Page 60 of My Addiction
Ronan
Every instinct tells me to stay with Colton. Instead, I follow my father to the basement. I have to be a part of this.
I follow Dad down to the holding cell in the basement. Unlike most basements, this one has no smell of mildew or stale air. Before we had the compound, this place was used to handle our targets. The self-contained ventilation unit is the only sound.
“I will handle him.” Dad reminds me of that as we approach the cell door. He turns the handle. It’s rare to see Dad barely holding on to his control. Years with Mom have taught him how to control his anger.
Kenneth is hanging by his wrists in the middle of the room. The harsh white walls contrast with the shiny black floors. He’s naked. The bullet hole that Mom put in him leaks blood down his leg.
“Glad to see you’re still awake.”
“You can’t do this to me. Please just turn me in to the police.”
Dad doesn’t answer him, just walks to the cart that holds the tools of this man’s destruction. Dad is fond of really sharp knives. He picks up a filet knife. Its thin blade catches the light.
“A pound.” Dad’s accent is heavier now.
“What?” Kenneth tries to pull away, but the ropes hold him in place. His eyes are locked on the knife.
“A pound of flesh is what I will be taking in retaliation. You came into my home and threatened my family.”
“I…” A scream cuts off his words as Dad makes the first cut. The blade slices through his chest so cleanly that his body forgets to bleed for a second. The next cut is made three inches from the first. Dad runs the blade expertly under the skin and removes the strip. I get that he wants to make Kenneth suffer; I do too, but I need to know where the others are more.
I start to say something to Dad, but then I see his eyes. His monster is here. We all have that demon that lurks inside of us; it calls for destruction. I shut my mouth and lean against the wall.
“Where are they?” Dad says after several more cuts and several more strips of skin.
“Who?” Kenneth’s voice is raw from the screaming.
“Right now, I have only removed the top layers. Paper cut, really. But if you play dumb and don’t answer my questions, I will start removing muscle from bone.”
I push off the wall and walk to the cart. The selection is impressive. I find what I’m looking for and hold it out to Dad.
“Boning knife. That one,” I point to his hand, “is a filet knife.”
He looks at the smaller one. “You’re right, thanks, son. We will get back to this one in a minute.” He embeds it into Kenneth’s side. “Now, where are the others?”
“You’re going to kill me anyway, so why should I tell you. Your fucking nephew punished me for something that wasn’t my fault. So I hope you suffer. Go to hell.” Kenneth spits.
“The problem for you is that I will keep you alive for a long time. Your death will not come quickly. If you tell me what I want, then maybe I will only keep you alive for days instead of weeks.”
Dad walks over to the pulley attached to the ropes holding Kenneth’s ankles. The yank of the rope pulls his right leg up and back. Running the blade down the length of the calf muscle, Dad makes his first cut. The scream that comes from the piece of shit is satisfying. I usually don’t care for the yelling and begging from my targets. It’s unnecessary noise. But when I hear it coming from him, it’s balm to the rage burning under my skin.
“Stop! Please stop!”
“Why, you said you have nothing to tell me. Did you change your mind?” Dad asks as he makes another cut.
“Yes, fuck. I’ll tell you.” Kenneth’s breath is coming hard and fast now. Dad shakes his head, mumbles something softly in Irish, and places the blade against his leg again.
“Dad, let’s see what the bastard has to say.”
“He’s a weak fucker, he should be able to take more. Speak.”
“They’re at a rental house. The address is in my phone.”
“What was the plan?” I ask as I pick up his phone from the pile of his discarded clothes. Holding the phone to his face, the screen unlocks.
“I was supposed to take the baby and kill Colton.”
