Sam opened the door and as Josh helped me inside the safe house, I noticed that my father was sitting on the couch by himself.
“What's the matter?” I looked at Sam as he closed the door, “Where's James and the others?”
“What the hell happened to you?” my dad spit.
The sound of his bitter voice sent chills down my spine. I sighed and turned to him, pulling myself away from Josh as I stood on my own.
“Yeah man, what happened?” Sam asked me.
I sighed and looked at him, “Long story. Really long. Where is everyone?”
Sam pointed to the back room, “They're back there.”
I nodded and started towards the back room. The pain remained in my ankle but at the angle that I walked in, the pain was bearable enough to walk a short distance. But I still flinched each time I put a bit of pressure on it.
Josh opened the door and I then saw what Sam was talking about.
“Who's that?” I asked once Sam closed the door behind us when we entered the back room.
“He says his name is Jake.” James spoke up, holding a gun to the unknown man's head.
The man was handcuffed to a chair as he looked among us.
“You must be the man in charge.” the man smiled and used his hand to move his long hair out of his face, “I am Jacob Amell. I have been watching you.”
“What do you mean you've been watching me?” I looked at him, “I don't even know you.”
He smiled and nodded. His medium brown, wavy hair was down passed his shoulders. He licked his lips and looked up at me. He perked his lips and messed with his beard.
“I don't know you either,” he huffed and lowered his cuffed hands, “Let's just say that we both have a common interest.”
“And what would that be?” I asked.
“To stop Ryan Barson.” he informed.
The room was quiet as we all looked at him. I took a step forward and cringed a bit.
“How do you know Ryan Barson?” I knit my eyes.
“Who doesn't?” he spit, “The guy's a psychopath. Him and that kid both are messed up in the head.”
“What you mean?” James took a step towards him.
“Aren't you caught up in politics?” Jake asked him.
“Who the hell watches that?” Wade laughed.
I shook my head, “What're you getting at, Jacob?”
“Ryan is trying to run for mayor.”
I froze as the top of my scalp tingled. Just the thought of him becoming mayor was heart stopping. That would make it almost impossible to get to him. Let alone kill him.
“You mean for here?” Sam gasped.
“No Turkey,” Jake sarcastically spit, “Let me outta here and I'll show ya.”
“How do we know we can trust him, mate?” Alan looked at me.
“Oh, c'mon man! What other proof do you guys need?” he looked up at us.
I nodded and looked over to James who was behind Jake with a pistol in his hand, “Cut him loose.”
“What?” Alan and Wade both gasped at my order.
James went over to Jake and took the cuffs off of his hands. James nodded to me as he rubbed his wrists.
“Thanks, Joey.” he said.
I shook my head, “Don't act like you know me. Now that you're free, why don't you get to the part where you said that Ryan Barson was running for mayor.”
He sighed, “I'm afraid it's true. Look it up online if y'all don't believe me. That—jerkface—is trying to run for mayor. And apparently, he's close to winning. Which, as y'all may know, cannot happen.”
“And lemme guess, Rapunzel,” Kevin spit, “You want us to help you stop him from winning?”
Jake nodded, disregarding the comment Kevin had made.
“Guys, God only knows what Ryan would do if he became mayor.” I told them.
Sam nodded, “Yeah, he wouldn't just destroy our lives, he'd destroy this entire city.”
“Hey, I dunno what you guys are gonna do, but, I, for one, don't wanna see this town destroyed by those two bozos. I'm in.” Josh informed.
James nodded, “I am too.”
“Yeah, me too.”
Sam looked at Wade and the others, “Are you three gonna be the only ones who aren't chipping in to help this city?”
Wade gave Sam the finger and Kevin sighed as Alan nodded.