Chapter 2The Assistant and The Axe

Kevin still didn't grasp the gravity of the situation. He thought I was making empty threats. He just raised an eyebrow. "You take my spot, and now you're blaming me? Smashing your car was a warning. Next time, it won't be so simple."

"Oh? You planning on smashing me next?"

He shrugged. "Who knows? But you're definitely not leaving tonight."

"You're mistaken. I'm just the driver."

My father-in-law, wondering what was taking so long, came out to find me. He saw the wrecked car and froze.

Kevin had never met Isabelle's father and assumed he was mine. He couldn't resist a parting shot. "Actions have consequences. Figure it out yourselves."

As he turned to leave, I stepped in front of him. "That old couple is in a hurry to get home. You're playing with fire."

Kevin shoved me aside without a second thought. "What the hell do I care where they're going?"

My father-in-law was frantic. We were less than a hundred miles from home. If we left now, we could still make it. He came over to me, his voice trembling. "Alex, this young man is completely out of line. It was just a parking spot. Did he really have to destroy the car?"

I threw my hands up. "Kids these days. Short fuses."

"So what do we do? How do we get home?"

Kevin chimed in, his voice dripping with schadenfreude. "Plenty of ways. You could walk. 'Course, at your age, you'd probably croak after a few steps."

"How dare you speak like that?" my father-in-law sputtered. "Don't you have parents? Elders in your own family?"

That struck a nerve. Kevin was the product of a messy divorce, raised by an aunt. The topic was a raw wound.

"What did you say, you old fossil? What business is it of yours if I have family? Do I eat your food? Wear your clothes? Live in your house?"

"We can compensate you! We'll pay you for the spot! Why did you have to smash the car?" my father-in-law pleaded.

Honestly, this whole trip had been a nightmare. The old couple treated me less like a son-in-law and more like a servant. But the worst part was when someone would ask if I was their son or son-in-law, and they’d just mumble and evade the question before finally saying I was their "helper." It was laughable, but I was too tired to argue. My marriage to Isabelle was already a sham.

"Smashing the car was me being nice," Kevin sneered. "The old me would've broken your legs."

That terrified my father-in-law. He hid behind me. "Alex, maybe we should call the butler to come pick us up?"

"Right now? I don't think he'll make it in time. That's hours of driving."

I was just being honest, but my father-in-law was practically jumping out of his skin. He was ready to buy a car on the spot if he had to. A hundred grand to see his father one last time? To him, it was worth it.

I didn't object. I turned to the small crowd that had gathered. "Anyone willing to sell their car? Two hundred thousand, cash transfer right now! As long as it can drive a hundred miles, I'll take it!"

People looked at me like I was crazy. But one guy with a beat-up minivan tentatively raised his hand. "Uh... you'd buy my old Astro van?"

"Absolutely. Drive it over here. We'll do the transfer."

Seeing I was serious, a few other drivers rushed to get their vehicles. But before anyone could make a deal, Kevin reappeared with a bullhorn.

"LISTEN UP!" he blared. "ANYONE WHO SELLS A CAR TO THIS GUY TONIGHT ISN'T LEAVING THIS PLAZA! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED!"

A couple of guys scoffed. Who would turn down 200k for an old junker? They were quickly proven wrong. A group of thuggish-looking security guards dragged them away. It was clear Kevin was in charge here. At this service plaza, he was king.