Page 176 of Nothing Special X: The Last Stand

Then a man spoke.

“Everybody comfortable?”

His voice was close to Tech. His tone sounded as if he was entertained by their fear.

No one answered.

The man laughed. “Good. Now, this doesn’t have to get complicated. You cooperate. Money gets wired. We disappear. You all go home with a story to tell.”

Another voice, farther away, said, “Check the ties.”

Footsteps moved.

Someone grunted.

“Don’t fuckin touch me,” Curtis snapped.

A hard shove followed.

God gritted his teeth.

For fuck’s sake. To not be blood, how the hell was he just as reckless as his fathers?

The first man spoke again. “This is your own fault, Xander Vale. Bennett promised a payout, and I don’t care if he ran like a bitch. Somebody’s paying what I’m owed.”

God’s blood heated.

A third voice, raspier, shifted closer.

“My twin brother got killed by one of your goddamn bodyguards,” he said. “My cousin’s in prison. Three of my friends are dead because your little celebrity ass wouldn’t just stay scared like you were supposed to.”

Cassidy’s entire body seemed to vibrate.

Day moved beside him and put a hand against his chest. Not to stop him physically. To remind him he was not alone with his rage.

The kidnapper spoke with venom lacing his voice. “Oh yeah. Somebody’s gonna pay. And if you do it without trouble, maybe I won’t make you pay for their lives with yours.”

“I’ll give you anything you want. Just don’t hurt them,” Xander said shakily.

Cassidy’s eyes shone.

God had to look away from him.

There were sounds a man made when pain and anguish crippled him. Cassidy made none of them, which somehow made it worse.

God turned to Ruxs. “Where’s Genesis?”

“He’s on his way,” Ruxs answered. “You know he’s going to lose his shit.”

This was exactly why he hadn’t wanted Xander to go. It didn’t matter that Bennett Ashford was gone. There was always another opportunist asshole with greed, and a gun.

“Let me at least break one of their arms or something,” The angry one said. “They killed four of our fucking friends and have the audacity to go out sightseeing a week later.” His voice moved. “I can’t decide which one of you bastards I wanna hurt most.”

Curtis gave a breathless laugh.

God’s eyes snapped shut. This damn kid.

“You guys are so fuckin’ fucked,” Curtis said. “The only thing you need to decide is if you want your funeral open or closed casket.”