Beneath The Bad.

Chapter 18. Betrayal In Plain Sight.

Alex walked into the safe house, trying as much as possible to look composed regardless of the severe pain he was feeling. Reed and Kia were sitting down close on the couch, polishing their gun when Reed looked up, raising an eyebrow. “Where have you been?”. His tone was neutral.

Alex hesitated, unsure of what to say. “Just ...uh...been doing my thing that's all”.

Reed looked at kia and they both knew that he was lying. Reed looked back at Alex narrowing his gaze, clearly unconvinced, “Save it kid, you've been gone for almost a day, just know if this repeat itself... We'll have a problem”.

Alex shrugged, avoiding eye contact. “yeah whatever”. He said as he walked to the yard. “Grab me the tool box from the garage”. Kia said. Alex got upset, “Can't you go yourself or send someone else?, for Christ sake I'm just coming in and I'm exhausted”. This statement got Kia so mad that he slammed his gun on the table and walked up to Alex, standing in front of him staring deep into his eyes. “Listen up kid, don't think you've grown alright, you said you're exhausted but that's your problem, you went somewhere that neither I nor Reed sent you to, but now your back and I'm telling you to do something for me, except you want to have a problem with me kid”.

Alex just swallowed his anger “I'm already bruised up so now isn't the time to challenge Kia”. He thought. He didn't say anything and just went to the garage.

As he entered the garage, it was just stuffed with junks and spare parts of so many things. His eyes scanned around looking for the tool box. Something caught his attention — a tarp-covered shape in the corner. “What's this? How haven't I noticed this before, well... Let's see what it is then”. He said out loud. He walked towards it, the tarp was so dusty and old, seems like it hasn't been touched for ages.

Alex lifted the edge of the tarp, and his breathe seized for a second. A black car was was revealed. It looks rusty and damaged now but it was the same one that took his beloved Parents lives. Memories rushing into his head like lightning. His mind raced as he recalled the details of the incident that night.

He remembered looking at the plate's number back then, and coincidentally, it matches this same one. This was the car, the one that had taken everything from him.

Alex's vision blurred as he stumbled backwards, the tarp falling from his grasp. He felt like he'd been punched in the gut. All these years, the truth had been right in front of him, hidden in plain sight.

“What's taking so long, you can't find a goddamn tool box?”. Kia shouted, already angry and impatient. But Alex couldn't speak, he couldn't tear his eyes away from the car. His mind reeling with questions and anger.

“Reed killed my parents... Why?”

“I've been played all these years!”

“Was my parents' death targeted or was it just a natural incident”. Alex was so confused and broken, then he heard Kia's voice again, shouting and being all aggressive. This made Alex extremely upset and wild, seeing what he just saw, so many questions in his head that needed to be answered. Alex walked straight to Kia, Kia looked at him fuming but he didn't care. “I see you here looking like you're holding a s**t, but I don't see the tool box with you. You better go back in there and find—...” Before Kia could finish his statement, a heavy punch was landed on his face. Reed was shocked, along with few guys that were in the vicinity.

The punch was so heavy that Kia staggered back. He looked at Alex and then he smiled, the type of dangerous smile that one will know he's dead meat. Kia without hesitation and full force went straight to Alex and punched him in his gut, Alex breathe stopped for a minute, be bullet injuries we're still so fresh and then after that punch, the stitches that Sunshine did opened, and he started bleeding again.

By now, the whole guys came to see what was happening, Jackson came out and noticed it was Alex that Kia was fighting, he was scared and surprised, “What has gotten into Alex, why is he challenging Kia of all people, I do hope its not because of that petty girl”. He thought to himself.

Kia gave Alex so many punches and blows, it was as if Kia had always wanted to do this. Unfortunately, Alex couldn't retaliate those punches because he was really weak from the bullet injuries. When he was extremely battered and bruised on the floor, Reed now stood up. “That's enough!!, What has gotten into you kid? Are you high on drugs? You'd you think you could challenge your leader just like that?, Speak up boy! Talk!

“You killed my parents!!!, Argh... W-why? Why would you take away my parents?, Com'on answer me!!”. He used all his energy to say that. His mouth covered in blood. Alex sobbed as tears flowed down his face.

For a moment there everyone was quite, Reed and Kia looked at themselves, Jackson eyes were widened in shock. Yes, they all knew that they are killers, and all sorts of things but, now everyone started questioning themselves, Reed always says we're family and we protect ourselves but why kill Alex's parents? Some felt pity for Alex, while some felt that his parents were probably targeted so he shouldn't be such a baby now, they've all lost someone in their lives so he shouldn't feel special or want attention because his parents are dead. While others didn't believe the accusations that Alex was pinning on Reed.

Reed chuckled “I've killed alot of people kid so yeah, maybe your parents were among them”. He said without remorse and was even laughing.

Alex was so weak to exchange words nor fight with them so he managed to pick himself up from the floor, and staggered to the door. Three of the gang members wanted stopping him but Reed told them not to, saying he'll be back to beg for mercy.