Reed (Book 2, Southern Royals Saga)

Chapter 32: Velocity

January 6, 2015

Helena, Alabama

My uncle was a strange man.

Nothing shocked or stunned him. If it did, he fought hard to conceal.

Never show your true feelings. Sooner or later, they'll be used against you.

Anthony took things in stride, always with a little smile on his face. Sometimes the smile was devious, sometimes it was patronizing.

He wasn't smiling tonight.

No one was.

"You don't have a plan, son. Not a good one."

I ignored him, sliding bullets into my Colt, then tucked it into my waistband; I pulled Liv with me to the doorway of Anthony's office, leaving it.

"The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry." I quote to my uncle with a smirk.

Anthony pulled out his phone, telling me he was calling Shaw, "We do this together, or not at all. I'm not losin' anyone else." I nodded in agreement. Shaw has proven to be useful to us; he, more or less, saved all of our asses.

He gave us a fighting chance versus mere execution.

"Will goes to Jimmy's Lounge on Tuesdays," Liv says, "He gets good and tight, then goes home."

"I know," Anthony smirked, which was soon replaced with a scowl as his call was answered.

I felt Liv become irate beside me, her patience wearing thin as Anthony told Shaw our plan.

Liv and I go to Selma. We grab her father's gun. Follow Will until we get him alone.

Then, we kill him.

"It's just back-up in case things get out of hand," I explained, tucking Liv under my arm, "But, I promise you, Liv, Will is going to die tonight, mark my words."

Liz and Rose came down the hall then as we stood out of Anthony's office; both looked exceedingly anxious, and for good reason.

There were no guarantees Liv and I would return.

"Can't you wait another night?"

Liz took each of our hands in hers, pleading with tear-filled eyes, "It's bad outside, and it's freezing. Tonight's supposed to be the coldest night since the 1940s."

When I didn't budge, she embraced us. Being a mother to everyone, Liz felt it was her job to protect the children that weren't really hers, like Liv and myself.

"I'm tired," Liv whispered as we pulled from my aunt's embrace.

I move away, "This has gone on for long enough, Liz."

I walked into Anthony's office as he finished with Shaw.

"What now?" I ask him

Anthony clasped my shoulder a look of pure determination gracing his face.

"You go kill that fucker."

~

The roads were slick with ice.

I glanced occasionally at Liv, seeing her dark eyes gleam with resolve.

It was a look so familiar with my own eyes; murderous determination.

Liv was adamant, needing to go home to get her father's gun; I didn't argue, knowing she had her reasons.

We crossed the bridge to Selma after 6 as the sun was setting, signaling the end to another day.