RUDY STARK

I AM NOTHING LIKE HIM

Tony

"Get everybody up here for cheeseburgers Friday." I put the bags of cheeseburgers in the table.

"Yes, sir. May I mention that there was a break-in last night."

"WHAT?! Why didn't you tell me?"

"It was a friend of Rudy and Jay's."

Harry came back?

"Harry?"

"No, sir."

"Well, who was it?"

"My scans say that he's genetically connected to Rudy. An uncle."

"Her uncle? Why would he be here?"

"Sir, you should put your suit on."

"Why?"

"Because I'm here." A rough voice sounded from behind me.

Jeez.

I turned to face it, to see a man, middle age. I backed away, but he kept his stance with a gun held up at me. His face wasn't angry, more remorse.

"Hey, you're Rudy's uncle, right?"

"That information was classified. Now that you know it, I have to... I have to kill you."

I moved my hand a little to suit up.

"Don't move. It'll be quicker that way." He cooked his gun.

"Ben! Don't!" Rudy ran in front of me.

Oh, great. A family reunion.

"Move out of the way, Rudy." Ben moved his gun to show her to move.

"Ben. Don't, please."

Rudy walked closer to him slowly.

"I have to. If I don't, I'm dead."

"They won't find you. They don't know any of this unless you tell them. You'll be just fine."

"You know that's not true."

"Please. Don't shoot him. He won't say anything to anyone. I promise."

"You can't promise things for him." He looked over at me.

"Hey, I keep my word." I put my hands up for a second.

He took a deep breath. "Fine. For you."

He turned to walk away while putting his gun in his pants and covering it with his suit jacket. Rudy stopped him and hugged him tightly. I saw Jay from the corner of my eyes and turned my head to him, confused.

"When did you get here?"

He looked at me with a bored face. "I've been here the entire time."

"Oh."

He nodded while sucking on his lips.

Rudy

"Breakfast. Tomorrow. Okay? Me, Jay, and you." I demanded and poked Uncle Ben on the chest.

He laughed a bit and smiled weakly. "Alright, princess."

"Don't call me that. Only Harry does. If you say it, it sounds weird."

"Fine, marshmallow."

This piece of shit.

"I am no marshmallow." I narrowed my eyes at him.

"Really? Because I seem to recall you having the personality of a soft, gooey, marshmallow, with a burnt shell."

I glared at him even harder, and he just laughed.