Your son for Mine

chapter 10

The judge picked the photo up. Her eyes widened. "I had his case. He was found guilty of drug trafficking."
 
Chubby nodded. "Yes, and you gave him the maximum sentence."

"Yes," Lucas's mother replied. She let go of Lucas's hand and he stifled a thankful sigh. His mother was using the

"judge voice." The voice was cool and controlled. Lucas had heard it many times before, mostly when he was about fifteen years old and caught sneaking in after a late-night study session with his lab partner. At least that's what he told his mom at the time; most of the time he was studying sex ed, and only some of those times were actually with his lab partner. He felt a small smile trying to grow. The cool voice broke through his memories and the almost-smile vanished.

"It was not his first offense. The sentence was fair. Is this the man that is trying to kill my son?"

"Abraham is, yes..." Baldy leaned forward, finally deciding to speak. "Last week, Alex leby was found dead in his cell. He'd hung himself with his bed sheet." The agent's ice was flat. He looked over briefly, dismissively at Mario, and then he leveled his gaze on Lucas and his parents. Lucas's leg started bouncing; he didn't try to stop it.

"What does that have to do with my family? The letters started over a month ago. The timing doesn't match up." Lucas's dad had taken his mother's hand and looked across the table at the agents with concern on his face.

"It didn't seem to at first, no. But we delved into things a bit more." Baldy reached his hand out and pointed at the picture of Alex. "Six weeks ago, Alex Leby was taken to the infirmary. He had extensive injuries. Among them, facial fractures and anal trauma. I think you can deduce what happened to him."

The judge brought her hand to her chest. Her husband shook his head and looked down at the table. Lucas sucked in a quick breath and tensed up even more. A warm hand came and rested on his left knee, stopping the bouncing. Lucas focused on Mario's hand, trying to let the calm that it was lending spread through him.

"Alex was raped." Mario said, keeping his voice even.

Chubby looked over at Mario. "Yes, Alex was raped." The agent gave Mario another dismissive look and turned his gaze back to the judge.

"We believe that Abraham was made aware of the attack and became enraged and focused all that rage on you." Chubby nodded at Lucas's mother before continuing. "You were the one who sentenced his son and thus put him in the place where the rape occurred. Then, when his son killed himself, his target switched from you to Lucas. Your son for mine. An eye for an eye, it would seem.

That's ridiculous." The judge's voice had taken a higher pitch as she spoke.

"Maybe to you and me, but not to Mr. Leby. The evidence we collected from the scene of the car explosion has a signature similar to other incidents that were tied to a militant group. We believe Abraham Leby to be a member of this group. These men are not known for being rational."

Lucas's mother straightened her head and stared at the agent. "So, what do we do now?"

Lucas didn't want to hear what the agent was going to
say. Somehow it had gotten colder. The only warmth came from Mario's hand that was still on his knee. Lucas wanted to take his hand and hold it. He wanted to run out the door before Chubby could answer his mother. He didn't think he was going to like what Chubby would say. Mario took his hand away, and Lucas looked over to see the man run it through his hair, only to flinch when it hit his neck. He needs to stop doing that.

"We get the guy. Until then, you and your husband will go back to your home. We have agents assigned to you twenty-four-seven. Lucas will go into protective custody
starting immediately. We'll take him to a safe house where he will remain until Abraham Leby is apprehended."

Lucas's stomach dropped to his toes.

"Okay."

 "No!" Lucas and his mother spoke at the same time. Lucas's eyes were wide; his jaw dropped open and then shut with such force, that his entire skull vibrated. His leg was moving like he was running a marathon. The judge looked over at him and placed her hand on his arm gently.

"lucasito, darling. We need to keep you safe. The FBI will do that." She tilted her head.

"I know you're worried. I know you don't like being told what to do, but surely you understand that we all have to make sacrifices here." She'd busted out the mom's voice, the one he hadn't heard since he was seven and he'd broken his foot.

Lucas turned from Chubby to look at his mother. "I understand I am in danger, yes. I understand this man is a lunatic and blames you for his son being raped and killing himself, and that has somehow mutated into a desire to see me dead and you suffering. Yes, I get it. I know it. I understand it. What none of you seem to understand is, that while you may be the one receiving the letters, mother, it is my life that is being threatened. And while it may be true that hurting me will indeed hurt you, I am the one who will be in pain. I am the one who will be dead." He spoke the words with conviction. His voice stayed deep and even. His mother's face seemed to pale as fast as his face was warming. He didn't know if he'd ever spoken to her in such a manner, but he wasn't about to back down. Standing from the table he continued, "That being said, I will assume that you can all understand why I choose not to place my trust in an organization that, as of two days ago, couldn't be bothered with me." He snapped his jaw shut and turned his narrowed eyes on the agents. Taking a deep breath, he grabbed the back of Mario's shirt and hoisted him to his feet with a force that left the man teetering. Lucas couldn't quite read Mario's face as the man stumbled slightly before righting himself.

"Let's go, Mario." Lucas took a step behind Mario and headed around the table towards the door, only to find it blocked by Chubby's wide body when he got there.

"Sit down, lucas." Baldy stood up next to him.

"No, if you'll excuse me, please, we are leaving." Lucas took a step forward and Chubby mirrored his movements. They stood chest-to-chest. Lucas glared down at the man. "You need to move."

"I am not moving," the man replied. "You are going into protective custody. This is not something you can refuse."

Lucas's nostrils flared, and his heart hammered. He bent down the two inches so his gaze was direct. "Let. Me. Pass." Lucas felt Mario come up behind him. The hair on his neck stood up, whether it was caused by the adrenaline or Mario's hot breath, Lucas couldn't tell. He would think about it later. Right then, the only thing he could focus on was the portly man in front of him and his bald little partner.

"No."

Lucas stepped to the side. If the man wouldn't move, Lucas would simply go around him, but Chubby brought his arms up and latched onto Lucas's biceps. He felt himself being shoved towards the table.

"Hey!" Suddenly Chubby was on the floor. Lucas looked up to see Mario standing between them; his feet planted wide, his hands in fists hanging rigidly at his sides. "Hands off, asshole!"

Mario's hand reached back, grasping for Lucas's hoodie.

"You all right, lucas?"
Was he all right? Shit. "Um, yeah. I'm okay." His voice was shakier than he'd wanted it to be. Lucas pushed off the table, took a step to the side, and walked around Mario to the door. He turned around and looked at the scene he was leaving. His father sat there, gaze steady. He understood and was okay. His mother's eyes bounced between the agent on the floor and Lucas. Her mouth hung open, for once it appeared she really didn't know what to think.

"We'll be in touch." Mario's voice had ice to it that Lucas never wanted to hear directed at him. "Professor, Judge Dupont." Mario gave a curt nod and, stepping over Chubby on the floor, made his way to stand behind Lucas. Lucas got the door open and took a step when Chubby found his voice.

"Listen, you stupid fa— lucas. You cannot leave. We can, and will, hold you as a material witness if you refuse to cooperate."

Lucas stopped so fast, that Mario bumped into him and bounced off. He turned back
towards the room. Mario looked him square in the eye, and Lucas knew he was silently asking, "You okay? Got this?" Lucas gave him an imperceptible nod and he knew Mario understood. Mario reached up and gave his forearm a light squeeze and stepped to the side, allowing Lucas to go back into the tiny room.