CRYPTO: Infidelity (Book 1)

CHAPTER 26: BETRAYAL

The next time Uncle Blade had Angelo over, I asked him about the terrorist he saw.

"Maybe we should step outside to talk about this," Angelo said.

"The garage would be better," I said.

We entered the garage so Uncle Blade wouldn't overhear us. Why he didn't want my uncle to hear, I didn't know.

"Who told you I knew anything about a terrorist?" Angelo asked.

"Rockie said he heard you talking about it."

"Rockie doesn't know what he heard."

"I just want to know what he looked like, Angelo."

"Why would I tell a cop what I know?"

"It was your idea for me to become a cop."

"I was just giving Blade a hard time."

"Well, you don't have to worry. I'm on your side, remember? And telling me what the terrorist looked like won't incriminate you anyway."

"Why do you want to know who the terrorist was?"

"Because whoever it was, was responsible for my parents' death."

"You want him arrested."

"I want him dead," I said.

"I'm not gonna tell you."

"Why not? Was it you?"

"No."

"Then what's the harm in telling me. Whoever caused that building to collapse is responsible for hundreds of deaths. Why would you protect them?"

"There's no one to protect because there were no terrorists. It was an earthquake." Angelo turned to the door, but I blocked him.

"You're not leaving until you tell me who it was," I said.

Angelo grabbed me and flipped me onto my back and then went inside. I got up and quickly followed him.

"Did you know them personally? Is that why you won't tell me? Come on. At least give me a hint. Was it a canine? A feline?"

"Forget it, Crypto," Angelo said.

"What were you guys doing in the garage?" Uncle Blade asked.

"Angelo won't tell me who the terrorist was that-"

"Shut up, kid!" Angelo snarled at me.

"...killed my parents," I finished.

Angelo cursed.

"Terrorist? What is he talking about, Angelo?" Uncle Blade asked.

"Rockie put false ideas in his head," he said. "Now he won't leave me alone about it."

"He knows something that he doesn't want us to know," I told my uncle. "He knows the terrorist, that's why we went to the garage. He doesn't want you to know that he knows."

"No. He doesn't want me to tell you," my uncle said.

"You know who did it?" I asked.

"Don't tell him, Blade," Angelo said. "We can't trust him."

"I think it's time you go, Angelo," Uncle Blade said.

"You can't trust a cop, even if he claims to be on our side," he said. "We know he's already betrayed us."

"He's my nephew, Angelo. Now please go."

"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you." Angelo left.

"You knew all this time and didn't tell me?" I asked my uncle.

"There was never a good time."

"How about when I moved in?"

"You were depressed."

"What about after that?"

"I just... didn't want to ruin our relationship."

"What are you talking about?"

"Crypto... you know how I always tell you not to use your power for evil? Well... it's because that's what I did. I allowed the mafia to use me as a weapon."

"How- how could you?!"

"Listen. I didn't want to do it but they didn't really give me a choice."

"There's always a choice!" Tears started to drip from my eyes. "It should've been you. You should've died, not them!"

"Crypto." He stepped toward me.

I shoved him back. "Get away from me!" I grabbed my car keys and ran out the front door.

I got in my car and drove off. The tears now flowed freely down my cheeks. It got to the point that I couldn't see anything but streaks of red light from the taillights ahead of me so I pulled over and wept. I had nowhere to go anyway.

I had trusted my uncle. Now I finally understood why my dad never wanted me to know him. He was just like everyone else in the mafia; a selfish murderer. He was the cause of all my pain and suffering. He took the life of his own brother and sister-in-law, leaving their son parentless. He ruined my life.

I knew I couldn't bring myself to kill him even though he did an awful thing that I could never forgive him for. I at least wanted him arrested, but I realized the justice system was still corrupt and he would probably go free, especially since I didn't really have proof that he killed all those animals. And then if the mafia found out that I had betrayed them again, they would kill me for sure. I wouldn't get another chance.

Since I had nowhere to stay, I went back to Uncle Blade's house. I had left my phone and other belongings there anyway.

When I came inside, my uncle ran up to me.

"Crypto, can we talk about this?"

"No. Nothing you say can make up for what you did. I'm only staying here until I find another place to live, if that's alright with you."

"Of course," he said.

"Good." I went to my room.