Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 127213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 636(@200wpm)___ 509(@250wpm)___ 424(@300wpm)
“How was that?”
Frank downed his drink, not in the mood to finish his pasta anymore. “Terrible. Exhilarating. The worst day of my life. And an absolute power trip. And the respect I got from people when word got out? Out of this world. Paul spurred me on, and we became this two-man team for the toughest jobs. We dealt with shit together, trained, rented an apartment for the two of us, and even double-teamed a few guys. At the same time, I was in a place where I only lived day by day. I felt I could die at any point, so nothing really mattered, and I didn’t plan for a future.”
Ezra swallowed and picked at the hair at the back of Frank’s hand. “What changed?”
“My granddad came back into the picture. I wasn’t in touch with him, but my father died in a car accident, and I think he wanted to reconnect. He was the owner of this whole place before me. Talking to him was so different than the shallow conversations with all my buddies. He wasn’t blind, he could see I was a bad seed. I even took him up on his first invitation just because I hoped to get some money from him. But he asked questions about the future, something I ignored until then, and we started meeting up every week or so. With him I could be, let’s say… softer. I forgot how to be that around Paul.
“At the same time, Paul became pushy about an upcoming job which I felt was too risky. The gang wanted to get rid of a guy who ratted on us to the cops. Paul was adamant we needed to send a message, so he wanted it to be out in the open. He wanted to plant an explosive in the guy’s car, but I was worried about innocent bystanders. Even then, I tried to have some kind of moral code. I know this might not matter to you, but I never wanted to hurt anyone who didn’t deserve it.
“I don’t remember how exactly, but I expressed some of my worries to my granddad. I think I might have been complaining about money, and he told me I could come work for him, build a future for myself, learn about his business, and take over the junkyard in the future. It was as if he lit a spark at the end of a pitch-black tunnel. All of a sudden, the respect I got from my gang didn’t feel like sitting on a throne, but being shackled to it.”
Ezra made Frank feel the same way Granddad had. He made Frank want to be better. To be dependable, honest, someone Ezra would never have to fear. He’d spent so much time toiling away in solitude, with no one to call his own, but the brassy irises of Ezra’s eyes promised possibilities he rarely let himself dream of.
“I’m happy you had him in your life. I think you must have taken after him rather than after your father,” Ezra said.
Frank smiled, stroking Ezra’s hand even though what he was about to say was nothing to smile about. “Maybe what I have in common with him is that I also acted too late. I believed Paul when he said that the job was set up right and didn’t back out even though I wanted to. I only went with Paul because he said he needed me in case the guy somehow ran away.
“What followed was an absolute mess. A bloodbath—” Frank’s voice shook so he got himself another shot and downed it. “Our mark didn’t come out alone. He was going on some vacation with his whole family. I didn’t act fast enough, I hesitated, and seconds later, all five of them were either dead or dying. Him, his wife, and three kids. Blood covered the pavement, I vividly remember someone’s guts sliding into a gutter like a snake. There was an ungodly scream, like a wailing for all those already dead, and then it just stopped. I thought I was used to gore, but that day broke something in me.”
Ezra’s expression was tense, but he didn’t let go of Frank’s hand, and it didn't matter much whether it was for Frank’s sake or his own. They both needed support tonight. “That’s when you left?”
Frank nodded. “I could never fix what happened, but I told Paul I wouldn’t kill again. We both had shit on each other, and I think he understood that what he did was my last straw. It wasn’t straightforward, but I untangled myself from the gang under the pretense of needing to care for my granddad. Weirdly enough, they were understanding. But with those connections still in the rearview mirror, when I inherited the place, I ended up being the person to go to when shit needed to be hidden or disappeared, because this place is so vast and remote. I didn’t love it, but I was barely making ends meet with legitimate business, and the occasional dirty work kept the junkyard afloat. And then my sister got sick, and I did what I had to.”