AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m sorry,” he says, “but some things are more important than you, Huff. It’s a lesson you’ve never been able to learn.”
I point to Joy’s headstone. “You mean like how after she was killed, you used her death to gain notoriety? Or how you made a name for yourself by becoming a media whore?”
“I had a calling I couldn’t ignore.”
“You used her death to launch your political career. You never cared about getting justice for Joy.” In fact, when we went after the girls who killed Joy, their families offered thirty million dollars to settle out of court. Kyle wanted to take it. He tried to convince me and my parents, too. But if we had, we would’ve been banned from speaking about Joy’s death, and they would never have to admit any guilt. I was the one who convinced my parents not to settle. Eventually, the girls, now women, went to prison.
“What do you want from me, Huff?”
“I want to know why you’re doing this to me. I never asked for this. I never threatened anyone.”
“But now you have, haven’t you? You did it on live TV, which only proves my point. Sooner or later, you’ll become a threat to society. Someone’s got to protect the world from you.”
“I only threatened anyone who came after the people I love. I just didn’t know that person would be my own brother. Why, Kyle? Why did you turn on me?” As I’m speaking, I realize something important: “This isn’t different than Joy, is it? I’m just an opportunity for you. More publicity. More notoriety. More political clout. Kyle, the man who stopped the dangerous Mr. Love.”
“And the man who’ll make the US the most powerful country in the world.”
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a solid military. Arm the fuck out of our country for all I care, but this isn’t about that, and Kyle knows it. His patriotism is a front. “Stop the bullshit. You just want to figure out a way to leverage me for your own political gain. You could buy a lot of favors if you knew how I was transformed.”
“I’m not falling for that trap again, Huff. I know you’re recording me.”
“I’m not.” And it’s the truth. “I just want to understand why the brother I looked up to, who was supposed to protect me, turned out to be the one person in the world who wants me dead.”
“You need to grow up, Huff, and be a man.”
That’s his answer?I look at Joy’s headstone. “I’m glad she’s not here to see what a piece of shit you turned out to be, Kyle.” I look at him. “But I’m here. And I’m going to stop you.”
He laughs. “Stop me how? You already tried to make the world believe I’m an evil prick, but no one believes you. The media’s already calling the recording a fake.”
I step closer to him, lowering my voice. “I’ve got the formula, Kyle. Morris completed it before he died, and I have it.”
His mouth falls open.
I continue, “And I’m going to use it to make more people just like me. In fact, I already have, and you won’t have a clue who they are.” I smile sadistically. “You’ll never be safe, Kyle. Not ever. We can come for you anytime, anywhere, and there’ll be nothing you can do to stop us. So back the fuck off. Leave Mom and Dad alone. Stop pursuing me, River, or anyone else associated with me. You do that, and I’ll let you keep your life. But one wrong move, Kyle, just one, and I’ll tie your legs together and rip off your balls.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” He laughs.
“Wrong answer.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“Huff! Sam!” River runs from the cabin into Sam’s arms. I’m not okay watching them hug. Not even a little, but I know I did the right thing by going to get him. Whatever happens to her and me, Sam didn’t cause it.
“Are you okay?” she asks Sam, who’s a tall guy with darker features—black hair, olive skin, dark eyes. Yeah, I guess he’s okay looking too.Fucker.
“I’m okay,” Sam says. He looks a little out of it. I found him restrained in one of the rooms downstairs in the hospital. Funny, after I took Kyle, the feds completely evacuated, and a massive search for him began.
I try not to smile. Kyle’s going to be found at exactly 9 a.m. when the zoo opens. Unless the lions get to him first. It’ll kind of depend on how much screaming he does. Sucks having your legs tied together in a knot and being stuck in a tree.Gonna take years for those legs to heal.
River turns to me. “Thank you, Huff.”
I shrug like it’s nothing.
“Sam, I need to talk to Huff alone,” she says.
Yes, we probably need to get some things out of the way.
“There’s food inside, and feel free to use the shower,” I say to Sam. “Clean towels are in the closet.” I can get him some clothes later, too, but right now, I need to know what’s going on with River.
