I'd Kill You First: when bad meets bad

Chap. 15

SODA:

"Oh come on! It's just one favor for one night. Please?"

I gave Toby my best bored expression and said in a monotone voice, "If you're done being hungover on my couch, leave."

"But it's just one little night and-"

"I don't owe you anything, Toby! If anything, you owe me big time for dragging your naked ass back here instead of leaving you at that party," I said, washing the dishes from that morning.

"Yes," he agreed, "and I thank you for that, but this is just one night-"

"Why in the world would I want to go watch an illegal fight? Huh?" I inquired, turning from the sink and leaning against it.

"Because it would mean more than you know to Keenon if you were there," he murmured, pleading with his eyes.

"Why me? Why is this so important? Get someone else." I waved him off with a hand and began to open a drawer to put the silverware away.

Toby ran over and jumped up onto the counter, blocking me from the drawer. I put my hands on my hips impatiently and glared at him.

"Because he's different with you. You're different. Please come," he begged, poking out his bottom lip.

Keenon had left shortly ago, after taking some more Aspirin, to go for a jog then head to the gym. A few minutes after he left, Toby got dressed finally and proceeded to plead that I attend Keenon's fight that weekend, leading to my current situation.

"Why is this fight so important, Toby? Stop giving off-handed answers. If you can give me one straight, really good answer as to why I should come, I will."

His eyes lit up momentarily and his voice lowered. "Please don't mention anything I say to Keenon, he would kill me."

When Toby paused to wait for my answer, I impatiently nodded my head for him to continue.

"Okay," he said, taking a breath, "Ever since Andrea cheated on him, the guy hasn't been the same, and fighting has always been his outlet for everything. It's what he lives for. But lately, after the few fights he's had since the break up, even though he wins, he goes off and disappears for a night or two. When he comes around again, he's so depressed it's scary, and I really think it had to do with the fact that Andrea was always at all his fights, and if he was having a hard time in the ring, she was there for him on the sidelines. Now she isn't, and he can't stand fighting anymore because it involved her so much, but he needs fighting to keep sane. So, I figure if you were there, it would take the edge of the Andrea thing and maybe he wouldn't disappear and get so low like he does after a fight now. Plus, this is a really big fight for him. His competitor is undefeated."

I blinked a few times and stared at Toby. "You read into things way too much dude."

He sucked in a breath and nodded. "Yep, I know. So will you come? You said you would if I gave you my reasons."

I let out a muffled groan and regretfully nodded my head, grimacing as he cheered and hopped down off the counter, wrapping me up in a hug. I shoved him off and glared.

"I hate hugs, don't touch me."

His brows shot up in interest. "Really? I'm gonna have to hug you more often then."

I come close to hissing at him when he tried to hug me again, retreating to my room and flopping on my bed to do college work. I had been falling behind lately.

"Bye Nameless Roommate!" Toby hollered from the living room, "Thanks for the food and for agreeing to be Keenon's date!"

"I'm not his date," I yelled, rolling my eyes at his antics.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night," he called before I heard the door shut after him.

I shook my head at Toby's larger than life childish side as I powered up my laptop. Before I even clicked on my homework files, I went to my email and logged in.

A familiar alias popped up on the screen with an untitled message, and I felt fear begin to build up in my chest. I knew who had used that alias before. Me. And only one other person knew I had used it. Boss.

Julian Lent- You missed your target. Looking to get that arrow in your own back?

A thin sheet of sweat built up on my forehead as I read the message three more times before scrolling down for the rest of the link.

I clamped a hand over my mouth to keep in a scream as I looked at a very familiar face set in a picture on my screen.

No. Please no. Anyone but him.

Below the picture was another message.

Julian Lent-
I know where he is,
and he's a comin' your way.
The blood will be his,
if I don't get my way.

Looks like you're slipping up. Maybe you need a wake up call? Go answer that door sweetheart. Enjoy him while you still can.

Not two seconds later, a knock sounded against the door in the living room, making me jump off the bed and knock over my lap top. I stared wide-eyed at the screen, reading the last two lines again.

Another knock.

I slid a gun out from under my mattress and eased into my living room, jumping a little as I neared the door and another knock sounded.

"Soda! Soda Pop, open up, it's me!"

My heart dropped into my toes as I recognized that voice, the color draining from my face. My feet felt like led as I stepped forward and unlocked my door, quickly slipping the gun into my waist band.

A pair of strong arms immediately engulfed me and spun me around before setting me back down on the ground with a thud.

"Hiya sis!"