Love to Die for (SEQUEL)

Chapter 21: Restart

"Sir, may we please use your phone?!"

"No purchase, no phone."

William ran over, charging for the phone.

"Hey! I told you no!" The guy had a strong accent and it was hard to understand what he was saying. He tried speaking more clearly to me as I stalled for Will.

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?"

"You get out! Buy something or go!" The man was visibly angry and I could see sweat beading from his forehead. I cringed.

"Could we just make one call?"

I peaked over at Afton, he was still on the phone but it looked like he was mid-conversation.

"Not unless you buy something!"

Just as I was about to buy a candy bar, William hung up on the phone. The guy was clueless to the call and was still rambling about rude customers.

William rung his arm over my shoulder and leaned in to whisper. "Henry will be here in five minutes."

I quirked a brow. How did he remember Henry's home phone?

Never mind that, I'm sure Henry's going to be appalled that William isn't dead. He must be freaking out right now.

The frustrated man crossed his arms and looked at us expectantly.

It had just started storming outside. It was dark, rainy, and cold. Neither William or I wanted to go stand in that.

"Please, can we just stand here for a few minutes until our ride is here?"

The man shook his head. "No homeless people! Not unless you buy."

I groaned. William and I definitely didn't have money on us. Hell, he hasn't seen a gas station in years! Whatever was in our pockets was not a currency.

"Pardon me, I believe I saw that your chip reader was malfunctioning when I came in."

I looked at William quizzically. He seemed confident.

"...Yes. Why?"

He smiled. "I went to college for mechanics and robotics. I will fix that quickly if you let us stay."

The man instantly smiled. He put down the threatening broom and put a hand on Afton's shoulder, which he did not like. The two of them walked over to his counter to try and fix the malfunction. I hoped Afton knew what he was doing.

A few minutes later, I noticed a radiant car pull up. The lights nearly blinded me due to the gloomy weather.

William had finished the chip reader, moments after he got to work. It was apparently just a technological issue, which was easy. So Will and I didn't have any obligation to stay and we hurriedly went to the car.

Just as we reached the window. I noticed something odd about the person inside the vehicle.

Rather, people.

The window rolled down. I froze.

"Hey Willy~"

He and I physically recoiled at the site.

Vanessa along with his brother, Vincent, were smiling back at us.

"Mother fucker! Where are they?!" William yelled, clawing at the car.

"Now, Will, don't you miss me?" Vanessa was out of her bunny costume and looking at him with googly eyes. Afton backed away in disgust.

"You whore, tell me where my kids are?!"

Both Vanessa and Vincent broke into laughter. I was enraged and simply wanted to pummel them. But they had information.

"You were always the dumb one..." Vincent chuckles, "They're in my trunk."

As soon as he said that, the car immediately sped off, ways above the speed limit. Afton and I had no time to chase after it as the vehicle was gone.

"William, do you really think he put them in the trunk?!" I had so many questions. I thought he called Henry!

"I don't want to, but knowing him it's likely." William pushed his hair out of his face, the rain dripping down from his beautiful jawline. Both of us were beyond soaked.

"I know I called Henry! Why would he do this?!" I could see how betrayed Afton felt. However, I had known Henry for years. William has too! I completely trust him and believe he only did this because he had to!

"Will, you know Henry would never do that." I tried to comfort him. "We'll get them back. You're smarter than them."

He sighed once more, looking down at me with indescribable emotions. The owner of the gas station was looking at us from the store windows, engaged in our conversation. I chuckled a little and continued.

"We're in Hurricane! We made it back and we're not done yet."

"...You're right, darling. I'm just a bit angry with myself for letting him get away."

I felt bad about that too. To think they were so close to us, but we had no idea. However I couldn't let that discourage us.

"We'll just find a way back to your house. We can grab the keys and search for them from there." I looked at the road. "I really don't wanna pressure you, but the more we wait, the farther they get."

Almost instantly, William locked in and headed back inside the store. I smiled and knew he was going to use his charisma. Surely, the guy liked him enough by now to fall for it.

"Hello again, do you have any more favors I could do?"

The owner chuckled. "What do you need now? My car?"

My face dropped as he unironically guessed that. Afton chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Stupid boy! I would never give my car to you!" He pondered for a minute. "Unless..."

As the short man ran back, I looked at Afton with concern. Doing "favors" for this guy was sounding skeptical.

He came back with a medium-sized box. Neither of us could see what was inside as it was wrapped up thoroughly.

"Bring this to my client. She lives three blocks far. I will give you her address."

Stunned, we saw him point at the door and hand the box to Afton.

"Can we have your keys?" Afton suggested.

"Fool! I know you will drive off! Come back with a happy customer first!"

He wanted us to walk multiple blocks in the pouring rain. I did not feel like doing a bunch of side quests. This was urgent!

Afton glared at him as he pointed aggressively. We walked back out in the disastrous weather.

"I'm sure whatever is in there will get ruined by the rain. Why would he want us to do this?!"

William shook his head. "He's trying to see if we're trustworthy. I believe he may be part of a gang."

I nearly choked. "What?!"

"He's doing an initiation like a gang leader. And we're delivering drugs!."

"Will, you're just paranoid from being kidnapped." I smirked, though he was serious.

"Perhaps, perhaps not."