Devil on the Rooftop [Book 1]

Chapter 42 - Khaleel

I had a tendency to check out during fights. My mind fogged up and transported me to a place where I could accept the pain I inflicted; accept the blood I spilled. When I was at my lowest, my angriest, and desperate to protect a part of myself I otherwise wouldn't, I had to unlearn my dark habits. I had to relive the days my cousins unmade me, I had to hear from my old man that my old lady had passed, and I had to see the fear I instilled in others when they heard my name. I hadn't gone this far when Dobberman took advantage of Tomasia, or when Mr. Gonzalez used a racial slur on me.

So, then why?

Why did I check out while fighting this bald asshole? I wanted to avenge Hino. I wanted to make sure Arisa was safe but when I found her, she awoke a foreign feeling inside me, a protective instinct.

I searched the target's front pockets for his phone. I had him pinned down because he was persistent about continuing a fight he couldn't win. Zander and Hino stood behind me with Loyal and Arisa. My boys had chased away the guys outside and joined us in the foyer for the rescue. I checked the target's back pockets and found what I was looking for. It was a phone but not his by the looks of it; it had a pink case with blooming flowers on the back.

I turned to find Arisa reaching for it. Oh. It was hers. They must have taken it after the kidnapping. I shoved it in my own pocket to spite her. Arisa looked like she wanted to demand it back but didn't.

I forced the target up against the wall. "Where is Dobberman?" I asked.

"W-Who?" he laughed. He was a loyal asshole. I almost respected him for it. I glanced back at my friends who were ready to help me beat the answers out of him. Behind them unconscious bodies lay sprawled around the front door. I wasn't too worried about them waking up but that they would try shit with Arisa again.

"We need to get her out of here," I said, my eyes finding hers again. She dropped her gaze to the floor. I couldn't tell if it was in defiance or something else. It irritated me to see her sticking so close to Loyal—to see her latching onto his arm like I would eat her alive otherwise. Was she scared of me now? Did she see me differently because of how I handled her attackers? Did it matter? I ignored my fluttering heart and focused on the facts. It was my job to find and protect her. Loyal told me to take the lead. I couldn't crumble under her expectations of me. I had bigger things to worry about.

"Hino and Zander," Loyal said, ready to delegate. "Can you bring her to my place?"

"Y-Your place?" Arisa stammered.

Loyal nodded. "Call home and say you're sleeping over." Her cheeks flushed a little. Loyal clarified his intentions. "I don't want you to be alone after what happened tonight."

"I can take care of myself!" she argued.

"He's not saying you can't," Hino said. He stepped up and offered his good arm to her. "He's saying eight hands are better than two."

Arisa gave in and held onto Hino, which stupidly didn't sit well with me. "Fine, but I need to go upstairs and look for my school bag," she said. "I'm not leaving without it."

"What's in your school bag?" I asked.

"My things," she said, not bothering to look at me when she spoke. She dragged Hino up the steps to the second floor. My heart stopped fluttering and began to feel heavy, as if the weight of my fist was resting on it. I'm not one to have regrets. I'm not one to hold back punches either. I did what I was told to do, what people expected me to do, and if that's what scared her than so be it.

"I'll call us a ride back," Zander said, leaving the foyer. I was surprised by how calm he was. It had to be because Dobberman wasn't around to ruffle his feathers.

"Let's try this again," Loyal said to the target. "Where is Neal?"

The piece of shit glared at us, refusing to answer. Then his body limped and gave in to all the injuries I had inflicted. Even if he wanted to move, he wouldn't be able to right now. "Did he hire you or did you owe him a favour?" Loyal asked.

"What does it matter?" he scoffed.

Loyal's eyes widened. He got his arms around his throat and squeezed it. "It's going to matter if you want to leave here in one piece," he threatened. "You came after Arisa, thinking she was my girlfriend, right? Your shitty intel somehow led you to believe that hurting her would hurt me?"

"Who knows."

Loyal's grip on him tightened, "You do!" he yelled. "So, tell me the truth before I rip it out of you!"

As much as I would have liked to see that, it wasn't going to do anyone any good. I got a hold of Loyal's shoulder and pulled him away from the target. "Leave the roughhousing to me," I said.

Loyal loosened his grip, giving our target a moment to gasp for air. "Don't get too comfortable," I smiled, stepping on his ankle until his screams echoed against the walls.