Page 120 of The Unravelings

“Any leads?” Malic runs the tip of his tongue over his top teeth. I can practically hear the thoughts running through his mind. He wants to break Boss’s hold and run into the room, hold his sister one last time, and contaminate everything inside.

Boss steps back from us, shaking his head. “You know we’ve been keeping our ears to the ground and looking for her, too. We exhausted every connection we had. No one has any clues as to who did it. Even the surveillance cameras around here are on the damn fritz.” He purses his lips with a frustrated sigh. “I do have my fucking guesses, though.” His fingers curl into fists at his side, and he snarls, “Fucking Franco and his heirs. I bet my goddamn life on it. They knew exactly who she was to you and me.”

Malic blinks a few times. “Good. They’re already on my fucking shit list,” he growls, sucking in a few breaths. “When can I tear their fucking heads off?” he asks with a grin that doesn’t reach his eyes.

“We’ll look into it,” I say, aiming my words at Malic before Boss winds him up so much he can’t let it go and relax. Not that he fucking will. Malic is a live wire right now, ready to kill anyone who gets too close to him.

“What’s there to look into?” Boss snaps, tossing out an arm. “You’re too naive sometimes, Wilder. Look at the evidence right in front of you!” He gestures wildly to the hotel room behind us, a sense of urgency in his tone as it rises. “They’ve taken Meredith. They’ve taken so much of this fucking town, and for what? For what? Stealing organs from innocent people for their gain? For money? For what?” His voice booms off the buildings surrounding us until he puts a fist to his lips and takes a few breaths. “It’s fucking time we take back what belongs to us and overpower that fucker.”

That’s always been the fight he’s been up against. Taking Nathaniel Franco down and removing his hold on Greenwood. Boss wants nothing more than to overthrow his empire and take it over for himself.

Sometimes, though, I wonder why he wants it so damn much. There’s nothing special about this town. He has done fine where he is and has cultivated support without showing his face. Although I’m sure if Franco looked Boss in the eyes, he’d have something to say on the matter. Probably murder him where he stood.

“We’re ready for war whenever you are, Boss,” Malic replies robotically again. “Ready to take those fuckers down.”

Boss only smirks, a flash of pride sparking in his dark eyes as he takes us in.

“On your word,” I say with less enthusiasm, but offer him a tight smile anyway.

The fact is, I don’t want war. I don’t even want to be here in the first place. But I have to be. My mother’s care depends on my ability to pay for it, and she’s in the best place she could be. The money to keep her thriving matters far more than what I want or don’t want.

Boss puts a hand on each of our shoulders, checking between the two of us, and he nods. “Soon, Boys. We’ll strategically take this town over like we already have. Piece by piece. Franco won’t see it coming. We’ll knock him off his fucking feet before he can continue this bullshit. I have a plan, but great things come to those who wait.” His grin widens. “I’ve already started with his warehouses, taking out his fucking supplies as they come in. Soon, the tourists won’t have a choice but to come to our casino and buy our booze and gamble their money away. Ahhh, I can feel it coming now.” He hounds on and on again with an obsession I haven’t quite seen before. He’s always wanted a slice of the pie for himself, but this is reaching a fever pitch.

“Right, the explosion,” Malic says, blinking his eyes a few times, and cocks his head. “It’s a shame you left me out of all the fun, Boss. I love fire.” His grin grows even wider, seeming to come back to himself.

“Yes, the explosion,” Boss agrees gleefully. “You two aren’t the only ones I’m mentoring. I’ve got lots of fingers in lots of pies, boys. We’ll get this done as a team. Soon, we’ll all come together and join in on the festivities.”

Great. It seems like Boss is forever expanding his hold and taking in more orphans like Malic and me. Soon, Greenwood will be overrun with whatever Boss has planned. Fuck. I need out. ASAP.

Malic doesn’t flinch, but something in his eyes flashes dangerously dark. “I could have blown them to bits, Boss,” he says evenly. “I could have shown them what true bloodshed looks like. I could have taught them your ways, too.”

Boss chuckles, “You boys are doing exactly what I want you to be doing. Guarding our spot on Syndicate Row. Taking in the people around you and recruiting people to our cause. I’ve already heard about the legendary parties. You two are making a big splash with future candidates. Keep it up. Keep showing your faces and bringing people to our side. Make alliances. And keep your fucking eyes on Franco’s heirs. You know they’re always up to fucking something.”

“You got it, Boss,” Malic says with a stiff nod.

“Sir,” a voice calls from inside the room. “I think you should come and see this.”

Malic stiffens. My heart pounds hard in my chest at the concerned words of the man inside. Presumably, his contacts in the police department are working this case on the down low.

Boss nods. “When this is said and done, Meredith will be thrown the best funeral you could ask for. She’ll get the courtesy she deserves. Now, I must attend to this and find the clues. Malic…”

“I’m standing right here until you wheel her out. Like fuck am I leaving,” Malic retorts back quickly, something he doesn’t typically do with our boss.

“I understand that you want to see her, Son. But I want you to go home. Go to sleep. Tomorrow, after she’s cleaned up, we can visit her together at the funeral home…” He trails off, rubbing at his chin. “This room.” He gestures as he takes a step back. “Who else knew about your past? Someone is using this against you, Malic.” Boss taps the side of his head a few times.

Malic blinks several times at his question. “Don’t worry, I have my ways of finding out.” A manic grin spreads across his lips, sending shivers down my spine. The glint comes back to life in his eyes, giving him the light he had before. Maybe all it took was the prospect of stabbing answers out of an unsuspecting victim.

“Sir!” the voice inside calls frantically. “I need you to see this, sir!”

“That’s my cue, boys. Go home. Go do something besides stand here.” Boss gives us one last look before he disappears through the hotel door again and locks it behind him.

Malic stands like a statue across from me, staring with unblinking eyes. I’m having a hard time figuring out what’s going through his mind. He’s a blank canvas staring back at me.

“Malic?” I ask, moving closer to him and standing beside him now. More noises happen inside the room, but they’re muffled by the curious people down the hall, standing, and talking loudly. “Who else knows about this place?”

Malic scoffs. “Plenty of people know about this place, old chap. My egg donor wasn’t a saint.” He shakes his head, staring straight through the walls of the hotel. “I want inside,” he snarls quietly at me. “I want to fucking see her. I need to fucking…” He grits his teeth before turning away and staring down the hall. “Why won’t he fucking let me in?” he growls with an edge in his voice. Like he’s ten seconds away from beating down that door and fucking up the evidence.

Shit. I can’t let him do that. We need to find out who killed Meredith. If Boss can get answers through his contacts in the police department, then we need to let him work. No matter how much it hurts to not see Meredith for ourselves right now. Maybe it’s for the fucking best. Maybe it will haunt us for the rest of our lives to see her in such a vulnerable position.