Chapter 17

17

Will was sweating. Even though it was too damned cold out, he was sweating. He’d gotten the dude’s message to meet him behind old R.J.’s at ten. And he’d better do it, or else.

He just stood there, shivering. Until the old truck pulled in.

“What’s this about?”

Will wasn’t going to admit he was scared, but he’d heard things about this guy. Not good ones. Mostly that the dude was batshit crazy. Sammy and Toby were terrified the guy was going to come after them next. He’d been threatening Kurt and Ashton too. But Ashton was dead now—that Brandt Barratt guy had killed him and everything. And Kurt—he was hurt bad. Everyone was just waiting for him to die or something.

Now…it was like Bruce Tyler was coming after Will now.

Bruce had followed him around town for days. Will was sure of it. At first he’d thought it was one of those other Tyler guys—but he was sure now. Kind of hard for Will to miss.

Bruce Tyler stood there, a ball bat in his hands. Whistling. “Hello, Willy Boy. Glad you answered my call.”

“Did I have much choice?” Tyler had made it clear—either Will showed up, or Tyler would be going after Abby next. His sister wouldn’t stand a chance against this sociopath.

Abby was tough as nails, but Bruce Tyler was a fucking lunatic. Everyone knew that.

And he was like superhuman.

Will was seriously wishing he had some OPJ right now. Maybe he wouldn’t be so scared he wanted to piss his pants. “What’s this about?”

“You are going to do something for me, Willy.”

“Why should I?”

It was the dumbest thing he had ever asked.

Will knew it when the baseball bat slammed into the side of his left leg.

He went down, trying not to howl. “Why did you fucking do that?”

“Because, see, I know you know the men I am looking for, son. I just know you do. And I know your daddy is probably involved up to his eyeballs. You want me to go after him and your sister next? She’s passably pretty. It won’t be too hard to make her acquaintance. I could close my eyes when I screw her, I guess.”

“What do you want me to do?” He had him by the balls. Will wouldn’t let his dad or Abby anywhere near Bruce Tyler. The guy was a nutjob. “What do you want?”

“See, I am looking for something. A particular piece of…luggage, you might call it. You are going to help me find it. This is what you are going to do.”

Will just listened, lying there in the snow behind Chandler Tyler’s damned restaurant.

The first hit of the bat had been a warning.

Will had gotten the message.