“I know.” I scribbled down an address. “It’s here.”
"But they don’t use places they already used."
"They’ll make an exception. Put the tactical team together, Masterson."
This had to be it.
One of the properties Masterson pulled up had a statue that moved back and revealed a hidden entrance. It reminded me of the goblin in the remote cabin we visited earlier.
Something clicked.
Whose side are you on? The same side as always.
Sometimes it was easiest to hide in plain sight. Why do more work when you had other factors and forces that did the work for you?
Young cooperated with us, he showed us a secret room. He hadn’t mentioned another. It was kinda perfect. We’d never suspect them to return to somewhere on our radar that we already fucking toured.
I couldn’t go alone, but there was one person. I wasn’t sure I could trust him. Hell, I shouldn’t trust him. But he said he’d been on the same side all along. And if I was right about which side that meant, then I had myself a partner after all.
27.Outfoxing a Fox
Lucas
Trapped. Trapped, trapped, trapped. Time was running out. I knew it. And so did the man blocking the door.
“You really were like family,” Gary said, actually sounding remorseful. “Ithoughtwe were family, I did. For many years, you were my nephew. But I wouldneverdo this to family.”
"You knocked out your own son," I spat the reminder at him.
"He’ll forgive me, he’ll understand.” He paced back and forth in front of the door, muttering to himself. “Once we’re free. Once we’re rich.”
How did I get out of here? My hands were tied. He had some mystical weapon in the freaking flashlight he clutched tightly. I had nothing. If only I had my own weapon, or a distraction…
Dammit, just had to think, come on, I tested my bonds, not handcuffs, plastic or maybe duct tape? Was there a way to cut the tape? Was anything else in here? I scooted to the right, not quietly enough, causing my uncle to notice me once more.
Gary looked me right in the eye. “I loved you, Lucas. But it turned out there was a price for my loyalty, one you couldn’t pay. I think part of me still resented it.”
“Me? I never—"
"No, it’s true. You did nothing wrong and I’m sorry about that. They say sins of the father but your mother’s were worse. She wasn’t even cheating on Todd, no, she conned him from the start, looking for an easy mark and protection.”
“No, my parents fell in love.”
“She was pregnant with someone else’s baby!”
“So what? My mother wouldn’t—”
“Oh, please. She lied to you your whole life. You didn’t even really know her.”
I didn’t know her past but I knew her life with me and dad, the kind of mother she was, how she only wanted to protect me. It was him I’d never known, never noticed his dark side.
I glared at my uncle, trying to discretely pull at my bonds. Furious, I imagined the satisfaction of freeing myself and attacking him. If I could get that flashlight somehow... I didn’t need to know how to use the magic, the tool looked heavy enough to hurt.
“I thought he’d come to his senses back then,” Gary said “I thought he’d leave her. It wasn’t like he couldn’t have his own kids or something, it wasn’t like he even tried. He just settled for her and for you. He always settles.”
Gritting my teeth not to scream at him, I felt around blindly, searching for a forgotten nail or piece of glass, anything. I was running out of time. Hey, what was that? It felt sharp. Yeah, it would work.
“Me,” Gary continued. “I’m not afraid to go after what I want. I deserve better and I’m gonna get it, no matter what. That’s the difference between him and I.”
