Chapter 20

Ryder's P.O.V.

"Is that why you wanted to be my friend? Because I got mad? Well news flash amigo, I'm furious!" I yelled at Sebastian, his face full of shock. I've had enough. I quickly got out of the car and slammed the door shut, then walked away toward the town. Ugh, I'm usually calm and collected. What happened to me? Oh yeah, everything from being accused of murder to being slapped by the mayor. Jeez, couldn't it get any worse?... You know what, it probably will happen. I was too caught up with my thoughts to notice that I bumped into some people, I tried to apologize but they gave me the stink eye then the cold shoulder. I sighed again but continued my walk. I didn't even mean to get so frustrated at Sebastian. The only reason that I was angry was because of HIM. I felt my fists clench but I didn't care.

*Flashback*

"What do you know?" I asked, trying to keep my cool.

"I don't know anything. Plus it's not my place to tell," Mr. Rodregiuez shrugged. I pull back my fist and struck him in the face, then grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer.

"Tell me Rodriguez! There's nothing left for you to protect your boss. Why did we get accused? What was his plan? Where is he?!"

"C-Calm down kid. No need to be fisty," he raised his hands in defense. I punched him twice.

"If you know what's best for yourself, you will tell me," I reasoned. His face was even more bloody and damaged. He groaned.

"I told you that I won't spill," he gasped. I sighed and let him go then turned around. I saw that the doctor left some of his tools here by accident. My mind started getting fuzzy. I walked over and picked up a scalpel. I heard Mr. Rodriguez start to try and talk to me but I couldn't make out what it was. I turned back to him and concealed the weapon behind my back, then I started walking toward the man.

"I'll give you one more chance Mr. Rodriguez. You can either tell me or I can get it out of you," I told him slowly. It must have sounded eerily because he looked a little unnerved.

I didn't care.

"Listen, you wouldn't want to mess with the boss. He's a powerful guy and you're just a useless child," he said. I felt everything go in slow motion. I swiftly raised the scalpal from my back and stabbed the patient in the leg, he started to yell in pain but I quickly covered his mouth before he got the chance. Mr. Rodriguez started letting tears fall. "Where can I find him?!"

"I-I c-can't tell you," he stuttered from beneath my hand. I removed the knife from his leg and stabbed the other one, making him cry in pain even harder.

"Tell me or this scalpal will go into your neck next."

"O-okay, but please s-s-stop." I removed the scalpal but didn't remove my hand in case he starts yelling. "I don't know where he is, only his most trusted know where his hideout is."

"Do you know where these guys are?"

"His name is Bologo. You can find him at the junkyard near the outskirts of town. He's in a warehouse there, being there every Tuesday to check their drugs from different suppliers. He's smart, knows what to do if something gets messed up," he explained. Mr. Rodreiguez started laughing. "You won't stand a chance."

"Oh really?" I punched him a couple more times, resulting in him being knocked out. I searched the area for any gauze, which I did, and wrapped it around my hands. I then pocketed the scalpel and left the room.

*Flashback ends*

I sighed and unclenched my fists. I moved my hands to my head and rubbed my temples. What did I do? What did I DO?! I nearly killed a guy just to get information?! What would my pups think of me? Their owner, family, leader, was about to attempt murder… It would be best if they don't know. I don't think I can handle that if they did find out. I shook my head, put my hands down, and looked around the area. I had subconsciously walked myself to my destination.

The junkyard.

I cautiously maneuvered my way to the warehouse, it wasn't too hard to find. I saw that the perimeter area didn't seem to be secured or guarded so I walked closer. The building had some broken windows but they were too far up to see through. Ugh, I have to go through the front door. I sneaked my way to the front area and-

"What are you doing?!" A voice yelled. I quickly hid back behind a pile of trash that was conveniently there and held my breath, trying to make as little to no noise as possible. Although I had a more limited view, I still could make out that it was a middle-aged man that questioned another, more younger, guy.

"I was moving the drop-offs toward the construction area-" the younger guy was cut off by the older one.

"No! I told you it is moved to the storage area!"

"S-sorry Bologo," the guy whimpered.

"MOVE IT!" The younger one followed his orders and started moving boxes, most likely being filled with drugs, to a different area. Bologo just stayed put, pulled out a cigarette and lit it, then started smoking. Ugh, that's the worst smell ever. I let out a small cough when the smoke started to come my way. Bologo snapped his neck in my direction. I started panicking. Before he got the chance to check my cover, I dashed behind a different pile of trash and hid. I saw him look behind my previous hiding place and shrugged, then walked back into the warehouse. I let out a breath of relief. Who knew being on a steak out was so hard. I did do it before but that was toward mayor Humdinger and I had my pups. I should have waited until I had their help. I'm such an idiot! No. I have to do this. How else will I show people that I'm not a useless kid? I can do things myself without the help of my pups. With that new thought in my mind, I snuck over to my original spot. I checked that the coast was clear, which it was, and moved in. The place was quiet.

Too quiet.

"Gotcha!" I heard someone say behind me. I felt a pair of arms wrapping around my torso so I started struggling to get free. I then remembered a had the scalpel from yesterday's 'incident' at the hospital, so I used it to my advantage. I took it out of my pocket and stabbed the grabber in the knee, causing him to let go immediately.

"AHHH!" I heard him cry in pain as I started running to who knows where. As long as it's anywhere but there. "GET THAT KID!"

"Oh-oh," I gasped when I looked behind me. There were at least five large men running at me at full speed. I turned to watch where I was going and saw that I was about to run into a heap of junk. Making a sharp turn, I avoided the pile but I heard one of them crash into it but the rushing footsteps didn't stop. There was another pile coming up, looking more fragile. I picked up a piece of metal along the way and used it to tip the unstable heap over. It trapped three of them but one was left. I ran as fast as I could but my luck just reached its end. I managed to trap myself in a dead-end. The guy pulled out a revolver and aimed it to my head.

"If you were smart, you would come with me," he spoke dangerously. I didn't move. He sighed and came up and yanked me by the neck, pushing me to my inevitable doom. After what seemed like forever, we finally made it back to the warehouse. He pushed me to a chair then tied my hands and ankles with rope. Then he left, being replaced by another guy. The guy I stabbed in the leg.

It was Bologo.

"You got some nerve kid," he growled. "What are you doing here? I know that you're the leader of the Paw Patrol. The boss loved it when he saw your ass in jail."

I didn't respond.

"What? Is the kid scared?" He mocked. "So. Why are you here, I'll ask again? And don't try to avoid the question or you'll regret it."

I still didn't respond. He didn't like that so much so instead of asking me again, he took out a cigar again and started smoking.

"Do you smoke?" He asked casually, but I shook my head. After he puffed it twice, he swiftly stuck the burning part of the cigar on my skin. It was horrible. I yelled in pain and started to try and move my hand, but since it was tied to the armrests, it didn't help. He removed the cigarette, a face of pleasure when he saw mine in pain. "Now tell me what you're doing here."

"Where is your boss?" I asked for the first time.

"That's what you're here for? Who told you? Was it George Rodriguez?" I nodded. "I should have known. He's the weakest of the group and he even managed to not keep it in from a ten-year-old. Pathetic."

"Where's your boss?" I repeated.

"Sorry to burst your bubble kid, but I'm not like that bitch, excuse my language." I shrugged, swearing was the least of my worries. "I ain't telling ya either way. It's going to take a lot more than whatever you did to make Rodriguez spill. What did you do anyway? Tickle him to death?"

"I stabbed him in the legs," I responded bluntly.

"Wow. You are some kid. You do realize that it against the law to hurt people like that right?" He asked sarcastically.

"And do you know it's against the law to sell any illegal drugs?" I replied, with the same amount of sarcasm. His expression turned into an irritated glare. He lunged forward, his face being uncomfortably close to mine. "You watch your tone with me boy. You don't know who you're messing with and I suggest you don't go over the line."

"Oh I'm sorry. Did I hurt the grown man's feelings? But how could I? I'm just, after all, a kid," I smirked. He growled and punched me in my face. Ouch!

"Watch it kid!" He warned once again. I looked up at him, feeling the blood rushing down from my nose.

"Where's your boss?" I asked again.

"Shut up. I'm not telling you anything," he growled.

"Then I won't shut up. Where is he? Or she?" He took out a pocket knife and put it dangerously close to my neck.

"You talk again and you won't see the light of day ever again!" He warned.

"Where is your boss?" I asked again. He lunged the knife forward and sliced my neck.

At least that would have happened if it wasn't for an unexplainable tennis ball that hit his face with full force. He backed up but after he recovered he snapped his face to the direction it came from. I also looked in that direction, and what I saw surprised me in both happiness and relief.

It was Chase, Zuma, and Sebastian.

To be continued...