Fractured Minds (Rebels of Sandland 3)

“And you know this how?” He wasn’t giving up.

“Because I’ve spoken to them. They’re cool.” Brandon flinched like I’d slapped him around the face.

“What the fuck are you talking about? They aren’t cool. They are as far from cool as humanly possible.” He was offended by what I’d said. He didn’t like that I’d spoken to them and he didn’t know about it.

“When did you see them? What’s going on Finn?” Ryan spoke calmly. He knew one angry interrogator was enough for today.

“I went to visit Alice and I saw them in the street.” All the truth, now to thread in the lies that I was so awful at telling. “They said they’d heard about our events and asked why we’d never put one on in Brinton.”

“Because even Satan himself would give that place a wide berth,” Zak snapped.

Brandon held his hand up to shut Zak up. He was still stuck on the fact that I’d spoken to them and he needed more information.

“So, you’re on friendly terms with them now? Since when? And why don’t I know about this?”

“Because I don’t run everything past you.” Before all the shit with my uncle leaving prison, I would have, but things had changed. He was a family man now, and I had to take responsibility for my own shit.

“Oh, I know that,” he said, sounding pissed. “Seen any long lost family members lately?” I blushed and instantly he dropped his gaze to the floor. He regretted what he’d just said. “Sorry, man. I didn’t mean that.”

“It’s fine. And no, I haven’t. He’s gone.”

Brandon raised his eyebrows and I could tell he didn’t believe me.

“It’s true. All sorted. So… are you going to let me check out Brinton? Take a few photos and maybe even get you down there to see it for yourself?”

“Finn, we trust you. If you think that’d be a good idea, go for it,” Ryan said.

Brandon glared over at him, then back at me. He didn’t know what to think, but he wasn’t about to go against Ryan’s judgement.

“Looks like we’re gonna be honorary soldiers for the night then, doesn’t it?” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, but when the tension in my shoulders eased up, he smiled.

Ryan joined Zak where he sat with his laptop and the two of them became engrossed in watching some YouTube video. Obviously, this conversation had ended, and luckily for me, it had gone just how I wanted it to.

I watched as Brandon got up and came to sit next to me on the sofa.

“Something’s going on with you,” he said on a whisper. “You know you can talk to me, right? If you’re being forced to do this. If the soldiers are threatening you, you would tell me, wouldn’t you? You know I’ve got your back.”

“I’m fine,” I whispered back so the other two wouldn’t hear. “Alice is safe. He’s gone. And I just want to make a contribution is all.”

“You know I don’t believe you, but okay. I’ll let it go. But I swear, if those fuckers do anything, if they put one foot wrong, I will kill them. I don’t care how fucking psycho they are. When it comes to my friends, I get just as fucking crazy. And you are my best friend.”

Brandon could smell bullshit a mile off, but he also knew what I was like and he didn’t want to push me. I appreciated it, because with everything going on, I needed to focus on what was important, and worrying about the reaction Brandon would have to the blackmail was not something I wanted to face.

“I’ve got your back. Always,” he repeated and stood up, patting my back as he did. “More importantly,” he stated in a louder tone. “Where’s the biscuits? How do you expect me to drink my tea without a fucking biscuit to dunk? The service in this place is fucking shite.”

It didn’t take much more convincing to bring them all on-board. I paid a visit to the old factory, took photographs and sent them to the lads. Within a few days, they’d all agreed and the messages were sent out to our ‘We’ve got you covered’ group to let them know when and where the next event would be held.

Clarkson’s Plastics factory in Brinton Manor.

I sent the evidence to the soldiers and as per their M.O, they replied that I’d done a good job and that they’d be in touch. I wasn’t in a hurry to see what video they’d send next, or to hear from them at all. Alice was still up north and safe. My uncle was being taken care of, I hoped. And I wanted to focus on something far more important. Tony had dictated the way my life had gone for so long, it was my turn now, my future.

I’d stood at the end of her road and waited for her parents to leave. When I saw a car backing out of the driveway with both of them inside, I stayed in place by the hedge I was using to camouflage myself, keeping my head down and my hood up. They sped off down the road and I made my move, heading over to her house.

I wasn’t as nervous this time, coming to see her. Sure, I still had butterflies, but they were the good kind. The kind that meant I was excited about how this would play out. She opened the door and grinned wide when she saw it was me. She looked stunning in a little tight crop top and joggers.

“You look amazing,” I said, feeling myself getting tongue-tied.

She looked down at what she was wearing and replied, “These are my comfies. I’d have made an effort if I’d known you were coming.”