Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 1016 : Red Stains Wood

*Leo*

“I don’t normally question your actions or ideas,” Franky muttered to me as we got inside the metal box that would transport us to the underground cells in the prison.

“I sure hope you’re not starting now,” I countered flatly. I glanced briefly at the stern-looking security guard who actually looked like he’s got a couple kills under his belt. He hasn’t said a word to us since being ordered to escort us below.

That was probably just as well. Small talk in this kind of hostile environment would have felt odd and more than a little forced.

This was my first time in The Depths, which was what this underground prison was nicknamed. It was completely remote and off the grid and only held the country’s most dangerous prisoners.

I could understand Franky’s hesitation toward coming here but we really had no choice on the matter. We didn’t have any other leads to go by. Time was passing quickly and we were sitting ducks as we waited around for answers.

This was the piece of action that I had been avoiding but it was also the most necessary one.

“I wouldn’t say that I disagree with this particular one,” Franky continued, being careful to keep his eyes averted from the guard across from us. “But I might still ask you to take another brief moment to consider if this is really the best way to figure out what we need to know.”

I gave Franky a look that clearly stated that it was a little late to be having second thoughts considering that the robust metal elevator doors were parting and we were being led down a dark hallway. The air was icy and it was extremely dark. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust so I could place one foot in front of the other. The tiny lights flickering from the ceiling weren’t doing much in terms of providing visibility.

We stopped at an equally foreboding door. The guard opened it up and gestured for us to step inside. It was a dark, simple meeting room with a desk and a couple of chairs.

Franky looked over at the guard. “What, no thick glass wall?” he asked in a low voice.

The guard didn’t react, didn’t even blink. “The prisoner will be in chains when we bring him in and there will be a handful of us in here as well.”

My expression hardened. “That won’t be necessary,” I said dismissively. “We’ve had our fair share of meetings with prisoners. And since he’ll be in chains, I doubt we’ll be in need of your protection.”

The security guard frowned, the most emotion that we’ve seen on him today. “Our protocol-”

“Your protection is not necessary,” I stated again, more firmly this time, even going so far as to narrow my eyes at the other man.

The guard studied me for a moment. We had Al set up this meeting so I knew he would have pulled some strings to get the environment set up the way we wanted. The guard seemed to remember some earlier instructions he had regarding us so with just a touch of reluctance, he nodded once and left us alone to go and retrieve Andre.

“I still think that there’s a better way to go about this,” Franky hissed at me once we were alone in the dimly lit room.

I felt my shoulders lift slightly in a frustrated shrug. “Maybe,” I allowed. “But I sure as hell can’t think of one, can you?”

It was a rhetorical question and Franky knew it. He remained silent.

“I understand your reservations,” I told my friend. “But we are running out of options and this is our only real lead. It’s going to be more than a little unpleasant but we’re going through with it.”

Franky nodded once and determination stole over his features, much to my relief. I was going to need him to be completely onboard with this if we were going to even hope of getting any answers out of Andre.

A few moments later, we heard the sound of footsteps coming our way. Franky and I both straightened as the door opened and Andre was escorted in. He wore a loose dark gray shirt and pants, chains wrapped around his wrists and ankles. His hands were bound behind his back as he was pushed forward by one of the guards.

The two burly guys forced Andre to sit on the small wooden chair in the center of the room.

One of the guys looked right at me. “We were told that you wish to speak with him alone,” he said, his voice only slightly perplexed.

I nodded. “That is correct.”

Andre glowered at me but one side of his mouth tilted up in a smirk. I could tell just by looking at him that he’s been through hell and back. There were some fading bruises along his jaw and heavy bags under his eyes. I had no doubt that he probably picked more than a few fights in his short time here and that all the injuries he sustained were his own fault due to that.

And somehow, he still managed to have that infuriating smug attitude.

If he didn’t watch himself, I was going to have to wipe that smirk right off of his damn face.

“Leo doesn’t need protection from me,” Andre said with a grin. “We’re old pals. Isn’t that right, Leo?”

I ignored him and just gave a curt nod to the guards as they straightened and then left us alone with the former crime lord.

I turned and glowered down at him, trying to intimidate him with my mere presence before I even said a word.

I wasn’t surprised when he didn’t look fazed in the slightest. He just grinned widely at me, his eyes mocking. “I knew you would come for me sooner or later. You really are a predictable one, Leo.”

“Enough,” I spat, my temper already flaring at the sight of this bastard. I lifted my chin. “I’m here for answers, Andre. And you’re going to give them to me if you want the rest of your stay here to be even the slightest bit pleasant.”

Andre’s almost frighteningly giddy expression didn’t falter. He simply raised an eyebrow at me in a mocking way. “Why don’t you get on with why you came to visit me then. Although I have loads of it as of recently, I still don’t prefer my time wasted.”

“My sentiments exactly,” I countered. I leaned forward, towering over him, which was easy to accomplish since he was sitting. “So, let’s get right to it then. You’re going to tell me everything you know about this Jack Frost.”

Andre’s eyebrows rose in obvious surprise but the stupid grin stayed plastered onto his face, causing me to curl my hand into a fist at my side.

“That’s who you’d like to talk about?” he asked with a chuckle. “Why don’t you instead fill me in on that promising protege of yours? I imagine that he is blossoming into the leader that you and the Valentinos were hoping for.”

My eyes narrowed as he dodged the question. I felt the vein in my head begin to throb as my temper started to simmer. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Franky glanced at me warily and then stepped forward, slamming his hand hard against the nearby desk, the cracking sound reverberating through the small, near-empty room. “Answer the question,” he demanded in a voice that could have cut through steel.

I cursed inwardly when Andre’s expression still didn’t change.

Andre completely ignored Franky, his eyes staying pinned to mine. “Although, if you don’t feel like talking about the brat, maybe you would prefer to talk about your girl. Oh, sorry, or should I congratulate you on your recent engagement?”

I stiffened at the mention of Bianca, the simmering of my blood bordering on a full-on boil as I was reminded of how he almost separated me from her permanently, how she had been targeted by the Angels and put in very real danger.

Andre laughed as he watched me tense up, getting satisfaction over the fact that he finally got a reaction out of me. “I see which you prefer to discuss,” he said. “You’ve chosen well, Leo. She’s a resilient little thing, which is definitely in her favor considering what she has coming toward her.”

Something in me snapped at the ominous threat and my hand shot out and grabbed the back of Andre’s head. I shoved his face into the hard, wooden desk. Rage nearly consumed me that I couldn’t even relish in the satisfaction of hearing his nose snap as it broke immediately upon contact.

Franky barely flinched, his expression grim.

I pulled Andre back by his neck, my eyes wild and angry. Blood gushed from his nose and dripped onto the wooden table but he still had that fucking smile.

“You are wasting my time,” I spat. “And you don’t want to do that for a second longer. Tell us what you know about Jack Frost.”

Andre’s voice was surprisingly calm but he finally started to do as I asked, probably realizing that I was serious when I promised that I would make this place feel like a walk in the park compared to the world of pain I was going to rain down on him.

“Frost came to us,” he rasped, no doubt feeling the pain from his broken nose. “Not the other way around.” His tone was filled with arrogance. “Frost is the one area of common ground that we share.”

“What does that mean?” Franky demanded, sounding like he wanted a turn slamming the bastard’s face down on the table.

“Frost insisted on meeting you,” Andre continued. “Demanded it actually. And given their skill level, we agreed to offer our resources in exchange for their services. It was made known early on that if I stepped down for any reason, Frost would take over and do whatever was necessary to get to you.”

Frustration and confusion started to push at the anger welling up inside me. “What the hell does he want with me?” I demanded.

Andre shrugged, another drop of blood falling to the surface of the desk. “Frost didn’t say but I will say that the two of you have strikingly similar eyes. Just an interesting fun fact for you.” He fluttered his eyelashes at me and I had to resist the urge to break another one of his bones.

I shoved the bastard away and straightened, whirling around and stalking out of the room.

“Leo!” I heard Franky call behind me. I ignored him though and just kept walking, my narrowed eyes straight ahead.

“We’re done here,” I barked to the guards, who were stationed just outside of the door.

“Yes, sir,” they said in unison, going in to no doubt take Andre back to his cell. I hoped that the bastard rotted in there for the rest of his life.

I didn’t even flinch when Franky grabbed the back of my shirt and pulled me back. “Get it together,” he hissed at me. “You’re losing it.”

I was going to snap at him that he didn’t need to state the obvious but he was right. I inhaled deeply through my nose and then turned to face my friend and partner.

“I’m good,” I assured him.

“I can see that,” he said sarcastically.

I opened my mouth to argue but then shut it. Franky shook his head before we headed out of the building together.

Franky was right. I wasn’t fine but how could I be when I had a bad feeling beginning to bud deep in my core?