Page 6 of A Past Too Broken (Bloodstained Love #1)
R eggie sniffs the file folder sitting on the counter and looks up at me, blue eyes full of boredom.
“I agree,” I tell him. “It’s bullshit, but what can we do? The last thing we need is a vigilante out there, running amok and ruining years of carefully put-together plans and regulations. We might not be as organized and cohesive as that annoying organization, but we still take care of one another in our own ways. Though I’m almost tempted to toss him to that particular merry band of psychopaths. The chaos could be fun.”
Reggie sneezes, showing how unimpressed he is about the explanation, but I just shrug in response.
My phone buzzes, startling the cat, who jumps and hisses at the offending device. “Sorry,” I say absently, picking it up and reading the text.
MOLLY
In place. You owe me
ZAY
Name your price
MOLLY
Don’t worry, I will.
“I can’t wait until he’s no longer a teenager,” I tell Reggie, who seems to agree as he flops down onto the counter.
The only things the last three years have changed about Molly is that he’s now legally an adult at eighteen, and he started T last year. Otherwise, he’s still the same surly, bratty, pain in all our asses that Elijah rescued off the street.
Oh and now his crush on Cash isn’t creepy or frowned upon since, legal adult and all that—not that Cash will give the kid the time of day.
ZAY
Let me know if anything changes
I don’t get a response, but I didn’t expect one. Molly is very good at his job. Being young, cute, and used to surviving on the street, he’s the perfect person to send in to spy on wayward vigilantes.
“Daddy has to work today, but I promise once I’m done with pest control, we’ll spend the entire weekend together,” I tell Reggie, picking him up off the counter.
He purrs, and I cuddle him close, kissing the top of his head. “I know, I’ll miss you too, baby. I think there’s a new season of Is It Cake? we can watch during my off time.”
Setting Reggie on the ground, I go over to the treat cabinet and take two out, tossing them across the room and smiling as he runs after them.
With my cat entertained, I head into my bedroom for a quick shower and change of clothes. Deciding what to bring to this kidnapping is hard. It would be so much easier to just bring my rifle and snipe the bastard, but… Cash and Hollis are both convinced there’s more to the story, so I’m supposed to talk to him before shooting him.
At least they’re willing to let me be the one to “interrogate” him, since it’s my kills he’s been stealing.
A few handguns and an array of knives should do the trick, though I lovingly run my hand across the case of my baby before locking the weapon’s safe back up.
“See ya later, Reggie!” I call over my shoulder on the way out of the house.
* * *
The apartment Min lives in is nondescript. It’s tricky since apartment buildings mean people, which translates to being unable to just waltz in and kidnap him.
Crossing the road, I enter the alley between two buildings and lean against the brick wall next to Molly.
“Anything interesting happen?”
“Nope. You got a plan? Because I got things to do and places to be, and stalking twinks aren’t on either of those lists.”
Before I can respond, the front door to the apartment building opens, and Min walks out onto the street.
Without a glance at me, Molly leaves the alley, jogging across the street and almost getting himself hit by a car as he does so.
Good to see the bastard isn’t a total asshole. He helps Molly out of the street and up onto the sidewalk. I am sadly not superhuman and can’t hear what they’re saying, but I’m assuming Molly is assuring him that he’s fine.
Min must not be convinced because he gestures to his building and turns his head as he does so, taking his eyes off the younger man just long enough to give Molly the opportunity to attack.
Taken off guard by the person he just helped, Min tries to fight Molly off, but it’s futile. Molly’s a slippery bastard when he wants to be, and whatever’s in that needle of his has Min stumbling as Molly holds onto him.
Leaving the alley, I make sure to look both ways before crossing the street and helping Molly with Min. Putting him between us, the three of us stumble down the sidewalk, the drugs making Min seem drunk and like Molly and I are just his two good buddies helping him.
Molly’s car is parked at the corner of the block, and we manage to get Min into it. I climb into the backseat, and Molly tosses some zip ties and rope at me before getting into the driver’s seat.
Min is fading in and out of consciousness as I tie him up, and I try to ignore how pretty his dark eyes are even hazed over as they blink long and slow a few times.
When his eyes close all the way and he succumbs to the drugs, I breathe a sigh of relief and lean against the seat.
“Thanks, Molly.”
“Don’t mention it. Got a plan?”
I huff a laugh. “Not really. Let’s just hope he gives us what we need quickly. Reggie will be pissed if I’m gone for too long.”
He snorts. “Good luck with that.”