Danny
Somewhere between Kentucky and Texas
Cupid lights up a cigarette, cupping his hand around the flame to keep the wind from putting it out.
“You know what he’s going to want. You sure you got the stomach for it?” He questions, flipping the top of his lighter down and shoving it in his pocket before taking a long drag.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to bring this club back from the grave.”
Tiny’s car pulls up in the empty parking lot of a deserted carnival. It looks like everyone simply vanished. The company went bankrupt and nothing was ever done with the equipment or the land.
I watch with disinterest as Tiny and his men exit the car. His guards are armed as they should be. Tiny is feared but he is also hated. You can’t be a cartel boss and not be both. When you are at the top everyone either wants to be you or kill you. For those reasons alone, it is essential to surround yourself with people willing to take a bullet for you. I grew up with Cupid. He used to date my sister when they were kids. He followed her everywhere. He followed her to hell with Marek. I know he will be loyal to me out of love for Harper. God rest her soul. I hope my sister is finally at peace.
I hope she is resting easy from that grave of her own making knowing that I’m still here, and that I will raise her son to someday take my place.
“That president patch looks good on you, no?” Tiny smiles wide, flashing me his teeth. I give him a chin lift, kicking at the dirt and the gravel, ready to get this over with. Whatever deal Tiny wants to make, I know it will cost me. He isn’t a cheap man. Shit, his wardrobe probably costs more than my fake hand, and my hand costs a small fortune.
“You said you had a deal for me. What is it?” There is no other way to be other than direct with a man like Tiny. Marek, my dead brother-in-law, made the mistake of getting too comfortable in his partnership with Tiny. He thought he could control him. He paid for that mistake with his life. Not that he was a great loss to me. I hated that bastard for what he did to my sister, for the monster he made her become.
Tiny though, I think part of him loved Harper, and it is why he killed Marek in the end. None of us knew what fate would befall Harper thanks to her fuck up of a husband and his bitch, Sayika. That shit doesn’t matter now. It’s done and over. My sister is dead, and her son is now my son. My son with Sara.
“You have everything your sister wanted for you. I got you your Sara. You have your nephew and you are president. I got what I wanted. An in with the Black Rebel Riders’ MC. But there is business that has been left unfinished. My men are restless. My connections are unhappy. I need more girls. You are going to get them for me.”
“You told Grim you don’t trade or sell women.”
“I lied. We both know that. Don’t make this difficult, Hades. You owe me—therefore, your club owes me. Don’t forget who made you. Six months ago, you had a target on your back for taking your Sara. Now you are set to marry. I’d hate for anything to ruin your special day.”
I step forward, but Cupid holds his arm across my chest in warning as Tiny’s guards draw their weapons. “I may owe you, but don’t you ever fucking threaten her.”
He waves his men off. “So, you do love her. I thought perhaps it was your guilt that made you want to keep her. Good. It means you have something to fight for. A man with nothing to lose is dangerous, wouldn’t you agree?”
I stay silent because I know he’s right. I don’t like it, but it is true.
“I’m glad we understand each other. Now that we have that settled. I need five girls for an auction. You can bring them when you deliver my moonshine. You have two weeks. Don’t be late and Hades, do not even think of crossing me. You breathe a word to Grim or anyone else and I will take your Sara and show her what her intended fate was. Make no mistake, I cared for your sister, but I saw an opportunity and I took it. I had to tie up that loose end. Marek was out of control and Harper, well we both know the bitch was out of her mind.”
The morning Harper died plays back in my head. It wasn’t Sayika who prepared Harper’s food it was Tiny. I remember him topping her pancakes with strawberries, her favorite. That bastard.
Rage courses through me, pumping into my veins. My heartbeat is in my throat.
He moves to get in his car and turns back, looking me over. He smiles. “You’ll get your cut from the auction. Your first payment will be delivered on your wedding day. Think of it as my blessing. Give Grim and his men my regards. And kiss the blushing bride for me.”
My hand itches to go for my gun but I stay stoic. He wants to intimidate me and push me.
He has no idea who I am but one day I will see him fall. I will see Tiny Leone on his knees begging me to put a bullet in him. But I will end him just as he ended my sister.
If Tiny wants payment he’s going to get it. I’ll pay him in his own blood. Even if it takes me the rest of my life.
“Fuck,” I yell once Tiny is gone.
Cupid whistles. “Two weeks. Damn.”
I shake my head.
“I don’t want to be that man, C.”
“Danny.” He flicks his finger against my patch. “I don’t know if you are aware but this patch right here, the one that says, Hades and your missing hand says otherwise. At home when you are with Sara, be Danny. But when you are with your club they need that man. They need Hades to lead them.”
His words ignite something inside me. The darkness that used to plague me…that feeling of wanting to watch my enemies burn.
“We have a house to blaze. Get Terror, Boogeyman, Reaper, and Uno on the line. Tell them I need the blueprints of a sorority house in Nashville.”
Pulling out my own Zippo, I flick the flame.
The fire dances in my eyes.
If Tiny wants five girls. I’ll bring him ten.