything changes. Stay true to your heart. Your community. Live for your sister. When I’m gone, she’ll need you. Even if it seems hopeless. Live. Promise me?”

  I drew my mother close with one arm. She was so tiny. Such a huge personality but really, she was delicate. I knew I had to stay away. And I also knew, as my nose itched, that I would cry. I didn’t want to. But heading to this future, leaving what remained of the Cokes, it brought me to my knees when I was begging my mind to be strong.

  And then she wasn’t delicate at all. My mother pulled my head to her stomach. “Son. I’m so sorry. Let’s go. Let’s pack up, take this money, and go. We can live in a nice coastal town. Just you, me, and Rhy.”

  I wanted to leave with her. Stay with her. Help with Rhy. Oh God, Rhy would be devastated. So few people in her life understood her. I’d never been so confused. I started to sob, my tears coming from a young, vulnerable place. With matchbox cars and cartoons.

  My mother cried with me. She was quieter about it. Maybe she’d had more practice. I had to stand up. I forced myself to do it. After hugging my mother one last time, I picked up my bag, which had slipped to the floor. I was going to leave. I couldn’t face her. Not Rhyana.

  But my mother grabbed me by the ear. I’d even miss this. She pointed to her room where my sister was. I glanced at the time. Rhy would just be waking.

  I hesitated.

  Ma offered, “She won’t believe it unless it comes from you.”

  At least Ma still had fight in her, even though I felt like mine was dying. I tossed my bag at the front door. She was right.

  I knocked on the door and pushed it open. Her wholesome brown eyes lit up when she saw me. My buddy. My throat started to close. It was killing me, the prospect of telling her. Even worse than Ma. Rhy was still in bed, on her side because it was the safest.

  I got on my knees and shuffled over to her. I took her hand. She was brave. Braver than I’d ever be. I had perfectly working limbs. I could walk. Her challenges were seemingly insurmountable. And yet she was here, smiling at me first thing. Maybe I could have a bit of her courage. I was related to Rhy, after all. I had to have something of her.

  “Hey. I have to go to a new job. And I won’t be here anymore. At least for a while.” I didn’t have the heart to tell her forever. Because I was pretty damn sure my tenure at the Feybis’ was going to be short and brutal.

  Her smile ticked down a bit. People didn’t think she understood, but she did. “Don’t be sad. I’ll send mail and stuff as often as I can. I love you so much.”

  She swatted at me with her hand. I grabbed it up and kissed the back of it. I leaned over and gave her a hug. She did her best to hug me back in the way she had. I had to leave. I was going to break and I couldn’t leave her with that.

  As I walked out, my mother held out her hand. I squeezed it, but I had to get out the door. My heart was crawling in my chest, scrambling to stay in my old life. In this safe place. I felt it die a little bit as I let go of my mom’s hand and grabbed the ball cap from its place on the hook by the door.

  Tears were coming now as I stepped outside, but I wasn’t sobbing. The older people from the neighborhood were out and about in the morning. Harsh stares in my direction. Some gasps. This would be a broken place in the coming days. And I was headed to work for the enemy.

  A few blocks away from the place I grew up, I grabbed a cab.

  The driver didn’t mention my tears and neither did I.

  Chapter 29

  Animal

  NIX DIDN’T DO WELL when he couldn’t be in control. He knew all the girls he watched were okay, but something was off about Ember. He was stuck on the fact that when Wardon went to check on her, her hair was wet. Ember always slept in. She was a wonderful sleeper. Nix told me three times that he could always count on Ember to sleep through the night during surveillance.

  I was going to check on Ember before heading into Valston. T had some leads on the new buildings. The Feybis were definitely showing more activity than they should.

  But first, I had to make sure my boy didn’t destroy this tender new relationship he had with his sister.

  When we pulled into the campus parking lot, he hopped out before I could even stop the car. His hood was down, too, rocking the full skeleton face. He growled at two college kids on their way across campus.

  I double-timed it so I could be at Ember’s door with him.

  After entering with his own key, Nix pointed at Wardon and then motioned for him to leave with his thumb.

  Ember looked different. Her hair that was usually styled carefully was in waves and flyaways. No makeup, just sweats and a tank.

  She didn’t stand or acknowledge us, offering a blank stare.

  Nix sat down next to her gently. I stepped all the way in and closed the door. While Nix comforted Ember, I was checking the interior of her room. Typical mess. Nothing out of the ordinary. The window was locked. Computer looked fine. But the girl—she was as white as a sheet. Her left hand was shaking.

  I didn’t like it. Finally, she focused her gaze. “Why are you here?” she snapped. “I’m fine. I need to get to class.”

  She pushed away from the bed and grabbed a sweatshirt off the back of her computer chair and yanked her phone off the charger on the desk. After cramming the sweatshirt over her head, she snatched her notebook as well. I stood and put my hand on the door, keeping it closed.

  Nix was watching her calmly. “You don’t have class for another hour.”

  “I want to study.” She pulled on the door she had no hope of wrestling away from me.

  I expected hugs. Tears even. But this anger was out of place.

  Ember seemed to get more agitated. “What do you think this means? One of your guys gets killed and I have to end my whole student career?”

  Something wasn’t adding up for Nix either. T had warned me recently that Ember was going to have growing pains. That being nineteen wasn’t easy. She was going to test limits. Maybe this was like that.

  “We had a guy die. That’s it. You’re coming home. I have a room for you. This has gone too far.” Nix put his hand on Ember’s shoulder.

  “No!” She twirled quickly, bouncing off my chest. Nix steadied her and still she tried to get away. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  The whole scene was feeling very, very wrong. If we pushed her now, I had a feeling things would go even more haywire than they already were. I pulled open the door. “Okay. Have at it, Baby Girl. You go to that class.”

  Nix didn’t even argue. He just drew his hood over his head and made to follow her out the door. Clearly, he would be her tail for the day.

  “I don’t want you following me around. This changes nothing. This is my place. Where I need to be. I’m not in danger.” She stomped a flip-flopped foot.

  Two kids walked down the hallway, peeking into Ember’s room as they went by.

  Nix laid it out for her. “Either I’m here with you or you’re home with me. Those are your only choices.”

  I saw her anger fall for a second before she rallied it back up. “I’m not going home with you. And you can’t make me. That’s actual kidnapping. It’s illegal. And it would make me hate you.”

  That verbal blow was too much. Nix could take anything normally. But he was sensitive when it came to his girls. They had more power over him than they knew. Becca was alway
s careful with him, but Ember was too young to understand how his life really worked.

  I growled as a warning to her. She flashed her eyes in my direction. “Don’t you try to intimidate me. That’s not fair.”

  Feisty. And angry. And pretty fucking bitchy as well. I glanced at Nix; I knew he was going through all the different emotions and action plans. They were as plain as his face wasn’t. Ember had mentioned kidnapping, and I knew that was something he was considering. Because he knew Midville back and forth, we had people everywhere. We called the shots. We knew who was buying what building and then some. Here, so close to Valston, we were at a huge disadvantage.

  “Nix, we let her go. She goes to class. And fuck if Wardon’s grieving for his friend. He can report to work.” I texted the guard while watching her over the top of my phone. Regret passed over her lovely features and then resolve again. I hadn’t actually known Ember for most of her life, but I’d known about her all these years while Nix watched her. And Nix would tell me proudly all the different things she’d done. This wasn’t like her. This girl would have empathy for the devil. It was like her superpower. That she wasn’t sad about Bowen, nor apparently giving a rat’s ass about Wardon’s mental well-being was an issue.

  Nix nodded once before adding, “Make Thrice go as well. And get me Slice down here. All hands on the fucking deck.” He was simmering mad. Just holding off on his boiling point.

  As soon as we cleared her, Ember left without even saying goodbye. I closed her dorm room door firmly; I knew we’d be tossing this room hard.

  Nix ignored her possessions and used her desk to prop up his laptop. He plugged into her computer as well. “Every time she uses her computer to charge her phone, I get a report. I’m going to pull her text messages.”

  I wasn’t about to stop him. Nix couldn’t stop the stalk. It was deep inside him.

  “So she’s been messaging a kid—this Lock,” Nix muttered, typing away furiously. “And that seems like some harmless flirting, but she’s also been in contact with a kid named Coz? And things look way more serious than I…” He trailed off, staring at his screen before reading her texts out loud.