Neon is the Colour of Vengeance (Flappers and False Gods)

THE END

A knock at the door roused Bobby from a deep sleep.

“Go answer it,” Dana said beside them, covering her head with a pillow. “I doubt it’s for me, baby.”

The knock sounded again more urgently this time. With a groan and a yawn, Bobby dragged themself out of bed and padded into the living room to the front door. They immediately knew something was wrong when they saw that it was Samuel and Alice who had come calling. Samuel looked grim; Alice excited. Neither boded well.

“Is everything okay?” Bobby asked quietly ushering the pair inside. They checked the clock on the wall. It was three o’clock in the morning.

“No, we have a big problem.”

Alice gave a tiny little giggle from behind Samuel.

“What is it?”

“We are about to go to war with the Kellys and Hugo comes into my office saying he wants to fucking retire because his boyfriend can’t handle a little blood in the water.” Samuel sounded bitter and angry and just a little incredulous.

“He—what?”

“He wants to leave Tenebrium. Says he’s done with killing,” Alice chimed in, grinning ear to ear.

“And you told him no?”

“No. I gave him my blessing.”

“I don’t understand.” Bobby looked between their father and Alice, expectantly.

“I want you to kill Evan Carter. Make it look like a Kelly hit. Nothing that can be traced back to us.” He said it so casually.

Bobby blinked, uncomprehending. “You told him—but you want me to—what?”

“Kill Evan Carter. Hugo’s lost his edge. He needs something to fight for.”

“Do you hate Hugo?” Bobby was too tired for tact. “Are you trying to punish him?”

“Of course not, but we are about to fight the biggest war in Tenebrium’s history. I need Hugo, we all do. He’s gotten distracted. Take that distraction away and he will realise here is where he’s supposed to be. If he comes back thirsty for blood, that’s a bonus.”

Bobby shook their head as if to clear it. “You can’t kill the man your son loves.”

“I’m not going to, you are.”

“You cannot kill the man your son is in love with. You know Hugo. This will destroy him.”

“He’ll get over it.” Samuel flicked his hand through the air as if that settled the matter.

“No, he won’t. Please, boss. Don’t do this to him. He’s your son. He won’t recover from this.”

As if a mask had been pulled back, Samuel’s entire aspect changed into something twisted and vile that made Bobby want to retreat. “He’s not my son. Just like you aren’t my child. You are tools to be honed and used for my purposes. Hugo has gotten blunt, and I need him sharp. Kill the boyfriend. Hugo will cry and he will get over it and everything will go back to normal. I will not lose him to some fling with a tight ass.”

“He’s your son. He might not know it but we both do. I did some digging a while back—you’ve known all along. By blood, he is your son.”

“You think that changes something? Makes a difference?”

“It should.”

“Well, it doesn’t. Kill Evan Carter like Hugo should have all those months ago.”

“I won’t do it.”

“When did my orders become optional?” Samuel’s voice was dangerously low.

“He’d never forgive me. I won’t do it.”

“Perhaps the fact I didn’t kill Evan outright has made you think I’ve gone soft.”

“No—”

“Perhaps you think I won’t kill you for disobeying me, but you are not Hugo. You are nowhere near as valuable. Think very carefully about your next words, Bobby.”

They were afraid. They had so much to lose, but this was one ordered they couldn’t follow. “I can’t do it.”

“You are too weak to kill Evan Carter? That makes you useless to me.”

Bobby swallowed hard. “I won’t do it again.”

Samuel made a noise of disgust. “Hassan, right? Does everything have to come back to that man? He tried to take Gen from us, just like Evan is trying to take Hugo. You got rid of that problem, and you will get rid of this one.”

“No.” Bobby stared their father down.

“I’ll do it,” Alice said gleefully. “Please let me. I would love to do it.”

“Fine. At least one of you remembers who they are loyal to.”

“Bobby can keep Hugo out of the way. I would hate to have him see it happen.” Malintent sparkled in her eyes.

“I won’t have any part in this.”

“You will do it because if you don’t—I will skin Dana alive and I will make you watch. Don’t test me. This is not a bluff you want to call.”

A thousand emotions warred inside Bobby, but the one that was loudest was their love for Dana. With a sick pit forming in their stomach they nodded, hating themselves.

“Good. I’m glad we are all on the same page. Alice, kill Evan Carter and I mean it when I say make sure Hugo can’t trace it back to us. It has to look like a Kelly hit. I want him back with fire in his belly.”

“When do you want it to happen?” Bobby couldn’t remember a time they had seen Alice happier.

“Tomorrow.”

Bobby slumped into the nearest chair, head in their hands. That night would haunt them for the rest of their life.

“And Bobby,” Samuel said as he made his way towards the door. “If you ever disobey me again, you’ll be finding bits of Dana for days. This is the only warning I’ll give.”