The Criminal (Storms Book 2)

Chapter Ten

Tonight was the meeting with Carlile. Mathias wanted Kylie close. Slick needed her with him. He wanted to say that his reasoning was purely strategic, but it wasn't. He wanted her here. Her being close kept her safe. Which in return kept his nerves in check.

She still wasn't speaking to him which was okay. She spent most of her time Blaze and he reported everything back to Slick. He wanted to talk to her, but he didn't want to risk anything else happening again. It was selfish of him to kiss her; he knew this. They couldn't be together. He was soon going to be the leader of Mathias's crew. He couldn't have any loose ends. Especially, a girl who was a mystery.

He made sure Blaze was watching her throughout the day. At first Blaze was pissed that he was on babysitting duty. There was no one else Slick trusted, and Blaze knew that. Yet, he was still annoyed. He didn't join this crew to be a babysitter.

Mathias stood at the window at the river's casino and watched the cars below him. His most trusted had arrived before Carlile had. That gave him an advantage. He had Crow and Blaze search the entire second floor for any sort of explosives. He knew Carlile. If anyone would risk civilian lives for his own gain it would be him.

Slick found Mathias in a trance. He stood beside him, needing him to reassure him that coming here wasn't completely idiotic. Yet, Mathias said nothing. He just kept staring at the street below. Slick knew him well enough to recognize his anxiousness. He always was when it came to meeting with other boss's. Tonight was different though; they both knew it. There would be bloodshed tonight, Slick felt it in his bones.

"Do you remember when I brought you home for the first time?" Mathias asked, snapping Slick out of his thoughts.

"Uh, kind of. The first few months is a blur."

Mathias nodded. He knew why. He still wasn't sure why he took Slick home all those years ago. At the time he thought pity for a young child who had no home. Now, he thought maybe he saw himself in Slick. They both grew up with drunken fathers who liked to take their anger out on their children. The only difference was Slick had killed his.

"Your first few months here were terrible. You used to cry out in your sleep and I would have to wake you."

"I remember," Slick said. These weren't exactly memories he wanted to relive. "Why are you bringing this up?"

"I want you to see how far you've come. You're no longer the scared boy I found in that hotel room," Mathias said. Slick knew was trying to reassure him about tonight. He needed it, now more than ever.

"I still have the dreams sometimes," Slick said more to himself than anyone else. He hung his head low, ashamed.

Mathias took Slick's head in his hands, making him look into his eyes. "That's okay, Jesse. You aren't consumed by it anymore. You battled your demons and won. Remember that."

Slick nodded. He didn't entirely believe it himself. Sometimes he would stare at the ceiling at night and see flashes of his father's face. Some nights a bullet hole in his head, other nights just an angry, twisted expression. One he knew well.

A black Escalade pulled up to the front of the casino. One by one less important men piled out. Finally, the man they had been waiting for had arrived, Carlile.

"Here we go," Mathias said, and took a swig of his beer.

"Is Blaze your real name?" Kylie asked. It had just been the two of them the past couple days. The only time she wasn't with Blaze is when he had to prepare for the meeting today. Honestly, she enjoyed him. He was the easiest to talk to.

"No," he chuckled. "It's Justin."

"Simple, I like it," Kylie said. "How did you get the name Blaze?"

"Long story," he said, and flipped through the stations on the TV.

"One you don't like telling?"

"One you don't need to hear," he said, seriously. "It's not necessary a name I'm proud of."

Kylie decided not to pry. If he wanted to tell her he would. A few moments of silence fell between them until Kylie spoke.

"You aren't that bad of a guy ya know?"

"Is that a compliment?" He faked surprise. "Coming from you? I'm shocked."

"You should be. I can't remember the last time I said a good thing about a man."

"Speaking of," he said. "Are you still mad at Slick?"

"Hell yeah. I haven't even talked to him since we kissed," Kylie mumbled. "He's an asshole."

"He's afraid. He'd be a fool not to be."

"Of me? He's the one who kidnapped me. I'm the one who should be scared of him, not the other way around."

"You're dangerous to him, it's sad but true. You're important and no one knows why. He's someone who will keep his thoughts to himself," Blaze said. "I've never met anyone more damaged. He hides it well though."

That was the most Blaze had ever let slip about Slick. That showed Kylie that he trusted her. As odd as it was she wasn't frightened by these men. She felt like she knew them. She knew Blaze, and she wanted to know Slick.

"Are you afraid?" She asked

The blue from the sky lit the room softly. The moon reflected off of the umber color of his skin. He was beautiful, and if she wasn't dedicated to a man that didn't seem to want her she would be head over heals for Blaze. His green eyes met the smile on his face, "Always."

It was funny how things worked out.
--------
This not edited at all. It's also a short chapter. I'm sorry it took so long to get out. I'm gonna start working on rewriting the south side soon I think. Yet, every time I say I'm gonna rewrite it I never do. Work gets in the way of most things so I'm sorry.

Instagram: straightoutrebel