Page 512 of The Tempted
My dad’s eyes remained on me as he kneeled down and retrieved the gun.
“Slow down,” he coaxed, lifting the gun. “Blackie gave you this?”
“Yes,” I said through my sobs. “He gave me the gun and told me to go hide in the closet.” I dropped my head into my hands, groaning as I relived the horrific sounds of Blackie signing over his life to some faceless monster. “I heard him tell them no, I heard him beg them not to put the needle in his arm and then I heard nothing.” I dropped my hands from my face and stared at my father. I wanted him to tell me it was okay that Blackie would be okay and that he would make things right. But staring at him, seeing the look of defeat, the same look he had as he held my brother’s body, I realized this was just another day in the life of Jack Parrish. He was used to the turmoil, the violence and, the death. This all came as naturally as breathing did.
I stared back into my dad’s eyes.
Dark.
Unapologetic.
This was the life of the Satan’s Knights.
Welcome.
