Curtis was in a precinct with two other burly men. He had never envisioned himself in such a situation before but what had happened to him had given a whole new meaning to the phrase 'counting your chicks before they hatch.'
His family had been attacked by a gang of rogues while on a picnic at night. Apparently the gang hadn't known he would be there because as soon as they saw him take out a gun and come at them they began retreating. He was pretty intimidating without even trying. He stood at six feet six inches and was built like a quarterback. He had a sullen look plastered on his visage but his bright blue eyes contrasted wildly with that appearance. He had a pointed nose reminiscent of Ron Weasley and chestnut brown hair. His cheeks weren't clean shaven but had some stubble. His moustache was clean shaven but he let his goatee grow across his chin giving an attractive look to women but he was a man of few words so they never even considered approaching him.
One of those attackers was too slow to get away and Kurt got a hold on him. He had felt the gun drop out of his hands as he let his anger take control and he beat the crap out of the guy lying under him. He could remember every crunch of bone under his fists each time they connected with the man's face. He remembered being pulled off by police a few minutes after. He was arrested under claims of unnecessary violence.
He hadn't said anything in his defence. For the first time in his life he had been shocked into silence, and not silence that he himself wanted but one that seemed to press itself against him. And he was at the police station as he thought of all this.
He was seated on a row of seats and his hands were cuffed together and his legs were cuffed to the pole under the seat of the chair he was occupying. It was a really uncomfortable position for him but he had no other alternative. It's not like he could call on any cop walking around and say "Hey, could you help me with these." He observed his surroundings, a habit he had never stopped mostly because he was a skilled hunter and hunting was a sport required one to be unquestionably observant. As he looked around slowly but in awe like a kid in a candy store a cop walked up to him and stood in front of him. He ignored him, not allowing him to think he was in any way afraid of him. It was a default hunter setting of his, he couldn't help it. He could tell that the cop approaching was one of those that had arrested him.
"You're free to go McCoy, "the cop said after awkwardly standing there unsuccessfully waiting for him to speak, "unless you want to remain here." Curtis looked up at him and concern was evident on the furrows on his face as he raised his eyebrows inquisitively. He opened his mouth barely a crack and asked simply, "How? "
The cop was looking at him as if he was some puddle of mud he had accidentally stepped in. He must have been wondering why Curtis wasn't happy he was out of police custody. "Somebody explained the whole situation to us and we saw you were right in doing what you did. Two people, that is. And to all our knowledge they hadn't met prior to coming to us but they're stories are almost identic.." but Kurt interrupted him suddenly with one word, "Who? "
"Maria McCoy, your wife and another man. He didn't give his description but he did say he would wait to meet you. "The cop ended his monologue and continued to look at Kurt with an impassive look on his safe. Kurt was good at reading expressions and knew the cop knew exactly who this 'mystery man' was but he didn't push. He met the cop's eyes and held the stare for a while before raising his cuffed hands and saying "OK. I'm tired of being in here anyway."
Once the cuffs were off he rubbed his wrists, shocked at how numb they felt. He was busy walking to the door of the precinct when the cop stopped him once more and handed him his phone. He was not alone, however. He had come with another man in tow. Kurt assumed that this was the man that had decided to come to his aid.
He left with the man and didn't waste any time. "Who are you? " The man just smiled and then in an unmistakable British accent said "That can be better discussed elsewhere." Without another word he began walking away as though he expected Kurt to just follow him due to the suspense. If that was his assumption then he had struck gold. Kurt followed him all the while asking himself what he was doing and why. It was about midnight and here he was following a stranger to God knows where. He wasn't afraid though, just cautious but his caution slowly turned to shock as the stranger stopped outside a huge mansion. The stranger ignored him completely as though he weren't there. He slipped a card out of his jeans pocket and swiped it against an EDC machine on the wall.
The gate opened and they walked through. There was about a hundred foot walk to the house which they covered relatively quickly in silence. Kurt was slowly comprehending why the pedagogues had created the saying silence is the loudest noise. The stranger opened a door and they entered the room. He looked around in spite of himself and couldn't help but be amazed. He wasn't rich and he wasn't poor either but he knew that whoever owned this house had to be crazy rich.
He was unconsciously following the stranger into another room where a man sat comfortably, completely at home. This other man looked at them as they entered, a smile creeping across his pale face. He had white hair sprinkled in with black hair and black eyes that made him look sinister. "Sit," he said in a voice that carried authority. Kurt hadn't realized he was tired till he was told to sit.
He sat himself in a chair that looked similar to a chaise lounge and waited for the stranger to sit too but instead and began to walk away. "Thank you for your service Chase," the man who was seated said. At least he now knew who the strange man was but why he was being dismissed like a servant was beyond his knowledge. Chase walked away and that left the two men alone.
"You must want to know why I asked Chase to bring you here? " he asked Kurt in a honeyed voice. Kurt didn't speak, he just nodded slowly looking at him directly. The man sighed and was about to start speaking when Kurt spoke up. "Who are you? "
The man raised his eyebrows but smiled ever so slightly and cleared his throat. "This is a long story and it has a lot to do with you so you must pay the utmost attention if you are to understand where you fit into all of it," he said serenely.
Curtis had no choice mostly because curiosity got the better of him. He nodded and the man began his harangue.
"My name is Tony and I am the leader of the largest gang in this part of the country. We are a family and we take care of one another. If someone attacks one of ours he or she faces the consequences." Kurt didn't want to ask what the consequences were because he was pretty sure it was death because they were a gang, and a gang wouldn't talk their problems out over tea and biscuits. Meanwhile Tony went on with his monologue.
"A few months back a new gang began to rise somewhere in this same town but I met with their leader and we came to an understanding. There was to be no expected turf war. We let them settle here and bring in some of their people as long as they kept away from our people. "
Kurt's brain was swimming and deep. He didn't understand anything Tony was saying. No, he could understand but he didn't see where he fit into all this spectacle of events. But his unspoken question was answered then.
"This other gang was recruiting members from all over. Skilled people in weaponry and various other areas they wanted. So they set their sights on you, Curtis McCoy. " The way he said the name was as though he was treading carefully in a room full of glass on the floor.
Kurt couldn't prevent asking the questions that rolled off of his tongue. "Me? Why? " Tony looked at him as though Kurt knew the answer and he just wasn't thinking it the way they had
Tony put his hands under his chin and sighed as if he were exasperated. "You are a hunter with numerous awards and hitherto unseen skill. That's why he wanted to get to you. "
Then and there Kurt realised this story wasn't adding up at all. If they wanted him in their gang why would they think attacking his family would make him join. He stood suddenly with a furious look on his face and didn't waste time. He went straight to the heart of the problem he had noticed. "You're lying, " he said in an accusatory tone with his eyes narrowed to slits.
Tony just looked at him, clearly not intimidated by Kurt's allegation. He asked in a clear and lucid voice, "And what exactly would I gain by lying Mr McCoy? I assure you all I'm saying is nothing but the truth. They thought that we were recruiting too and coincidentally they thought we had our sights on you as well. Well, we had been watching you for quite a while but we weren't about to make a move. You're familiar with the childish phrase 'if I can't have it then no one shall '? That's why he attacked your family. He thought we had already gotten to you so he decided to take your family out. That's always the weakest link in a man's life, the family. I had Chase tail you and ensure your family was safe from all harm. This night if you hadn't been armed I don't know what would have happened. Chase told me what had happened and I told him what to do. That's why you weren't asked anything to do with the gun. Even though you legally own guns they can cause a lot of drama with the cops, you know. " He smiled as he saw Kurt register what he had said. Slowly Kurt sat back in the chair.
""Why do you even care? " Kurt asked in a confused tone. Hid hands were on his knees and therefore he was leaning towards Tony on the opposite side.
"Because I have an offer to propose to you, " Tony answered in a heartbeat, not wasting any time. Curtis looked at him, an incredulous look on his face.
"Which is?"
"We can keep your family safe and hidden Kurt. We can protect them from those that would wish any harm upon them. "
Kurt wasn't fooled by the sweet words. He knew the most beautiful snakes turned out being the most poisonous so he was ready for a catch. "And what do you need me to do for you? " He asked.
"You just have to join up with us. Do this and I promise you they'll be alright. " Tony's face was enigmatic and sphinx-like. Kurt couldn't get his head around it. He knew from others experiences that there was something he wasn't being told and he was pretty sure he wouldn't be told anything more until he accepted their terms. He knew this wasn't a win-lose situation but it sure felt like it, and sadly he felt as though he was on the losing side.
Kurt sat there in the dilemma of his life. He could choose to keep those closest to him safe or risk getting them hurt or worse. Tony stood and wordlessly walked out of the room into the next room. Kurt had the unmistakable sound of a fridge door being opened and the tinkle of glass on glass then the fridge being closed. Tony walked back into the room with two glasses on a salver in one hand and a bottle of gin in the other.
He set them on the table, measured out generous amounts and passed one to the edge of the table on Kurt's side. Kurt found himself taking hold of the glass and he took a sip. He felt the heat spread in his throat as he swallowed and his mouth felt warm.
Tony had his glass raised to his mouth but he hadn't drunk any of the contents in his glass yet. "Well, "he said in a business-like tone, "have you come to a decision Kurt? " Kurt looked at him and nodded once as he held eye contact. He thought about his wife, Maria, and then his teenage son and five year old dughter and then and there he came to a resolve.
"I can't risk them getting them hurt on my account. " He looked away from Tony as he heard his voice rise just an octave higher as emotion poured over him. Tony smiled slightly, already knowing what would come next.
"I'll join you, I'll do what needs to be done. Just keep them safe, " Curtis heard himself say.
If only he had known that this was the greatest mistake he had made in his life and that he would regret for the rest of his life.