Switched: The Complete Series

Chapter Twenty-Two- Vengeance

~~Axel's point of view ~~

Adrian and I drive to the warehouse. I fully know what I'm expected to do. I know for sure that's what I'm not going to do. Everything that I've been through, everything that I've done, this is my redemption. This is personal, and it's not just because of Cherish.

It's for my Mother.

Two months ago, my mother was with my dad. She was widowed three years before, and for whatever reason, she loved my dad. They had gotten back together; I wasn't happy about it. Neither were my siblings; love does funny things.

Love got them murdered.

They were involved in a fatal hit and run. The driver of the other car was never identified. Not by the police anyway. It took my team and me two days to find the truth; We kept it to ourselves, we knew I'd be taking over. We knew that I would get the satisfaction I needed from it. Not just me. Adrian and Aricka too.

Our own poetic justice.

Adrian stops me before we go in.

Adrian: "Hey, stop for a minute."

Axel: "What?"

Adrian: "You have to remember that you're not your father. We have to do this for our mom."

Axel: "I have to do this for Cherish as well."

Adrian: "Exactly. Don't overthink it. Just do it."

I wasn't planning on it. This came sooner than expected.

Axel: "I'm good."

We walk through the door; Rip is tied to a chair; he hasn't been touched, He has a smug smile on his face.

Rip: "Fucking pussies. All of you."

Axel: "You won't be saying that here soon, Rip."

Rip: "The others will find out."

Axel: "Let them. They will all be in the same spot as you are soon enough."

Rip: "You aren't as smart as you think you are, Axel. We all know that you don't have the balls to be The Boss. We voted you in just to kill you."

I laugh.

Axel: "You think I'm scared of you and your men?"

Rip: "I know that you are."

Axel: "Think what you want."

I let the silence sink in. I knew Rip would open his mouth first.

Rip: "Killing me over a whore isn't going to change what I did to her."

Axel: "Which whore are you talking about, Cherish or my mother?"

His eyes meet mine.

Rip: "I had nothing to do with your mother's death."

Axel: Open the door, Brain. 

 He opens the door to the SUV that hit my father's car.

Axel: "Look familiar, Rip?"

Rip: I've never seen that car before."

Adrian: "He needs to learn how to lie too."