Indebted Page 20

  As I hang up the phone, Tristan is being wheeled out the door. Now that I know he is being taken care of, I can focus on Aaron and who the fuck has him.

  “Luke, Matt, come with me. We’re going to pay Sam a little visit. Chris, I want you to drive by Aaron’s father’s and Chloe’s houses. Make sure Aaron doesn’t turn up there.” They swiftly head out. I know Aaron won’t be there, but I need to make sure.

  Luke gets a determined look on his face and checks his weapons and ammo, then glances up at me and says, “Let’s go teach this asshole a lesson. How dare he touch Aaron, let alone take him. He’s done nothing to that freak. I’m going to enjoy teaching Sam a lesson.”

  Hell yes, he’s going to learn a lesson, and if he is indeed the one that took Aaron, it will be a permanent one. After I find out where my man is, of course. I can’t help but feel excited by the fact that Luke is just as pissed as I am. He has grown fond of Aaron during the time they spent together while protecting him.

  This kind of thing isn’t usually something I enjoy doing, but I am going to relish every fuckin’ minute of it. Sam is going to suffer and scream like the little bitch he is. With that thought in mind, I make sure I have not only my guns on me, but also a few different types of knives. I know I have some goodies in the trunk, which will be helpful for this trip. Thank fuck the cops are never stupid enough to search me. Matt has already gone to the car, so I discuss my game plan with Luke to make sure he’s on board with it, which he is.

  It doesn’t take us long to get to Sam’s shitty little house, and surprisingly, the neighborhood is dead quiet. There are no hoods on the street and only one car in the driveway. While we wait for Chris, I have Matt prep the supplies in the trunk. Luke and I go on recon. He takes the front of the house and I take the back.

  Peeking into the windows, I notice only Sam. He’s on the phone in what appears to be a heated discussion. Perfect—the fucker is distracted. Now if only Chris would get his ass here.

  Back at the car, I make sure everything I want is in there: hammer, knives, rope, gasoline, oh, and a nail gun. Right, everything is here. The three of us are pumped with adrenaline and anxiously waiting. Luke is smoking like a chimney while Matt is pacing. I’m just standing there running through everything I want to do to him. The bastard took my Aaron, and he’s going to pay dearly for his stupid fuckin’ mistake.

  Finally, Chris, the asshole, arrives and I let all the anger and hate I have fill me. We all go around to the back of the house while Matt stays outside as a lookout.

  We storm into the house, and Sam is completely caught off guard. It’s three against one, so it takes us no time to grab him and tie him to a chair. Sam sits there, straining against his bonds, looking livid. Pfft, if he thinks he’s angry… he has no clue how utterly pissed I am.

  Sam sneers at me. “Why are you assholes here? You should have called first. I would’ve made sure to have snacks ready.”

  He thinks he’s going to be a smart mouth now? I quickly backhand him to shut him up, and leaning into his face, I grate out, “I’m the one asking fuckin’ questions here, dipshit. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m the one in control here.”

  “You think you’re in control, but you don’t know shit,” he sneers back.

  My counterparts know better than to even think about saying anything, and just stand back and watch our interaction. They do cringe when Sam says that. He’s not a very bright man. I grab a chair, straddling it backward as I lean my head down on my arms to bring us to eye level.

  “‘You don’t know shit.’ I… don’t… know… shit. I know a lot more than you do, dickhead.”

  I shake my head in disbelief as I turn to my men and address them. “I know that Sam here used a pussy move and took an innocent man because he doesn’t have the balls to confront me on his own without a bargaining chip.”

  Setting my sights on him again, I let my calm facade show. “Now, I’m going to give you one chance to answer without me using any persuasion. Where… is… Aaron?”

  A fake confused look takes over his face. “Aaron? Who the fuck is Aaron?”

  Sighing heavily, I give him a grim smile. “So you’re going to play it like that?”

  I glance over at Luke and all I have to do is nod, and he rolls our plan into action. The two of them pick up Sam as if he and the chair weigh nothing and take him into the bathroom with me following close behind. He’s struggling the whole way, but he’s delusional if he thinks he’s going to get away. Leaning him over the toilet, I lift the lid and seat hard and fast, making sure to smack him in the face with it on the way up.

  Sam grunts at the impact. “Asshole! I told you I don’t know anything! Let me go. I don’t even know an Aaron.”

  That’s right, motherfucker. Feel the pain. I’m not playing with you. I’m going to get these answers out of you one way or the other. I need to find out where Aaron is, and fast. Just the thought of my man being held captive and most likely in pain enrages me further. I feel helpless and powerful at the same time. I will find him, and I will see that retribution is made.

  “Listen, Sam, don’t lie to me. I know you know more than you’re saying. I’m going to make you squeal like the fuckin’ pig you are. When I’m done with you, you’re going to be willing to tell me where your grandma hides her jewelry, if I ask you.” With that said, I grasp a fistful of hair and shove him facedown into the water. Even fighting as best he can in his bindings, it doesn’t take long for his head to be submerged. His legs kick out as he grapples for purchase with his feet. I let him suffer for a few moments before bringing him up for air. “So, Aaron…. Still never heard of him? Are you sticking with that?”

  Panting hard, he answers. “He’s your boy toy, right?”

  I chuckle a little. “Isn’t it amazing how a little persuasion jogs the memory? He’s my boyfriend, yes. Now tell me where he is.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not a damn fag. Why the hell would I want anything to do with one, let alone know where he is?”

  I can tell he’s lying still, and he just said the wrong F-word about my man. Before he can even take his next breath, I hit him as hard as I can right in the fuckin’ mouth. Several teeth fall out, pinging against the porcelain of the bowl, along with a spray of blood. That’s right, asshole. The next time you take your dentures out, you’ll remember Aaron’s name.

  Sam whimpers and spits out more blood, but still manages to mumble, “I told you I don’t know anything.” His words come out with little whistling sounds due to the missing teeth.

  “You’re a lying ass. This was the easy tactic and you had your chance. The stakes go up from here.” Setting his chair back down on the floor, I glance at my boys. “It’s time for a change of venue. Take him to the garage.”

  Once in the room, I grab my next tool for coercing the truth out of him: a hammer. He knows more than he’s telling, I know that for a fact. The boys are working him over good while I ready myself for this. I will do anything for Aaron, but can I live with myself and look him in the eyes after it’s all said and done? That, I’m not so sure about.

  Take deep breaths and get it done. Aaron’s clock could be ticking away, for all you know. Facing him and making a show of the large hammer in my hand, I give him a chance to tell me what he knows. Yet again, he denies knowledge of anything.

  Shaking my head, I tell him “I don’t know why you don’t just make this easy on yourself.”

  Sam’s eyes go wide as they follow the hammer around. “Please, Liam, don’t do this. I can’t help you.”

  This makes me pause. “Can’t? I knew you had information and were just being a stubborn prick. That’s okay, I’ll make sure you can tell me.”

  “No!” He screams as I draw back and slam the hammer down on his left foot. The sickening sound of bones crunching can be heard throughout the garage. Sam is sobbing hard, but he still isn’t saying anything.

  “Why can’t you tell me? I don’t have time for your shit. I wa
nt Aaron back… NOW!” With even more power behind my stroke, I shatter his other foot.

  He is practically convulsing from pain and fear. I’m amazed and even slightly impressed he hasn’t spilled his guts yet. I smash the hammer into first one knee and then the other. He’s looking beyond desperate now. Blood has soaked through his pants, along with the unmistakable odor of piss.

  After smelling this, I know I’m on the fast track to breaking him.

  “Tell… me… where… he… is. I brought other pain-inducing instruments with me. Would you like to see more? I’ll give you a personal demonstration of each if you need it.”

  Crying hard, Sam responds with fear, “I can’t. He’s just a kid who made a bad choice. I’m not going to send you after him, I just can’t.”

  Sam has any number of “kids” under his employ. They are old enough to know better, but feel the need to be a part of Sam’s rabble. I need a name, and for that, I decide to skip ahead a little to get him to blurt out his secret. I know now I just have to push the right buttons to get him to talk: one, his dinky house—his pride and joy—and two, his fear—it needs to be upped a bit more.

  Clearing my throat, I order Luke to go about dumping the gasoline around the place. After that’s finished, I bring out something that makes a lot of noise and hurts like fuckin’ hell. I’ve had the “privilege” of experiencing this.

  He whimpers again when he sees the nail gun. “Please, I’m begging you, don’t do this. I can’t lose everything.”

  “I don’t feel sorry for you. You took an innocent man, or you know who took him, and won’t fess up. This man has nothing to do with our little war. Poor you, I’d be more worried about my life instead of this dump at the moment, asshole.”

  I know I’m a terrible person for enjoying his fear, but I do, knowing Aaron is scared shitless right now, possibly even hurt… but I refuse to think he’s dead.

  Hesitating over his left arm with the construction tool, I demand, “Give me a name.”

  Chapter 16

  SAM BITES his lip and his eyes get impossibly wider.

  Slowly, he shakes his head, indicating a negative answer. I suck in a breath and brace myself before pulling the trigger.

  Sam is no fucking victim, Aaron is. Aaron is the innocent party in all of this. Don’t you dare feel bad for him.

  After giving myself that mental slap, I don’t even bother to question him again, and move to the other arm. Without pause this time, I fire it once again. He cries out a little less this time, due to the harsh sobs coming from him. Chills run up my spine as I clearly remember the feel and pain of it. Thomas’s lesson about running my mouth as a kid left more than scars on my body. Aaron has traced the marks on my skin many times while looking at me curiously. He’s never asked about them, though, and I’ve never offered up information. One day he will ask, but until then, I will relish my reprieve.

  Sam struggling against his bindings brings me back to the present, and I realize I can’t handle doing this anymore. I need answers now, so I’m going to cut to the chase. He’s a lot braver—or more stupid—than I thought. I aim the nail gun at his head, moving it directly in front of one of his eyes.

  Pissed off, I growl, “Give… me… the… name. This is the last chance you’ll get. Either you’ll lose this eye, or the nail will go straight into your brain. I always buy the best of everything, so it has excellent horsepower. You want to take chances with your life? I’m done playing with you.”

  Sam whimpers. “Wait! I’ll tell you.”

  I’m beyond relieved he’s finally going to open his fuckin’ mouth and talk. Resting the object of his torture at my side, I wait for him to continue.

  With tears streaming down his face, he finally utters a name. “Evan.”

  My mind is reeling. Adam’s brother? Why the hell didn’t you think of that sooner?

  I already know the answer, but I have to ask anyway. “Did you order Evan to take Aaron?”

  Sam looks at me like I’ve lost my mind, and as if a dam has broken, he spills just like I told him he would. “Fuck no. I don’t approve of bringing innocents into our mess. I didn’t okay Adam to go after Aaron before, and I sure as hell didn’t tell that dumbass kid to take him.”

  I know he is telling the truth, and thank fuck he is. “Where is he?”

  Looking around wildly, he rushes to answer. “I don’t know! I swear! Before you busted in here, I was on the phone trying to find the little asshole. I haven’t a clue. It’s like he’s vanished off the face of the planet. I’ve had my guys check all his usual haunts, and they’ve come up empty-handed every time.”

  Sam pauses, and I think he’s clamming up on me. Deftly, I move the nail gun into a more threatening position.

  His eyes widen once again and he utters, “I tell you, I don’t know. I swear I’d tell you if I did. You have me outnumbered, and there’s no fight left in me right now. I’m pissed, and I wanted to fix things as soon as I found out. Both boys turned into wild animals instead of what I trained them to be. Evan hasn’t been the same since Adam was killed. I understand vengeance, but you can’t explain that to a stupid kid who thinks he knows it all. Adam should have left well enough alone. Aaron’s an innocent in all this. I’ve always tried to keep others out of our little war.”

  His statement matches up with what I saw earlier while peeking in the window. I can also agree that Sam, as far back as I can remember, has never brought family into things. Fuck! Now what are you going to do? Thinking I was so close to getting the answers, just to find out that I now have another manhunt to conduct, is pissin’ me off.

  After telling the men to untie Sam, I step outside for some much-needed fresh air. I take deep breaths as I run through the list of things I need to get coordinated. Luke steps out, sighing heavily, and lights up a cigarette right next to me.

  Blowing smoke in a long, furling stream, he asks, “So, what now, boss?”

  I’m feeling a little lost at the moment. I want to be in so many places at once, and it’s frustrating that I’m only one man. That thought leads me back to Tristan and how he’s doing. I’ve not heard a word yet on his condition.

  One of Tristan’s many assignments is to keep tabs on the comings and goings of the key players of The Natives. His knowledge makes him the best one to talk to for more info on this Evan punk. I’m not sure Adam’s little bro would count as “key,” but Tristan is thorough and it’s a good bet he knows more than is required of him.

  Knowing Luke is waiting for a response, I turn to him and answer, “I’m going to have you boys out beating the streets for anything you can find out about Evan’s whereabouts. I need to find this asshole.”

  I’m worried this is going to take too long. Who would have thought this young guy, fairly new to these gangbangers, would end up causing such a problem? Luke nods his understanding and walks back in to tell the boys what is expected of them.

  I decide it’s time to call Addison and find out what condition Tristan’s in. Not only am I worried sick over him, but now Aaron’s life might depend on what knowledge I can get from him.

  Yeah, and what if he doesn’t make it? Not only do you lose your best friend but, quite possibly, Aaron too.

  Calling one of the guys I’ve posted at the medical facility, I find out Tristan has successfully made it out of surgery. Relief floods me almost immediately. I know this is a big factor in if he will make it or not. I feel like shit going to see him just to find out what info he can give me. I love Tristan like a brother, but I love Aaron too, and time is of the essence.

  Knowing my next course of action, I head back into Sam’s house, where I clean up and try to make myself presentable. Thankfully, with Luke having already given the men instructions, I am able to focus on heading out for hopefully more info. He is well aware of what Aaron and Tristan mean to me. Even though you can’t tell on the outside, the inside is a completely different story. Honestly, I’m a mess when I sit in my car to drive to the hospital. I’ve never felt
this lost in my whole life.

  As I pull up to the medical building, I can’t help but feel I should be actively searching for Aaron on my own. I know I have to be smart about this. Letting my emotions rule is the worst thing I can do at the moment.

  So caught up in my thoughts, I don’t even realize I’ve passed through the sliding glass doors of the private facility. I glance around in hopes of seeing someone I know. Luckily, Jimmy is by the coffee machine in the small waiting area. Strolling over to him with purpose, I pause and ask with my eyes which room Tristan’s in.

  Jimmy points to one about halfway down the hall. Nodding my understanding, I head in that direction. The closer I get, the more nervous and real it feels. My friend, and for all intents and purposes, brother, is lying in this place, struggling to survive—all because he was trying to protect the most precious thing to me.

  Standing in the doorway, I take in the scene in front of me. Tristan is lying prone in a hospital bed, looking almost as pale as the crisp white hospital sheets he’s covered with. His face is already black and blue, with little cuts and abrasions interspersed with the bruises. I trail my eyes from him to absorb the machines beeping and whirring—then finally lay eyes on Addison.

  In all the years I’ve known her, I’ve never seen her with a hair out of place. Even though she’s a saucy, down-to-earth lady, she’s always appeared professional and cool under pressure.

  This is not the Addison that greets me today, however. Her blonde hair is pulled back in a messy bun, with several stands hanging loose. Her face is pallid and her eyes are puffy from crying. She sits there in her sloppy sweats and holds Tristan’s hand until she finally registers my arrival.

  In almost a whisper, she says, “Hello, Liam. Nice of you to finally join us.”

  I’m stunned at the accusation in that statement, and my heart stutters as I suck in a breath. I try to remember she’s unaware of the extenuating circumstances surrounding Tristan being hurt.