Tortured Souls (Rebels of Sandland 2)

I took another step forward, knowing the crunch from the shards of glass under my feet would alert him to my presence. I’d hidden in the shadows long enough. Today was my resurrection, as far as Finn was concerned, anyway. The rest of them could rot in hell, for now. He spun round when he heard me and dropped his arms by his sides.

“Jesus. Fuck. Brandon. Where have you been? We’ve all been worried about you, mate.” He stayed rooted to the spot and watched me like I was a wounded animal and he wanted to tend to me but was fearful that I’d strike out in my pain-induced haze.

“Mate.” I laughed sarcastically. “Don’t you think it’s a bit late for you to call me that? Mates don’t shit all over each other.” I folded my arms and stared him down. I’d always been good at controlling him, using my words and my actions to mould him into what I wanted.

“I never shit on you. None of us did. It got out of hand, but if you’d stuck around, we could’ve sorted it.”

Finn put his spray can on the floor and showed he was getting fucking brave when he took a step towards me. I matched his bravery with my own and took a step into him. He looked tired and his eyes were dark and hollow. He probably thought the exact same about me.

“Too late.” I gave him my signature evil grin. The one I usually saved for the ring. “I’m not sticking around to get crucified by this town. Fucking punk-ass motherfuckers can go to hell.”

“Mate… Brandon,” he corrected himself. “We want to help. Ryan saw Harper yesterday, and-”

Hearing her name spoken by him made me want to tear bricks out of the walls with my bare hands.

“Save that bullshit for someone who gives a fuck,” I spat, feeling ready to do some artwork of my own with someone’s intestines.

“But you don’t need to stay away. Harper said-”

Again with the Harper bullshit. I didn’t want to hear that name come out of his mouth. I didn’t want anyone to say her name.

“I couldn’t give a fuck what she said. Bitch is out to ruin me. I’m gonna ruin her first.”

“She doesn’t deserve that. Whatever you’re thinking, she doesn’t deserve it.” He shook his head, looking green, like it was his sister I’d just threatened. Dude needed to calm the fuck down. She wasn’t his to defend. Was this girl intent on infiltrating every inch of my life? First Ryan, and now Finn?

“I’ll be the judge of what she deserves. Now, do you want to do me a favour or not? I thought mates helped each other.”

“They do and I will. What do you need?”

Good old Finn. I knew I could rely on him.

“I need a phone. Get some minutes and data on it too. Can you sort that for me now?”

“You know I can. But aren’t you coming back? After the Lockwoods withdrew their statements, the police dropped the case.”

A lightning bolt shot through my skull at what he’d said. But it didn’t make sense and I didn’t trust it for a second. If anything, this was a set-up to lure me out of hiding. Shit was always shady where the Lockwoods were concerned, and I’d had my fair share of bullshit off them over the years.

“The fuck? Why would they do that? What’s in it for them?”

I frowned, my head starting to hurt from thinking about what those fuckers were up to. Harper too. My feisty little one was growing bigger claws, but she needed them clipped. She needed to be put in her place.

“On second thoughts, don’t answer. They’re up to something. They always are.”

Finn nodded, but I knew he didn’t agree. He always saw the best in people. It was his biggest downfall and the reason he needed me around. I trusted no one.

“So, when can you get me the phone?” I asked, growing impatient. I’d been there for three minutes already and that was too long. “I don’t want to be hanging around for much longer, mate.”

“I’ll head into town now and get one. Can you give me a couple of hours?” Finn started gathering his gear together, ready to leave.

“I’ll give you one hour, then I’m gone. Don’t let me down.”

He looked up at me, trying to hide his anxiety. He knew I meant it.

“Oh, and Finn? Don’t tell anyone else you saw me. I came to you ‘cos I know you can keep your mouth shut.”

Forty minutes later, Finn came back to the underpass with the latest iPhone and a shitload of free data. I knew there was a reason he was my favourite. If you asked him for a pound, he’d give you two and ask if there was anything else you needed.

“Will you at least tell me where you’re staying?” he asked, looking genuinely concerned.