Chapter 23
Thanks to God and Fluffykitty12
Things have been kind of scary lately. Here's one of my new favorite verses: I am your God – let nothing terrify you. Isaiah 41:10
POV Joe
Shark unlocks my cell door. He smiles and walks inside.
I push myself into a corner with my good leg.
"One sound, I kill your brother," Shark says. "Understand?"
I nod.
"Good," Shark says.
He kicks me hard in the stomach.
Pain shoots through me.
I struggle to keep quiet.
Shark smiles.
He kicks me where the bruises won't show - my stomach, back, arms and legs.
The pain takes my breath away. I struggle to keep my screams quiet.
Shark grabs my hair, pulls me to my feet, and throws me into the cell wall.
I feel warm blood run down my face.
"Anybody asks, you fell. You don't convince them, your brother dies. Understand?" Shark asks.
I give a weak nod as the room spins.
POV Frank
"Brought you something," Snake says.
A bloody Joe leans against the wall as Snake unlocks my cell.
Shark pushes Joe into the cell. I catch Joe before he hits the cement floor.
"You'll pay for this," I say.
"He fell," Shark says. "Ask him."
"Boss is coming," another thug says.
Joe struggles to his feet and wipes his sleeve across the bloody cut on his forehead.
"No one touches them without my permission," the Enforcer says.
"Sorry, sir. He fell," Shark says.
"Liar. You did this to him," I say.
"I'm not stupid. No one crosses the Enforcer and lives," Shark says.
"What happened?" the Enforcer asks Joe.
"I fell," Joe says.
He won't look at me.
"Did you hear anything?" the Enforcer asks his other thugs.
"No, sir," the tallest thug says.
"He has another accident on your watch, you'll die a slow and painful death," the Enforcer says.
"Yes, sir," Shark says.
"Call your father," the Enforcer says and hands me a disposable cell phone.
I can't risk calling Dad again. Joe's life hangs in the balance.
I dial Sam's number and pray.
"Put it on speaker," The Enforcer says.
I press the speaker button and hold my breath.
"Rad….."
I interrupt him.
"Dad, it's Frank."
"Frank, are you ok? I've been looking for you for hours," Radley says.
I cringe and feel guilty.
"Joe is alive. The Enforcer kidnapped us," I say.
"You sent me to prison for 15 years," the Enforcer says. "I am selling your sons to the highest bidder. You will never see them alive again."
The Enforcer ends the call.
"Rest. Whoever buys you, has unpleasant plans," the Enforcer says.
He and his thugs leave. Shark gives me a cold smile nobody else can see, as he walks away.
I can't control my frustration and anger.
Grabbing Joe, I shake him.
"Why did you cover for him?" I say in a cold voice.
"My business," Joe says.
"My job is to keep you alive," I say, through grit teeth. "You just made that impossible. I want an explanation."
"Shark said he'd kill you," Joe whispers.
Shocked, I release my hold on Joe.
"Couldn't risk it," Joe says. "Only found out I have a brother a few hours ago. My job to keep you alive."
Joe's arm goes around his stomach.
I have a bad feeling.
"Let me see," I say.
"I'm good," Joe says.
Ignoring him, I pull up his t-shirt.
Purple bruises cover his stomach and back. No idea how to fix this. What if he's bleeding internally? What if he dies saving my life?
Grabbing a water bottle, I clean the cut on his forehead.
Joe sits propped up by the cell wall. I put my arm around him, trying to keep him warm. I feel him relax.
"Today was good," Joe says.
"You must have a concussion. Today wasn't good. Shark almost killed you," I say and check Joe's eyes to see if his pupils are dilated.
"I don't have a head injury," Joe says. "The good part was finding out you are my brother. And we're together."
Joe closes his eyes and falls asleep. His head rests on my shoulder.
I can't protect him from Shark. Can't get him out of here. Can't do anything. And Joe is still glad I'm his brother.
Joe amazes me.
"Give thanks in all circumstances…" Thessalonians 5:18 Y"
Chapter 23
Thanks to God and Fluffykitty12
Things have been kind of scary lately. Here's one of my new favorite verses: I am your God – let nothing terrify you. Isaiah 41:10
POV Joe
Shark unlocks my cell door. He smiles and walks inside.
I push myself into a corner with my good leg.
"One sound, I kill your brother," Shark says. "Understand?"
I nod.
"Good," Shark says.
He kicks me hard in the stomach.
Pain shoots through me.
I struggle to keep quiet.
Shark smiles.
He kicks me where the bruises won't show - my stomach, back, arms and legs.
The pain takes my breath away. I struggle to keep my screams quiet.
Shark grabs my hair, pulls me to my feet, and throws me into the cell wall.
I feel warm blood run down my face.
"Anybody asks, you fell. You don't convince them, your brother dies. Understand?" Shark asks.
I give a weak nod as the room spins.
POV Frank
"Brought you something," Snake says.
A bloody Joe leans against the wall as Snake unlocks my cell.
Shark pushes Joe into the cell. I catch Joe before he hits the cement floor.
"You'll pay for this," I say.
"He fell," Shark says. "Ask him."
"Boss is coming," another thug says.
Joe struggles to his feet and wipes his sleeve across the bloody cut on his forehead.
"No one touches them without my permission," the Enforcer says.
"Sorry, sir. He fell," Shark says.
"Liar. You did this to him," I say.
"I'm not stupid. No one crosses the Enforcer and lives," Shark says.
"What happened?" the Enforcer asks Joe.
"I fell," Joe says.
He won't look at me.
"Did you hear anything?" the Enforcer asks his other thugs.
"No, sir," the tallest thug says.
"He has another accident on your watch, you'll die a slow and painful death," the Enforcer says.
"Yes, sir," Shark says.
"Call your father," the Enforcer says and hands me a disposable cell phone.
I can't risk calling Dad again. Joe's life hangs in the balance.
I dial Sam's number and pray.
"Put it on speaker," The Enforcer says.
I press the speaker button and hold my breath.
"Rad….."
I interrupt him.
"Dad, it's Frank."
"Frank, are you ok? I've been looking for you for hours," Radley says.
I cringe and feel guilty.
"Joe is alive. The Enforcer kidnapped us," I say.
"You sent me to prison for 15 years," the Enforcer says. "I am selling your sons to the highest bidder. You will never see them alive again."
The Enforcer ends the call.
"Rest. Whoever buys you, has unpleasant plans," the Enforcer says.
He and his thugs leave. Shark gives me a cold smile nobody else can see, as he walks away.
I can't control my frustration and anger.
Grabbing Joe, I shake him.
"Why did you cover for him?" I say in a cold voice.
"My business," Joe says.
"My job is to keep you alive," I say, through grit teeth. "You just made that impossible. I want an explanation."
"Shark said he'd kill you," Joe whispers.
Shocked, I release my hold on Joe.
"Couldn't risk it," Joe says. "Only found out I have a brother a few hours ago. My job to keep you alive."
Joe's arm goes around his stomach.
I have a bad feeling.
"Let me see," I say.
"I'm good," Joe says.
Ignoring him, I pull up his t-shirt.
Purple bruises cover his stomach and back. No idea how to fix this. What if he's bleeding internally? What if he dies saving my life?
Grabbing a water bottle, I clean the cut on his forehead.
Joe sits propped up by the cell wall. I put my arm around him, trying to keep him warm. I feel him relax.
"Today was good," Joe says.
"You must have a concussion. Today wasn't good. Shark almost killed you," I say and check Joe's eyes to see if his pupils are dilated.
"I don't have a head injury," Joe says. "The good part was finding out you are my brother. And we're together."
Joe closes his eyes and falls asleep. His head rests on my shoulder.
I can't protect him from Shark. Can't get him out of here. Can't do anything. And Joe is still glad I'm his brother.
Joe amazes me.
"Give thanks in all circumstances…" Thessalonians 5:18