Page 27 of Something Worth Keeping
“Let go.” Julian kept his voice level despite the adrenaline flooding his system. “You’re committing assault, which will complicate whatever outcome you’re attempting to achieve.”
They started pulling him toward the alley between two buildings. Julian dug his heels in, but they were stronger, and his body weight didn’t provide sufficient resistance.
“Stop. This is kidnapping. The legal penalties are…”
“I said shut up.” Grey Jacket’s grip tightened painfully.
Julian’s phone nearly slipped from his hand. He managed to keep hold of it as they dragged him into the alley, away from the street, away from the bakery’s windows and the pedestrians who weren’t looking.
The alley stunk. Dumpsters lined one wall, and clearly, there was a glitch in the collection schedule. There were no cameras visible, which meant no witnesses. Julian’s analytical mind cataloged these details while his hindbrain screamed danger.
The men shoved him against the brick wall. Julian’s shoulder hit hard enough to send pain radiating down his arm, but he maintained his grip on his phone.
Julian:Alley between Franklin and Oak. East side. They’re…
Hoodie knocked the phone from his hand. It clattered across the pavement, screen cracking.
“Marcus Vane wants a conversation,” the leader said. “About what you saw. About who you told.”
Julian’s breathing was shallow now, but he did his best to keep it controlled. “I haven’t told anyone. And even if I had, what would I report? That I witnessed something I don’t fully understand? The authorities would dismiss it as…”
Grey Jacket punched him in the jaw and then again in the stomach.
Julian doubled over, gasping. The pain was sharp and immediate, radiating outward from the impact point. He’d never been punched before. It was significantly worse than he’d anticipated.
“Stop talking,” the leader said. “You’re coming with us. Vane has questions, and you’re going to answer them.”
Julian straightened slowly, one hand pressed to his abdomen. His glasses had been knocked askew. He pushed them back into place with shaking fingers.
“I’m not sure I understand your directive.” Julian’s voice was steadier than he felt. “Bringing me to Vane is illogical. I don’t have answers he’d find satisfactory, and abducting me only increases the likelihood that any hypothetical entity will take offense.”
“We’re not scared of your shadow-freak,” Hoodie said.
“You should be. He’s significantly more dangerous than you’re estimating.” Julian met the leader’s eyes. “And he’s extremely possessive. Harming me will result in your deaths. I’m stating this as an objective fact, not as a threat.”
The leader smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes. “Then where is he?”
Two minutes, Cillian had said. That was…Julian checked his watch automatically, though his hands were trembling - eighty-seven seconds ago.
“Approaching rapidly,” Julian said. “If you leave now, you might survive the encounter.”
“Bullshit.” Grey Jacket grabbed Julian’s collar, slamming him back against the wall. “You’re bluffing. Marcus said you were some weird library rat who saw something he shouldn’t. So now you’re going to tell Marcus everything, and then…”
“Then what?” Julian’s academic curiosity pierced through his fear. “You kill me? That solves nothing. The entity already knows I exist. Eliminating me only removes the one person who might potentially convince him to show restraint when he inevitably hunts you down for this.”
Hoodie pulled out a knife. The blade caught the dim alley light.
Julian’s heart rate spiked well into panic territory. The situation was escalating beyond his control. He’d assumed they wanted him alive for questioning, but the knife suggested alternative scenarios.
“Last chance to cooperate,” the leader said.
“I am cooperating. I’m providing you with tactical information that might preserve your lives.” Julian’s voice stayed level through sheer force of will. “Leaving now is your optimal strategy. Every second you remain decreases your survival probability.”
The leader nodded to Hoodie.
Julian braced himself, calculating angles and impact points, his mind running through self-defense techniques he’d only read about and never practiced. He was going to getstabbed. The knife would penetrate approximately three to five inches, depending on the attacker’s strength and angle of approach, likely targeting his torso to maximize damage while…
Shadows exploded across the alley entrance.
