Page 57 of Bearly Familiar


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“Ozul,” Hyde said his name out loud.

He hadn’t seen him in ages. A long time ago, Hyde remembered Ozul as a good kid, although easily swayed. Culore, on the other hand, had always been a troublemaker. Therefore, it wasn’t difficult to see how someone like Culore could make Ozul believe anything he wanted him to. Skilled manipulators such as him always managed to make others believe their lies.

“We’re here,” Ozul said, his voice shaking.

Hyde figured he was probably scared. He didn’t have Culore to issue an order this time. He had to improvise and, probably, no matter what he did, Culore would be pissed. Hyde didn’t envy his position one bit.

“No sudden moves,” Hyde said calmly. “I need you to let go of my son and his mother, slowly.”

“Don’t do it!” Culore shouted at Ozul. “Don’t fucking do it!”

Ozul looked at him, confused and anxious. He didn’t know what to do.

“Shut him up!” Hyde instructed, and Jesse frantically looked around.

Rene found a rolled up sock underneath the sofa and handed it to Jesse.

“Don’t you fucking dare put that dirty thing in my…”

But, before Culore could finish his sentence, Jesse stuffed that rolled up sock into his mouth.

“Problem solved,” Jesse grinned.

Hyde’s look of gratitude was enough, and they all went back to business.

“Alright, now we can proceed without any distractions,” Hyde continued. “I need you to let them go. Once they are free, I will send Culore over to you.”

“How do I know it’s not a trap?” Ozul muttered.

Hyde could see that Ozul’s fingers were shaking. He was nervous, fidgety, and nervous people tend to have unpredictable reactions so Hyde had to be careful. He had to keep Ozul calm and composed, he needed Ozul to believe that everything was under control. Under his control. Only that way would Hyde himself be able to control him.

“You know me, Ozul,” Hyde decided to play that card. “We’ve fought on the opposite sides for years, but you know me. You know that my word is everything. If I give it to you, I won’t back down. That is who I am. So, I promise you that Culore will be set free, once my son and his mother are by my side, and you can bet that is what will happen.”

Culore started mumbling something, but Jesse punched him in the stomach quickly and harshly. Hyde sent a scolding look his way.

“I owed him that,” Jesse defended himself.

“So, do we have a deal?” Hyde asked Ozul.

Ozul eyed Culore. He was sure what he would say. But, their plan had gone awry from the onset, and all he could do now was try and save face. They didn’t have the upper hand any longer. No one did.

Ozul nodded, letting go of Parker, who wasn’t sure what to do at first, and just kept standing there, in the same spot.

“Start walking slowly to me, Parker,” Hyde instructed him.

One step at a time, Parker walked towards his father, his mother following closely behind. He was uncertain. He didn’t know who to trust: his father or the man who claimed his life was in danger and he should listen only to him. Now, it seemed that both these men were in agreement. He should keep walking, no matter what.

Rene looked on, as did everyone else. The air was thick with fear, anticipation. If she could only close her eyes and wish herself away from all this.

Several slow and painful seconds passed and Hyde’s hand finally rested on his son’s shoulder. He pressed his lips on the boy’s tangled hair and smiled at his ex-wife.

“Are you guys OK?” he asked.

Parker just nodded, but his mother could only tremble in reply.

“Now your end of the bargain,” Ozul urged.

“A deal’s, a deal,” Hyde replied, devoid of any emotion.

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