Purpose Read Online Free

were being taken apart. Before they could run away, Gar lashed out.
    Using the palm of his left hand, he struck the one closest to him. Even using the inner part of his hand, he heard the brass knuckles crack the kid’s sternum when he connected. The last kid finally moved and made it three steps before Gar swept his feet out from under him with the baton.
    The face looking up in terror was that of a kid, a juvenile. They were all kids. Reaching toward the kid’s head, he heard movement behind him.
    “Gar.” Ryan’s timid, urgent tone caused him to turn. “Don’t kill him.”
    “I won’t.” His voice was a cold hiss. Instead, he touched the sweaty forehead, inserting confused thoughts. He quickly repeated the process with the others. The first kid still lived, but probably not for long. The other two, he left sobbing out their pain.
    “Come on.” He grabbed Ryan’s left arm. “We need to go.”
    Ryan resisted the pull, but Gar was prepared for this. “Either you come with me or I leave you to explain this.”
    Ready to carry him if need be, Gar breathed a silent sigh when his second tug proved more successful. Walking quickly, he tapped the device on his belt again, this time imprinting two images: an old man and his wife.
    They’d just cleared the alley when two young men reached the entrance. “You don’t see us,” he whispered, pushing the thought into their minds. Ignoring Gar and Ryan, they moved a few steps into the alley.
    “Call 911.” Gar barely heard the words in his haste to get away.
    Keeping a firm grip on Ryan’s arm, Gar led them up 22nd Street.
    “Gar, stop.” Ryan punctuated his request with a tug of his arm.
    Gar felt the tug but ignored the request. They needed to put some distance between them and the alley. He knew he’d been careless, but he had barely arrived in time. Making sure to hide his passing might have cost Ryan his life.
    Another pull back met with similar results. “Gar! I said stop!”
    “Not here.” Still too close. He wasn’t sure if anyone else saw them leave. If they had, Gar didn’t get the chance to suggest they forget. “We’re too close.”
    He pulled his unwilling guest up the mostly empty sidewalk. Powerful streetlights cast an eerie glow as they made their way between the row houses to their left and the unbroken line of parked cars to their right. Ahead, he could see and hear the traffic on R Street, zipping through the intersection. His place was still a fifteen-minute walk. Hopefully, he wouldn’t need to drag Ryan the whole way.
    Without knowing when he’d decided it, he realized he was taking Ryan to his apartment. How could that be? Who was this kid that he’d so upended Gar’s existence?
    Lost in his thoughts, Gar wasn’t expecting Ryan to suddenly stop walking. Unprepared, he yanked the younger man forward, barely noticing the resistance.
    “Stop, you’re hurting me.”
    Hearing the pain in his voice, Gar released Ryan’s arm like it had burned him. “Sorry, but we need to keep moving.”
    “Not until you tell me what happened back there.”
    Defiant, his voice demanding information like it was his right, Ryan faced Gar, bag still clutched in his hand. Gar blinked twice, then turned away.
    “Suit yourself.” Much as the kid intrigued him, he wouldn’t change his plans. Probably better this way. Something about Ryan felt different, and Gar didn’t like mysteries.
    He made it two steps before he heard Ryan come closer.
    “That’s it?”
    Gar stared at the young man he barely knew. He heard anger in Ryan’s voice, but there was something more. Something that impelled Ryan to chase him. The slight tremble of the lip, the nervous eye movement, the tense body language. Ryan was afraid.
    “Yes. I won’t drag you where you don’t want to go.” He watched Ryan’s reaction for verification.
    “Wait!” The desperation in his voice confirmed Gar’s assessment.
    Having made no attempt to leave, the plea was without effect. “I