Page 17 of Avenging Azalea

“Su…su…sure,” he stammered, his eyes rolling up to mine.

“Okay then, Neil. My name is Titus Mikhailov. I want you to remember that because if it were my father or any other member of my family, they wouldn’t be so understanding. You can consider this your lucky night, a happy Halloween if you will.” He glanced at the gun and then back to me. “I’m taking George, but not to kill him, sell him, or abuse him. He’ll be placed in a private school far away from your reach where he’ll be safe and receive a top-rate education. Naji, bag.”

Naji stepped up to the kitchen table and dropped a duffel on the table. Unzipping it, he pulled the sides open and showed off the fifty grand in cash. Neil’s eyes bugged out of his head.

“Here’s the deal, it’s a take it or die type of thing. You’re going to tell George that we are friends of Fawn’s and that you want him to come with us. Then you’ll use this money to pay your debts and forget all about Fawn and George. If George calls you on his birthday or at Christmas, you’re simply to say that you’re happy and excited for him. Tell him you love him, and that’s it. I’ll be notified if you ever visit the school, and if you try to turn George against me, then….”

Snatching his jaw, I squeezed hard enough that he cried out and opened his mouth. I shoved my gun inside as I stared into his terrified eyes while he choked around the barrel.

“You don’t want me to come back. I’m nice to a point, and then I don’t care. Every nightmare scenario of what could happen to you will only be the beginning. Understand?”

He nodded as much as he could with his mouth full.

“Good, I’m happy we were able to come to an arrangement.”

Neil coughed as I pulled my gun away.

“Why? I don’t understand why you’re doing this.”

“The why isn’t important. All that matters is that you do what you’re told. That money won’t go very far, and you’re out of children to sell. My suggestion…pay who you owe and get in a fucking program so you can get your shit together.”

Putting my gun away, I smiled.

“Now that we have that settled, Naji, tell the guards to bring Mrs. Carmichael and George downstairs.”

“No, please, not my wife. She thinks Fawn ran away from home.” My eyebrow cocked in disgust. “Cesare drugged her when he took Fawn, and I thought it would be easier on her if she thought that she ran off.”

I snorted in disgust. “No, it was easier for you to hide what a fucking piece of shit you are.” I shrugged. “What your wife believes or doesn’t believe is not my concern.” I looked at Naji. “Just the boy.”

He relayed the message, and while I waited, I walked over to the window that looked out to the stamp-sized backyard. A small black cat figurine sat on the sill, and I picked it up to admire the tiny painted features.

“Dad,” George said as he was ushered into the kitchen. The two embraced before George looked around at the rest of us. I set the figurine down and stuffed my hands into the pockets of my long peacoat.

“George, these are friends of Fawn.”

“They don’t look very friendly,” George said, and my lip twitched.

“Well, they are, and she sent them to help me out. They’re taking you to a private school where you’ll live and learn and have stability without all the moving.”

“I don’t mind moving.”

Neil looked up at me and then laid his hands on his son’s shoulders. “I know, but your Mom and I can’t offer you this kind of opportunity. So go pack a bag and don’t give them any hassle.”

“But I don’t want to leave you and Mom. I’m not like Fawn. I don’t want to run away.”

My nostrils flared, and I shook my head. How despicable did you have to be to throw your child under the bus to save your own skin?

Pretty fucking low, apparently.

“I want you to do this. It’s for the best, George. Now, don’t argue with me anymore. Go pack.”

“But, Dad….”

“No. I said pack, right now,” Neil growled, and George’s bottom lip pushed out as he hung his head.

George walked out of the kitchen, and my men followed, leaving me alone with Neil. He ran his hand through his hair and looked genuinely distraught. But I couldn’t tell if he was upset because he was losing his son or because he didn’t have the child to sell.

“There, that wasn’t so difficult. Cheer up, Neil. He’ll have a life that you could never give him, and you get to live another day. Where I come from, they call that winning the jackpot.”