CHAPTER NINE
His phone woke him up the next morning. Roman groaned as sunlight almost blinded him. Turning away from the window, he grabbed his cell and answered the call. His head was pounding and his eyes felt gritty. Half asleep, he growled into the phone. “What?”
“Jackal’s men found Rosco,” Nikoli informed him.
“And?”
“They have him in custody waiting for you. They also have Mrs. Harris.”
What about Caulder and his brothers?” Roman growled.
“They died last night in a fire. Along with his men and the traitor in the cartel,” Nikoli said. “It seems a man in his organization was setting up his own deal and Cordell didn’t appreciate it. Of course, he felt the need to set an example so the others would be reminded of what happened when you cross the boss.”
“Of course.” Roman gritted his teeth. “And it couldn’t come at a better time. Caulder needed this lesson.”
“Oh, he learned his lesson the hard way,” Nikoli assured him. “The next lesson is Mrs. Harris’s and Rosco’s to learn.”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can. Don’t let them begin class without me. I have a few things to say to Rosco before he begins his journey to hell.” He tapped the phone and got out of bed. He made his way to the bathroom and took a quick shower. Getting dressed, he left the bedroom and made his way to the kitchen.
He frowned when he noted the house was quiet, almost too quiet.
Looking around the living room, he didn’t see either Stevie or Benny anywhere. When he turned the corner into the kitchen, he found Benny sitting on one of the stools but he didn’t see any sign of Stevie.
He walked over to the counter and grabbed a cup and pouring himself a cup of coffee. He glanced at Benny and noted the frown on his face. When Benny wouldn’t look at him Roman asked, “Where is your sister?”
“She left.” Benny growled.
Roman pushed himself away from the counter, felling his breath catch in his throat. “What do you mean she left? Isn’t she here?”
Benny reached inside his pocket and drew out a note. Throwing it across the counter at him, he waited.
Roman picked up the paper and read the note. He crushed the paper in his hand and glared at Benny. “When did she leave?”
“I don’t know. I found this when I woke up this morning,” Benny yelled. “What the hell happened last night after I went to bed?”
Roman ignored the boy’s question instead asked one of his own, “Where would she go? Do you have any idea? She doesn’t know anyone here.”
Benny got up and reached down to grab his backpack. “No I have no idea where she went but I’m going to find her. It’s been a trip man and thanks for the place to stay for a few days but now it’s time for me to go.”
Roman shook his head. “No you can’t go. We’ll find your sister but you have to stay here until we know for sure there’s no more danger to either of you.”
Benny glared at him. “You can’t tell me what to do and as long as she’s out there I’m not staying here. I’ll find her on my own and you’ll never have to worry about us again.”
“No! You aren’t leaving. We will find her and bring her back.”
Benny scoffed. “You won’t find her if she don’t want to be found. How the hell do you think she stayed hidden in Baton Rouge for the last four years? Caulder had his men searching for her the whole time and they never found her.”
Roman ran his fingers through his hair. “Fuck, I don’t have time for this. I have to go to Baton Rouge this morning.” He grabbed his phone and placed a call. When Yuri answered, he informed him, “Stevie is gone. She left in the middle of the night.”
“How did that happen?” Yuri asked.
“I don’t know. I thought we had security on us.”
“You do.” Yuri growled. “They should have stopped her.”
“Yeah, well they didn’t.” Roman gritted his teeth. “Now she’s gone and I have no idea where to start looking, not only that I’m supposed to be in Baton Rouge to take care of that little problem we discussed last night and Benny wants to leave to start looking for his sister. I’m going to lose them both and I know I’ll never find them again, if that happens.”
“Let me get everyone together and we can start looking for her. We’ll keep Benny with us while you go to Baton Rouge and take care of business there,” Yuri promised. “We’ll find her and bring her back.”
Roman looked up to see his front door closing behind Benny. “I got to go, Benny just walked out the door.”
Roman ran after the kid and found Yuri’s security man stopping him before he could get to the front gate. Benny was struggling with Stephanous, screaming out for the other man to let him go.
Roman grabbed the boy by his shoulders and forced Benny to focus on him. He searched his face and saw the fear in the boys’ eyes. He also saw the tears rolling down his face. He hugged the boy close to him and wrapped his arms around Benny’s shoulder. “Please don’t leave. We can find your sister and bring her home but give me another chance to make this right. I fucked up last night but I want the chance to make it right again.”
Benny stood there glaring at him. Tears streamed down his cheeks and he shook his head. “Stevie doesn’t trust easy. Once that trust is broken, you may not get it back. She’s always been there for me and now, I have to be there for her. I know that if she left here, she had a good reason and I have to find her.”
“I know,” Roman admitted. “My brothers are on their way over here to help you look for her. I have to go to Baton Rouge this morning but as soon as I get back, I’ll help you find her. But I have to go right now.”
Benny shook his head. “I don’t need your brothers or anyone else to help me look for Stevie. I can find her on my own.”
Roman shook his head. “I’m not going to lose either you or her and I will get your sister back.”
They turned at the sound of vehicles coming up behind them. Two vehicles parked outside the gate. Yuri, Sazon and Mikial got out of one vehicle and Barshan and Talli got out of a second vehicle.
Roman clicked a remote. The gate opened and they all walked in.
Everyone looked at Roman then to Benny.
Yuri stepped forward and took charge. “I suggest we all go inside to discuss this.”
Benny broke away from Roman. “Y’all can go inside and talk all you want, I’m not staying here. I have to find my sister.” He looked over at Roman. “And he has somewhere else to be.”
Talli stepped forward and wrapped her arm around the boy. When he flinched and tried to pull away from her, she cast a look at Barshan and turned him back to the house. Firming her grip on the kid she said, “Come on kiddo, I don’t know about you, but breakfast is calling and I need to eat something.”
“I’m not hungry and I have somewhere else to be,” Benny grumbled.
“Kid, you’re turning down food?” she exclaimed. “Come on, you need to eat. I know I’m hungry and these guys can always eat.”
Benny allowed himself to be dragged into the house.
Once they were gone, Yuri turned to Roman. “What the hell happened? When we left here the two of you were fine. What changed between then and now?”
Roman ran his hands over his head. “I fucked up, that’s what happened. I forgot Stevie has a problem with her hearing.”
Barshan jerked. “She does? I never noticed.”
Roman nodded. “Yeah she does, she reads lips rather well, so it isn’t noticeable.”
“What did you do?” Mikial asked.
“She mistook my reaction when I realized that she couldn’t hear me. She thought I was pointing out a fault rather than something else. I hurt her bad,” Roman admitted.
“None of us are perfect.” Barshan pointed out.
“I know that.” Roman growled. “Don’t you think I know that? But I wasn’t thinking at the time.”
“Where do you have to go right now?” Yuri needed to know.
“Nikoli called this morning. Jackal’s men have Mrs. Harris and Rosco in custody. I need to see him on his way to hell.”
“What about Caulder and the rest of his group?” Sazon questioned.
“Apparently, the cartel didn’t appreciate the fact that one of their own tried to make a deal behind the boss’ back and the Kings took acceptation to the fact that Caulder murdered their leader,” Roman informed his brothers. We no longer have to worry about that group.”
“Would that be enough of a break for Stevie to return there?” Mikial asked.
Roman shrugged. “I don’t know, I just don’t know. I didn’t think she’d leave Benny behind but she was so hurt last night, I’m not sure what she will do.”
“Does she know about Caulder and his brothers?” Sazon asked.
Roman shrugged. “I don’t think so. Nikoli didn’t call me to let me know until this morning.”
“Then she has to be here yet,” Yuri suggested.
“Maybe but as Benny pointed out earlier, she hid in Baton Rouge for four years. Caulder and his men couldn’t find her in all that time. She has her street friends there and she knows that city better than she knows New Orleans.” Roman rubbed along his jaw as he turned and began searching the woods behind his house. He didn’t know what he was looking for exactly but he just couldn’t stay still anymore. Stevie was out there somewhere, hurt and alone and he needed to do something to find her.
Yuri placed his hand on Roman’s shoulder. “I know you’re worried. I think we’ve all been in your shoes, but you need to go to Baton Rouge and get Rosco taken care of. As you pointed out, she has friends there and if she did return there, you can ask them to help you find her.”
Roman turned to stare at his brothers. “I can’t lose her.”
“You do realize you only just met her?” Sazon reminded him. “It’s been what, three days?”
Roman shook his head. “I don’t care how long it’s been. I knew the instant I saw her that she was the other side of my soul.” He shrugged. “I’m not good with words but I know what I feel. And this is something I never thought I’d find. I never believed in happy ever after. I sure as hell never expected to find it in a girl half my age. It just doesn’t make sense but I need her like I need the air to breathe. I’m forty years old for Christ’s sake.”
Sazon nodded and sighed. “Yeah. I get it. The same happened to me. I shouldn’t have asked.”
Mikial and Barshan nodded their heads as they all had similar experiences.
Yuri looked at all his brothers. “We all know how you feel.” He then stared at Roman. “Go, get your business done and come back here and find her. We’ll keep track of the boy until you get back.”
Roman nodded. “I should stay and look for her, but this is something I need to do. This is something that’s needed doing for longer than she’s been alive.”
“I think she would understand that,” Barshan stated. “This is something she knows you need to see done to protect everyone else, including her brother. She said it herself last night, this man needs to die.”
“I still feel as if I’m putting my own needs before her.” He agonized.
No one noticed that more people had joined them. “I think she would understand.”
Everyone turned to see Raven and Ana had joined them.
Raven carried her small son in her arms and Ana was rubbing her expanding belly as they studied the group of men standing there.
Ana stepped forward and placed her hand on Roman’s arm. “I don’t know your woman but I’ve come to know all of you in the last four months. Sazon has told me bits and pieces of the childhood you all shared. I think your girl had the same kind of growing up experience you all shared. That’s no way for anyone to grow up. It hurts my heart to know that this is still happening and we all have to do what we can to stop it from tainting the next generation. You said this man needs to die. I don’t need to know why, all I need to know is that what happens next is protecting my child from growing up worrying about what evil is out there waiting for him.”
Sazon wrapped his big arms around his wife and looked into his brother’s eyes. “You take care of your business, we’ll watch over the home front.”
“Just don’t let Benny leave before I get back,” Roman pleaded. “I’ll be back as soon as I can get here. I know if I can talk to Benny without distraction, I can get him on my side.”
Raven came over to where Roman was standing. Handing her son off to Yuri she moved her hands to each side of Roman’s face. “You need to take care of the past before you can work on your future. Stevie is hurt right now but if she feels anything for you and Benny, she’ll come back and try to work this out. Having a disability isn’t easy to live with. You both will have make adjustments.” Shaking her head she said, “I don’t know what her story is because I haven’t lived her life but I do know that living on the street isn’t easy. It’s damn hard. You have to have eyes in the back of your head at times and you never know who you can trust. But if she made it this long, she’s a tough girl. Tough enough to see that you really care about her. Tough enough to know she can trust you with more than her life.”
“What’s worth more than her life?” Roman whispered.
“Her heart.” Raven smiled. “A woman always feels more with her heart than her head. Plus, the fact that she left her brother, the only other person she’s ever cared about behind. She’s protected him most of his life, she isn’t going to give up on him now.” Her smile turned sad for a moment. “You are all very good men but you’re all very much human too. And as human beings you’re going to screw up probably more than once in a while. We all do. You can’t run from it and you can’t hide from that fact. But you can learn from your mistakes. Maybe she just needs a little time to realize how much you mean to her.”
Roman leaned forward and rested his forehead against Raven’s. “Do you really think so?” he whispered.
Raven smiled when she heard Yuri growl at the familiarity of his brother’s actions but she ignored it. Looking into Roman’s eyes, she nodded. “I really think so.”
Roman pushed himself away from his brother’s woman. Nodding once, he told them, “Alright, I’m taking this on trust. Trust that you all know what you’re talking about. I agree with Raven. I need to put my past in the past before I can move on.” Sighing heavily, he nodded. “I hope that when I get back, I can find her and convince her to give me another chance.”
Raven turned to her husband and took back her young son. Pressing a sweet kiss on his lips, she turned and ushered Ana toward the house, leaving the men standing in Roman’s driveway.
When the door closed behind them, Yuri turned to Roman. “I love that woman but she is my woman, not yours. Only I get to touch her.”
His brothers all chuckled, as they knew Yuri’s ways.
Roman smiled. “You know before I met Stevie, I never understood that but I do now. Forgive the trespass and know it will never happen again.”
Yuri nodded. “When this is all over come on back and find your woman. Like Raven said, we all make mistakes. You do have to remember one thing though. Stevie is a woman and they don’t think like we do. No man has understood the female mind and if they claim they do, they really don’t.”
His brothers all nodded and laughed.
Roman smiled but didn’t say anything.
It was just after noon when Roman got to Baton Rouge. He was meeting Nikoli, Pappy and Jackal at the diner just outside the city limits before they proceeded to where Maude Harris and Rosco Pavel were being held.
When he went inside the diner, he spotted Nikoli quickly. Making his way over to the booth, he sat down and stared at the others.
Nikoli got right down to business, “Caulder, his two brothers and the men who betrayed the Kings Crew are all dead. The Advocates managed to get their hands on Maude Harris and Rosco Pavel and are holding them until you can get here.” He took a sip of his coffee. “My friend Cordell found the man who betrayed his organization and he died when Caulder did.”
“Did you find this guy, Silas?” Roman asked. “And the evidence Stevie said she had? What’s being done with that?”
“We did meet up with Silas but we haven’t gotten the evidence yet,” Pappy answered this question. “We wanted to make sure the state police are in place before we handed over the evidence that would prove the city officials are rotten to the core.”
“You do know we’re being watched don’t you?” Roman asked having spotted at least three people watching their table.
Nikoli smiled. “Hence, our waiting for the proper people.”
“And Mr. Harris? What about him?”
Jackal snorted. “Eugene Harris is a dope. Old Maude suckered him good until after she got his last name, then her true colors came out. He was blindsided all the way. Caught in a situation he didn’t like nor did he want.”
“I don’t know that I would dismiss him altogether as being nothing more than a dupe,” Roman suggested. “He had to know something was wrong and he could have stopped this from getting so far out of whack. He probably felt it was easier to do nothing at all, rather than do the right thing and try to stop it.”
Jackal nodded. “You’re right, he could have and I’m sure the evidence will bear this out but until we have it in our hands, there’s nothing we can do. We are keeping an eye on all the players that we know of.”
“And the kids at the Harris house?” Roman asked. “What about them? Stevie told us some very upsetting stories.”
Nikoli nodded. “Yes, the stories from that house are not good.” He glanced over at Jackal.
“One of the women in our group works for social services. She’s been trying to find enough homes to take in these children-good homes that will benefit the kids and give them the chance Harris never did. For now, they are staying with us at the compound.”
“I’d like to meet this Silas,” he told the group. “I need to know more about Stevie and Benny.” He stopped speaking when a waitress brought over a cup of coffee for him and after she left, he stated, “Silas was the one man Stevie trusted in this town. He looked out for her when no one else would. I’d like to thank him for that.”
“Silas told me last night that he just wanted to make sure Stevie and her brother are going to be ok,” Nikoli told him. “I’m sure he would appreciate a visit with you as well.”
“But let’s get this settled first. We have to finish this up before the state people get involved,” Jackal suggested.
“What the next step?” Roman asked.
“We have to settle the score with Maude Harris and Rosco,” Pappy replied.
Roman’s hand crept up to his chest and he rubbed a spot he hadn’t thought about for thirty years. Now it was an old scar but back then, it was something altogether different. He remembered well the pain of how he got the scar and the delight in Rosco’s eyes when he branded his skin. This was Rosco’s particular fetish, branding his victims. He never expected the young boy he dumped in the woods that day to live beyond the next few hours. He expected him to either freeze to death or be eaten by hungry wolves. But when Roman woke up, he managed to find his way back to the city. It wasn’t the city he left the day before but it was a place he found shelter.
It wasn’t until he got much older and stronger that Roman began looking into the man and his habits. And what he found disturbed him. Rosco Pavel was a name everyone knew and everyone whispered about it in the backrooms of dives or in dark corners of the cities, he visited. No one would say his name in the light of day or in polite society.
No, Rosco Pavel was only whispered about and those whispers were usually bad news. Even in the circles he ran in, his name was shunned.
Now, he would look at the man who had destroyed so many young lives. He would watch as Rosco realized that his life was over and this time, there would be no escape for him. Roman stared into Nikoli’s eyes. “Then let’s get this done. I want to get back to New Orleans and find my woman.”
All four men got up and headed out of the diner. Pappy and Jackal got on the bikes and waited while Nikoli and Roman got into Roman’s vehicle. Jackal led the way and when they got to the street, several more bikes joined them, following closely behind Roman’s car they made their way across the bridge and down the road to the Advocate’s compound.
They waited until someone from inside unlocked the gate and stepped aside, then they all passed through the gated entrance.
Roman watched as after they passed through the gate, someone closed it up and locked it again. More bikes joined them as Jackal and Pappy led the way to the far end of the property.
When they came upon a warehouse hidden from view, Roman turned and gave Nikoli a questioning glance.
Nikoli shrugged.
Roman pulled up outside as they both got out of the vehicle and joined the rest of the group.
“What is this place?” Roman asked.
“When we first got here ten years ago, this place belonged to another MC group,” Jakal explained. “They were nothing but trouble. We tried to get along with them but they made it impossible. When they attacked us, we fought back. They kidnapped two of our women and murdered them just because they could.” Jackal shrugged. “We didn’t want to but we ended up taking out the trash. They didn’t leave us much choice.”
Roman looked at him for a moment before stating, “You sound as if that bothered you.”
Jackal stared at him. “We’re ex-military, we don’t just kill without reason. We’re not monsters you know.”
Roman shook his head. “I never said you were.”
“I know but I’m trying to explain what happened,” Jackal said. “These jackasses kidnapped two of our women and kept them for three days, then they murdered them without cause. The Advocates couldn’t just turn the other cheek. Our old leader went a little nuts. One of the women was his wife and the other was his daughter. Blane went on a rampage. He became a one man killing machine. Not one of us could blame him. He lost his entire family to those animals. By the time he was done, there wasn’t anyone left. The old MC was fifteen men strong and when the smoke cleared, there wasn’t one of them left. They died the way they lived by the violence they brought on themselves.”
“What happened to Blane?” Roman queried.
“He turned himself into the police for what he’d done. The only mistake he made was that he went to a corrupt cop. When he learned that his brother, the old leader of the MC was dead, the cop took Blane out into the desert and murdered him. The cop came back and he’s been watching us ever since.”
“Since there was no witness and as his body was never found, there was never anything we could do about it,” Slade added. “We moved in here and have been here ever since. That cop may be watching us but we’re watching him too and someday, he’ll fuck up and then we’ll have him.”
Jackal nodded. “We’ve been watching this town and we’re got our own evidence that needs to go to the right person. Maybe between what we have and what Stevie’s got, we can do some actual good here. Or at least, give the people who live here a fighting chance.”
Roman turned to look at the building in front of them. “And this place? What is it?”
“This is they’re old punishment house,” Jackal told him. “This is where Blane found the bodies of his wife and daughter after the MC was done with them. We haven’t used it before but this seemed fitting.” He motioned toward the door.
Roman and Nikoli walked inside. The stench of wild pigs hit them almost immediately. The arena had been fenced off and Roman could see the pigs were corralled in the back. The other members of the MC filed in and took their seats.
Four men disappeared down a short hall and soon, everyone could hear a scuffle coming closer as the men dragged a couple of bodies along with them.
Roman watched as they dragged a woman into the center of the ring.
She was bound with her hands tied behind her back and her feet tied together. Everyone could hear her screaming but the gag in her mouth muffled the sound somewhat.
They threw her down on the floor.
Next came an older man. He was tied as the woman had been but his clothes were torn and there were several places on his body that were bloody. When they threw his body into the arena, the old man fought to get himself free.
Nikoli walked over to the fencing and faced the pair of them. “Maude Harris and Rosco Pavel, you have both been brought here to face a rough sort of justice. A justice well deserved for what you’ve done in life.” He nodded at the man still standing there with them.
The man leaned over and ripped the gags out of their mouths. Maude screamed bloody murder and fought against the ropes that bound her. “You assholes are going to regret this! I’ll bury you so deep, your kids won’t know where to even start looking for your bodies. Who the fuck do you think you are? I own this town!”
“No bitch, you did own this town but the people are taking back the streets,” Jackal retorted. “I think you should know that your sons are all dead.”
“What?’ Maude screeched. “They can’t be. They were all alive yesterday. What the hell did you bastards do?”
“They faced judgement just like you’re going to do,” Nikoli stated.
“Then what the fuck am I doing here?” Rosco yelled.
“You are facing a judgement that’s been awaiting you for your whole miserable life, you fucking bastard.” Roman sneered as he stepped forward. To face the one man he never thought he’d see again.
Rosco snapped his head toward Roman and simply stared at him for a moment. He frowned as if he couldn’t place him. “I’ve never seen you before but I can assure you I’ve never done anything wrong.”
“Really? Is that a fact?” Roman moved closer until he was standing right next to Rosco. Squatting down he met the man face to face. “I remember you though. It was thirty years ago, just outside St. Petersburg. You befriended a small ten year old kid. You gave me food and something warm to drink. You took me into your car and then you drugged me in order to take me to your house of horrors.”
Rosco’s eyes darted from one place to another. He couldn’t meet anyone’s eyes and sweat beaded his forehead. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, I think you remember just fine.” Roman sneered. “Or was I just one of the many?”
Rosco frowned and turned to study him again.
“When you came into my room that night you thought I’d be so out of it, I wouldn’t fight your advances but you made a mistake that night didn’t you? The old lady that brought my supper looked so sad, I knew something was wrong. I never touched the food or the drink she brought me. You waited long enough to let whatever you gave me to work but because I didn’t eat anything I was fine. I wasn’t going to let you hurt me and I fought back didn’t I? Tell me something, was I the only one that ever fought back? Was I the only one you didn’t destroy?”
Rosco didn’t say anything. Instead, he glared at Roman.
Roman smiled for a moment. “Or did I leave you with a little reminder that night? I recall getting one good strike in before you stabbed me.”
Rosco flushed bright red and his glare turned furious.
“I got you that night didn’t I?” Roman grinned. “I cut you good didn’t I?”
“What are you talking about Roman?” Nikoli asked. He didn’t like the way this conversation was going.
“He’d slammed me up against the wall when he realized I wasn’t as out of it as he thought I should have been. I had a broken lamp in my hand and I remember him falling toward me but I was losing consciousness. “When I came too again, he was beating me with a belt and I’d lost so much blood I couldn’t stay awake for long. The next thing I knew, I woke up in the woods.” Roman nodded. “But that’s the past. Did you know I looked for you back home?” Roman stood and moved away from him. “I looked for you for years once I got old enough and big enough to fight back. I never did find you though. Looking over at Nikoli he said, “Do you know what I found out just before we came to America? I went back to find the house he took me to but when I found it, it was empty. I appeared as if no one had been there for years. I asked around and everyone told me the young man who lived there hadn’t been there in years. He left suddenly one night, thirty years ago. They never knew where he went but they weren’t sorry he was gone. Then I went back to the woods where I woke up. I found the woman you murdered that night. She was still there undisturbed.”
“That’s impossible.” Rosco scoffed. “The wolves would have eaten her or carried her away.”
Roman shook his head. “No they never touched her, you see I buried her properly. I carried her into a grotto and laid her to rest. I piled stones on her to keep her from the beasts and other less desirables. She deserved that much at least.”
Rosco jeered. “She deserved nothing. She betrayed me after all I’d done for her. I took her and her son off the streets and into my home.”
Roman shook his head. “And what happened to her son? Did you play your little game with him too? Was he one of your many victims?”
“Yes, he was,” Rosco admitted. “He didn’t last as long as the others but then he was quite a bit younger than the rest.”
“There is a special place in hell for people like you.” Roman seethed. “But while you may not enjoy this evening’s events, I assure you I and the rest of the world will and I’ll sleep like a baby tonight.”
“Do you still bear my brand?’ Rosco asked. “You were the one I desired the most and the one I never could forget.”
“No, I do not. I burned your mark off my chest a very long time ago. I couldn’t stand to look at it. I was born a free man and I will die a free man. I’ll wear no man’s brand.”
“Whether my mark is still there or not, you will always remember it being there. You will wear my brand for the rest of your life.” Rosco sneered.
“I’ll know one thing, one of us got away from you. One of us hunted you down to the ends of the earth and got his revenge,” Roman reminded him.
“And what revenge will you receive tonight?” Rosco asked.
“We will all get to watch wild pigs feed on your flesh,” Jackal grimly informed them both. “This is what we call taking out the trash. The world will never miss you or people like you.” He looked over at the member waiting at the end of the arena.
The man nodded and opened the gate. Several wild pigs rushed in and began rooting around the floor.
When they came closer to Maude, she began screaming. She tried to kick out at them but that only made them come closer.
When they began sniffing around Rosco, drawn by the scent of blood, he tried to stay very still. When he felt the tusks of one of the pigs dig into his leg he tried not to make a sound but it didn’t last.
Maude’s unholy screams echoed off the walls and before long, Rosco began begging for mercy almost before the animals even got started on him.
Roman shook his head when it became apparent that Rosco didn’t do pain very well. He could give it but not take it. He turned to Nikoli and said, “I’m leaving. I’ve got better things to do than watch this.”
Nikoli paused then had to ask, “Did the bastard really brand you?”
Roman stared at Nikoli for a moment. “Yes, he did,” he answered quietly. “I don’t remember much after he threw me up against the wall but just before shit hit the fan that night he heated up his signet ring and pressed the face into my chest.” He shrugged. “I burned the brand off three days later. I was so weak from being stabbed that I couldn’t do much of anything for days but just lay there. I do remember having a fever but I survived.” He looked away. “I met the others a few weeks later. After that, we just did what we had to in order to survive until we met you.”
Nikoli turned to observe the carnage. The pigs had left very little behind and Slade was trying to herd them toward the gate. “So now what?”
“Now I go back home and try to find my woman. If you see her friend, Silas would you ask him to come and see me? I’d like to meet the man.”
“Of course,” Nikoli agreed. “I think I’ll stick around a while until this is finally over. I’d like to see how these men clean up the streets.”
Roman looked around. “They seem like very good men.”
“Yes they do, they remind me of another group of men I once knew.”
Roman gave a slight smile but didn’t say anything as he made his way out of the warehouse. Getting back on the road, he noticed a man standing alongside the road. He was older and his clothes were dirty and torn but the man met his eyes and he wouldn’t look away.
Roman slowed the car and when it stopped, he was next to the man in question. Rolling down the window, he leaned over and called out his name, “Silas?”
The man smiled and nodded.
Roman leaned over and opened the door. “I’ve been wanting to meet you.”
Silas got into his car and Roman drove off.