My roaring voice echoed off the corners of the massive building as Benji stood up. With a crooked grin on his face, he crossed his arms over his chest. I hated how blurry he was. I hated how my mind didn’t feel right. Everything was hazy. As if I were walking through fog and reliving memories.
I had to get out of my bonds.
“Are you really going to continue struggling with your brain swelling the way it is?”
I snarled. “Listen here, you slimy snake, I know damn good and well you’re working with my father. I know damn good and well you’re doing this because I won’t let you rush the fucking club. Well, you want to know why I won’t let you rush!?”
He snickered. “Because I’m apparently unreliable. Or, so you’ve told me.”
“No. Because you have a future well beyond the club.”
He paused. “What?”
I leaned back into the chair. “I pressed college and didn’t let you rush because you’re smart, Benji. You have a future beyond the club. Beyond the bloodshed. Beyond the firefights and my father’s whimsically disgusting ways. I never let you pledge because you’re better than that.”
“You--you did--you did that for me?”
I nodded. “Yeah. I did, you shithead.”
A searing pain cracked me across my face and my head fell to the side. The involuntary roar of pain that escaped my throat before I vomited again reminded me of just how vulnerable I was. I hated that feeling, too. Dread filled my gut. I coughed and sputtered as spit dangled from my lip. Then, I felt someone fist my hair before my eyes found Benji’s again.
“You don’t get to make that decision for me, El Presidente. It’s my life. I do what I want with it. Whether you like that shit or not. Got it?”
He shoved my head, forcing me to heave again. And I made a vow to myself. Then, and there.
Benji dies by my hand.
“You’re right,” I murmured.
“What was that?”
He dragged my head around for a bit before his gaze found mine.
“Say that one more time, All Powerful One?”
I grimaced. “You’re right.”
He grinned. “Perfect. Glad you know your place. You're right. I am smarter than all of you. I mean, look at where you’re sitting and where I’m, well, standing.”
I chuckled. “Cute.”
He released my hair. “Yeah, I thought so.”
He took a few steps away from me before I licked my lips.
“Tell me where Rupert is.”
He shrugged. “And if I don’t?”
“You die.”
He barked with laughter. “By what hand? Yours? The ones that are bound to that chair?”
“You have no idea what I’m capable of. Don’t think that because you’re smarter, you’re also stronger. Because you're not.”
“And yet, here we are.”
“Trust me, I’m positive you didn’t put me here.”