Chapter 21
Happy early birthday Hobbitelf. God loves you.
Dedicated to God and Fluffykitty12
POV JOE
I am dragged out of the car and shoved down into a basement. Who is Fenton Hardy? Is he my dad? Why don't I remember anything?
I fall on the dirty, cement floor. Before I can get up, someone kicks me. I can't breathe. Someone flips me over and puts their shoe on my neck.
"I always knew I'd get back at Fenton for putting me away," the Enforcer says. "He owes me 10 years. Guess I'll take it out of your hide."
I can't breathe. Desperate to take a breath, I kick up and nail the Enforcer right where it hurts the most.
How did I know how to do that? It looked like a Tae Kwon Do or karate move?
The Enforcer falls to the floor. I scoot over into a corner and draw in a long breath.
"Boss, you ok?" someone asks.
"Make him pay," the Enforcer whispers.
Five guys surround me. I try to stand, but my left leg won't support me. I fall to the floor. Two guys grab my arms. They force me to my feet.
They hold me up, while the other three guys take turns punching me. I fade into darkness.
POV Frank
I just buried Joe. I feel empty and alone. Sam drove me
Back to my condo. I have no idea how I will survive without
Joe.
"I'll make some coffee," Sam says and goes into the kitchen.
My cell phone rings. I answer because I need something to take my mind off the pain of losing Joe.
"Hardy," I growl.
"Frank, would you like to see your brother?" someone asks.
"Who is this?" I ask.
"Let's just say I'm a friend of your Dad's."
"If you want to see Joe, walk out your front door. Get into the black car. Stay on the phone."
"I don't believe you," I say as I walk out the front door.
"You don't have to. But isn't Joe worth taking the chance? He's hurt. He needs you."
Two men get out of the back seat of the black car. One shoves me inside the car. The other puts a black hood over my face.
As the car pulls away from the curb, I realize instead of suicide by cop, I've committed suicide by criminal.
Joe is dead. I'll be dead within the hour, but I don't care. Will Dad make it home for my funeral?
POV JOE
Pain. Everything hurts. I am thrown into a cell.
"Say your prayers. We'll be back," a man says.
He locks the cell door. Getting to my feet is useless, my
Left leg won't support me. I put my arm back and pull
Myself into the corner of the cell. The man didn't say
He'd kill me. He just said he'd be back. He promised
Me more pain. I'm in a nightmare I can't escape.
I look at the blood trail I left pushing myself into
The corner.
I'm scared. I close my eyes.
God, help. Please send somebody to help me.
POV Frank
I'm dragged down stairs. With the hood over my eyes, I'm blind.
"Boss, we got him," someone says.
"Take him to the cell."
I'm shoved forward. Someone pulls the hood off my
Face. I blink and try to get my bearings. I can't see anything
Until my eyes adjust to the light.
"Welcome, Frank. I'm glad you decided to join us. I'm the Enforcer. Your dad sent me away for 10 years. We have a lot
To talk about," the man says as he cracks his knuckles.
I don't care if I live or die. Actually, I do care. I want to die. That's why I'm here.
"Get the other one," The Enforcer says.
Two of his thugs try to walk past me. I turn around and see
Joe. He's bleeding and propped up in a corner, but it's my brother.
I flip the first man into the opposing wall. I shove the second
Man head first into a wall. He slides down – unconscious.
"Nobody touches him," I say.
"I'm in charge here," The Enforcer says.
"And you want to make us suffer, right? Ten years of suffering. You want it to be long and drawn out. He can't
Take much more," I say in a voice that sounds detached.
The Enforcer looks at Joe.
"I don't need both of you. I kill him and put him somewhere he'll be found," The Enforcer says. "I'll kill you later."
How can I keep Joe alive?
"Dad has a lot of enemies. You could make millions – no billions – if you sold us," I say.
"But I want revenge," The Enforcer says.
"You could have billions and revenge," I say. "Whoever buys us won't treat us well."
"I need to think," The Enforcer says. "Keep an eye on them."
He leaves with two of his bodyguards.
A man carries the unconscious thug out of the cell.
"I need water and first aid supplies," I say.
"Not giving you anything," a thug says.
"Your funeral. If he's dead when your boss gets back, I'll tell him it was your fault," I say as I step back closer to Joe.
The thugs leave. I turn around and kneel down.
"Joe?" I whisper.
I brush his hair off his bloody forehead.
One eye is swollen shut. His left leg is bleeding. He has bruises on his chest, but he's never looked better to me.
I put my hand on his shoulder. Joe pushes himself away.
"Joe?" I whisper.
"Who are you?" he asks.
POV JOE
Who is this guy?
My body is one ball of pain. I push myself further into
The corner. My body starts to shake. I am not going into
Shock. Not going into shock.
"Easy," he says. "What's the last thing you remember?"
I don't know why, but his voice calms me.
"I killed you," I whisper. "Pushed you out of a window."
"You saved my life. We were trapped in a fire. You pushed
Me out the window into a life net. The building exploded. I thought you were dead," he says.
"Why don't I remember?" I ask.
"Like I said, a building exploded. Take it easy," he says.
"Who are you?" I whisper, trying not to lose consciousness.
"I'm your brother, Frank."
"Griff said he was my brother," I whisper. "How many brothers do I have."
"One. Me."
"Here's some supplies. If he dies before the boss comes back, you keep your mouth shut," the thug says as he
Pushes bottled water, a towel and a first aid kit through the cell doors.
I focus my one eye on Frank. He grabs the supplies.
He opens a bottle of water, puts it on a towel and dabs my forehead.
"I don't remember anything," I whisper.
I start to hyperventilate.
"You don't have to remember. I'm here. Breathe slowly," Frank says.
"Why did you tell him to sell us?" I whisper.
"I needed him to leave us alone. So I gave him something to
Think about," Frank says.
"Who would buy us?" I whisper.
"Anybody our dad has sent to prison," Frank says.
"Is he a judge?" I ask.
"No, a private detective. Where does it hurt?" he asks.
"All over. Scared if I go to sleep, you'll be gone when I wake up. Just a dream," I whisper.
"No way. Tell you what, you sleep and I'll keep talking. That way you know I'm still here."
I don't know why but Frank's voice comforts me.
"You sure we're brothers?" I whisper.
"Yes. You got that scar on your left arm when you saved me from a bully in first grade," Frank says.
I stare at small scar I hadn't noticed on my arm.
"You're not a dream?" I whisper.
"No," he says and squeezes my shoulder. "Now let tell
You how you saved me in first grade. You bit this kid who
Had been torturing me all year. He told me if I told anybody
About it, he'd burn down our house. When you saw he had me down on the ground, you hit him in the family jewels. He scratched your arm when you bit him."
I want to hear more, but my good eye is drifting shut. I can't stay awake.
Please God, don't let him be a dream. Let him be here when I wake up.