I'd Kill You First: when bad meets bad

Chap. 49

KEENON:

"Bout time you got out," I rumbled from the darkness.

Kio jolted in mid-step and whipped his head around to stare at me with wide eyes. He had just checked out of the hospital and was probably on his way to call for a cab. His wife was supposed to pick him up, but I made sure she wouldn't be able to by blowing her tires. That way, I would be able to catch him with no one around. He still had his left arm in a cast with a few stitches above his left cheek bone.

"W-what are doing here?" he stuttered, looking around frantically. I just pushed off the wall I leaned against and rolled my eyes.

"There's no one outside this hospital at ten at night, and the guard doesn't make his next round for another half hour, so stop looking for help. It's just you and me," I smirked.

He gulped nervously and stuffed his good hand in his pocket, sweat forming on his wide forehead. "What d-do you want?"

"I think you already know," I hissed impatiently.

He licked his lips and looked around anyway despite my warning. "I've been in the h-hospital. I haven't been in contact with anyone about clients."

I glared at him and took a step forward which made him step back. "I thought you knew where lies got you, Kio. Still got the cast to prove it."

He gulped again and shifted nervously on his feet, chest almost heaving. "Look man, I can't do this. Boss will find out, he always does, and he'll kill my family!"

"So will I!" I bellowed, clenching my fists. He flinched away from me. "So I suggest you start talking."

He began to shake visibly as he nodded in defeat and took a piece of paper from his pocket. "Here," he mumbled, handing it to me. "That's the name. I swear I know nothing else. I swear!"

I glared at him as a warning and looked down at the paper. "Ryan Welding."

"You better hope this checks out," I hissed, shoving the paper in my jean pocket.

He looked scared to death for a minute before nodding swiftly and taking several steps back. "It will," he whispered, not meeting my eyes.

Then he turned and hobbled off down the sidewalk, whistling for a cab. I watched him climb in and disappear down the road.

I was one step closer. I couldn't mess up this time. I had been accidentally showing up too early to clients, right before Soda would get there, and would screw everything up. To cover up my timing mistake, I would just beat the client unconscious and leave a note. I mean, it wasn't a bad idea anyway. I wanted to know who was at the bottom of all of Soda's shit, and threatening whoever it was while knocking out their clients was definitely a way to get noticed.

But my main goal was always Soda. I wanted to catch her in the act, follow her, figure out just exactly what she did for this Boss character. I hated her for making me look insane, but I had a promise to keep. I was going to get her out of all this, even if it killed me.

I snapped out of my thoughts when I felt someone watching me. I had been paranoid ever since I had started threatening power lords, understandably I guess. I spun around and searched the perimeter with my eyes, squinting into the darkness. Nothing.

Wait...

POP!

I jerked to the side and stumbled backward, hitting the ground on my stomach. My chin smacked down on the concrete, blood filling my mouth as things blurred over and my ears rang a little. I groaned as I rolled over and sat up, looking down at myself.