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“And I told you that these Mercy men were not the ones who came after us. That means that the men who captured them handed them off to a whole other group for a separate ransom. Which also just so happens to be the same amount as the money we were supposed to make from that deal.”
“We know it’s some sort of trap.” Davi rolled his eyes.
“That’s why we’re going in with a plan.”
“That plan involves you, too.” Davi folded his arms.
“What’s going on?” Dad stood at the bottom of the stairs. He held onto the banister to keep his frail body up.
“It’s nothing.” I tried to assure him. “These are just some friends…”
“My name is Melanie.” The woman answered, plastering an awkward smile on her face.
“Davi.” He folded his arms defiantly.
“Sounds like some scuffling going on down here.” He said, wiping his thin lips. “Do I have to wrestle the information from you younglings?”
“You shouldn’t involve yourself,” Davi said, keeping himself in check and hanging his head low. This was perhaps the only time I had seen him carry himself with some control.
“You’re in my shop and yelling at my son. I am involved.” He turned to me, and I couldn’t quite make out my father’s expression or what he was thinking. “I knew coming here was a mistake. That’s what I get for being too old to fight back.” He sat down. “And it seems as though you’re getting yourself into some sort of trouble already.”
An epiphany came to me. My dad had years of diving experience and had come across so much treasure I’ve never heard of before. If he didn’t know what that silver ball was, then no one would. “Wait, Dad, can you look at this?”
I handed it to him after retrieving it from under my desk. This reaction of his was strange...
“Where did you get this?” He stared at the ball with little emotion, as if his face became a mask of indifference.
“You know what that is?” Davi pointed at the ball, seemingly at a loss.
“I’ve seen this before, yes.” My old man sneered but kept his eyes trained on the silver in his hands. “Looks fascinating, does it?” He chuckled. “But trust me, it’s worthless.” My dad tried to steady his breathing. “Where did you get this?”
“Jaxon stole it from a dive team who was gonna sell it to some rich guy in the upper district.”
Dad sighed. “There’s a chance this person is only after this because he or she believes it is high-quality goods that can make them a lot of money. I say, let them have it.” He tossed his hand up and gave the ball to Davi. “Kal. I think I’ve had enough of thiscity. Let’s go back to Vanir, where the weather is much nicer than this. I’ll call Mrs. Millan tonight.”
“What?!” Davi exclaimed. “We need him!”
“No, you don’t.” My dad argued, the heavy lines on his face forming when he was angry. “You just need that thing. Whatever it is you are into, I’ll not have you drag my son along.”
“Dad, I owe it to Jaxon to help him. I know he would do the same for me.”
“Please!” His grip was rough and tight. “I don’t have the strength to stop you; I just want you to see reason. Let it be their problem!”
“I just feel like I need to see this through. I don’t want Jaxon to think I just left and abandoned him after he stuck his neck out for me.” I hugged him, hoping to calm him. Whatever he was trying to hide, I would get it out of him later. “I love you, and I know you’re worried. But I promise I will come back home, and before I leave, I’ll call Mrs. Millan to come over and check up on you.”
“Kal!” He yelled when I pulled away. His eyes welled with tears, I knew he wanted to say more, but I also knew that whatever held his tongue would not let it go easily. And his reaction scared me. My father went from stone-faced and silent to wanting to leave. Jaxon was in more danger than I thought, and with his friends backing me up, then perhaps there was something I could do to help him. “Please make do on that promise and don’t do more than you should.” His voice trembled, and I kissed his trembling hands before heading upstairs to change.
CHAPTER SIX
KAL
I sat in the back of the rickety vehicle that bumped, jerked and sometimes sputtered ahead causing me to fear if we would even make it to the so-called auction house of these men who called themselves the Brotherhood of Mercy. Whatever this plan they had to save Jaxon, I wasn’t privy to it, but it involved me and this ball somehow, though it worried me about what we had to do.
We turned down a muddy road until we reached a nearly isolated warehouse on the lowest level of the city. Most of the city was dark and desolate with metal shacks lining the narrow road. Only a few spots had working electricity and one of them was the warehouse with its bright spotlights illuminating the parking lot. The crashing waves washed ashore, dragging the ground sediment into the water. The structure was rusted beyond repair and half falling apart, which contrasted with the luxury cars lining outside. Some cars were enormous, big enough for a titan. Davi parked near a bush before the black-clad guards posted by the large brown rusted sliding doors saw us.
“This is it.” Davi scoped the area and spotted two of the men in black stationed at the entrance. “Melanie, keep the car running. If we gotta go, I wanna go.”
“Are you sure?” She tapped her foot along the bottom of the rust bucket. “I brought my rifle. If I get a good vantage point, I can cover you.”
