Page 21 of Bedlam
“Try harder next time. Have a good night, dear.” I spit, walking to my closet as she huffs, leaving the room. I shake my head because what in the actual fuck am I living in? I get dressed and make a call to Gio for a meetup. I need to speak with someone I can trust and devise a plan to get out of this mess I created without me having to fucking die in the process.
fifteen
The Maker
Jameson
“How are you feeling, son?” My father asks as soon as my brothers leave the room. They better get her up here immediately or I might go on a killing spree in this fucking hospital to find her. I am not playing games with everyone.
“I’m fine. When can I leave?” I ask, trying to get this little meeting over and done with so I can go home to my girl.
“Not yet, Jameson. I need you to do me a favor first.” He quips, picking a piece of lint off his gray suit.
“And what is that?” I say, rolling my eyes because I’m already bored with this conversation.
“There’s a new drug about to be put on the streets, and I know you like to dabble in trying new things out. So I need a test dummy, if you will.” He says, and I shake my head.
“Not only am I your puppet, but now you want me to be a fucking guinea pig? Go try it out on a rat.” I spit and he laughs. How the fuck does he know I experiment? Unless-.
“What if I told you I couldbring you something that you so desperately want? Would you be agreeable to my terms, then?” He asks with a smug grin written all over his fucking face.
“There is absolutely nothing you have that I could want.” I grit as his face splits into a full on smile. I can count on one hand how many times my cocksucking father has smiled, and it’s never a good thing.
“That’s not true. I have exactly what you need.” He gloats and I shake my head.
“There’s only one thing I want, and I know for sure you do not have that.” I say, picking up the remote, pressing the button to put me in more of a sitting position. I fucking hate being laid up in here with him having control over everything.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that, son.” He says, reaching into his coat pocket and taking out his phone. He shoves it in my face, pressing play. The screen lights up and there’s my girl, laying in a hospital bed, sleeping. My heart rate picks up, wanting nothing more than to go to her. Hold her hand and whisper sweet nothings into her ear. So that’s why she isn’t next to me. She must’ve needed some recovery time. He takes the phone from my view and pushes it back into his suit pocket. My eyes connect with his.
“I’m listening. What is this drug supposed to do to a person?” I say, and he smiles that wicked grin again.
“Be the tester and I’ll bring her to you. She could share the room while you both recover, and once the experiment is over, you are both free to go. I just need to verify if it functions as it was designed to do.” He says.
“Do you think I’m that stupid? So I’m supposed to just take this crazy drug, in a non-protected area of sorts, and do what exactly?” I say, raising a brow at him.
“We will be in a controlled space and you’ll be monitored while under the influence. You will be given specific instructions and tasks to fulfill. If you do them as instructed, then the drug is a success. If you don’t, then it’s not ready to be marketed. It’s really quite simple.” He says like it’s so fucking easy.
"I'm agreeable as long as we ensure this is done in a controlled setting. How long does it last?” I ask, and he smiles again.
“That’s something we don’t know as of yet,” he says and I think it over.
“What form is it in?” I inquire, this will give me more of an idea of where this is coming from, or better yet, who’s making it.
“It’s a fluorescent blue injectable,” he says, and I want to laugh knowing exactly who is making this shit. I knew she was a fucking snake.
“And you trust the person cooking this shit?” I ask, and he nods.
“It’s made in a lab by someone we call, ‘The Maker’.” He says sinisterly, and I struggle to stifle back a laugh knowing exactly who he is talking about.Fuck it, I’ll bite.
“I want it in writing, signed and notarized. You have five hours.” I threaten and he nods.
“I’ll even sweeten the deal. If everything goes well with this new drug, it will be yours to do with as you please as long as I get a forty percent cut and twenty percent of the product made.” He says.
“Why would I want to be in business with you? All you have ever done to me is use and abuse me. I want my own life away from you. So if I do this, there will be a time limit on this contract. We both win, but for a time limit.
Two years after the product is up and running, then I want out of your clutches. That means Callaghan Enterprises. I don’t want any of it.” I inform him, hoping he will take the bait. If this is my chance to get out clean, then I’m going for it. I know there’s always some type of price to pay, but fuck it. I’ll take the chance and pray to god he agrees with my terms.
“Done. Maybe you're not so stupid after all. See you soon, son.” He says, turning his back to me and exiting my room. Why did that seem too easy? Something else is at play here, I just need to figure it the fuck out in the next five hours or less, but my mind keeps wandering back to her. Seeing her laying in that hospital bed all alone breaks my heart. Why isn’t anyone with her? There’s still a bounty on her head. She needs protection.