Nate
Standing outside the transformed whorehouse, I take a drag of my smoke as I stare at the huge name board that spans across the building. The name Elysium looks perfect in the large, bold lettering.
“Pretty good, right?” Melody asks with a nudge.
I don’t respond but my smile and nod says it all.
“You would never know what this place was. It looks amazing,” Tara adds.
“That was kind of the idea,” Melody says to her with a smile. “Come. I’ll show you around.” Hooking her arm through Tara’s they make their way inside.
I take another, final drag on my smoke before tossing it on the ground. I look up at the security on the door and give them a firm nod. “No club colors,” I say, reminding them that with the makeover comes a whole new set of rules. I enter the new gentleman’s club with a sense of pride. With a huge amount of help from Melody, we’ve turned this place around. The once dingy-looking whorehouse is now an upscale gentleman's club, even if the pussy is the same.
“Goddamn,” Brax hollers as he walks toward me. “You turned this place upside down. Good job, man.” He smiles, offering me his hand. “The whole look and vibe of this place is great.”
“Thanks, man. I’d like to take all the credit, but I really can’t.” I glance over to Melody and Tara as they chat loosely and laugh plenty. My eyes roam the space, noticing some of my men and new, potential clients talking to my girls.
“Don’t fucking downplay it, man. You did this. You made this a safe place for these girls, all while making good business decisions.”
“This is good for the club,” I say leaning forward on the bar. I look at the girl behind the bar, lifting my finger and signaling for her to get me a beer. Grabbing one, she quickly removes the cap and places it down in front of me. I gulp down the beer, resting back against the stool. “Something else that is good for the club will be getting rid of the deal we have with you over the drugs.”
“I know, Nate.”
“And Hunter is coming tonight. You’ll get to meet the real face behind the future of the Deathseekers.”
“We never did have the chat about Brewer. What the fuck is going on, man?”
“Long story short. Looks like Brewer is Tara’s old man. Explains her mom’s hatred of the MC. She’s scared that if Brewer finds out that Tara is his, he’ll set out to kill her.”
“Talk about a mind fuck.”
“Right. So my need to get Brewer out of the picture just got a lot more complicated.”
“She can’t seriously want anything to do with him?”
Taking a huge gulp of my beer, I shrug my shoulders. “She doesn’t know how she feels. What with all the other complicated shit happening right now, things are a bit messed up. I can only imagine what she’s thinking.”
“Of all the goddamn people.” He sighs, shaking his head in disbelief. His arm falls loosely against my shoulders and I give him a sideways glance.
“It does mean that Hunter is her biological brother.”
“Leverage.” He leans closer, almost whispering into my ear.
Furrowing my brow, I give my head a faint shake from side to side. “No, man. I’m not going to use this to manipulate him. I trust him. I have faith in him, as a person.”
“Sappy fucker.”
With a chuckle, I offer him a smirk. “Nah, just not heartless.”
“Fuck you. I have a big heart,” he shoots back, dropping his hand and making a fist. He hits his chest repeatedly and I can’t help but laugh at his stupidity. Everyone knows Brax has an unbreakable love for Isabelle, but fuck, he can be a cold and calculated motherfucker. There’s a side to him that scares the fuck out of me, not that I’d ever let him know that.
“Hey, looks like little bro is here,” he says, slapping my arm and nodding over to the door. I glower at him in warning and he widens his eyes, holding his arms up in a mock surrender.
“Not a word, man. Tonight is important for Tara.”
Resting my hands against the bar, I use them to push away, turning on the spot and heading over to Hunter. “Hey, man,” I say, holding out my hand to him.
He takes it weakly, shaking a little. Without a second thought, I pull him in, patting him on the back.
“The fuck is with the no club colors, man. Just had to leave the cut at the door.”
“Sorry, brother. New look, new rules. I want only the best for my girls and if this is going to be a quality establishment, then it’s business casual only.”
Tipping his head toward mine, he looks me dead in the eye. “I hope this won’t affect my arrangement with Precious?” His voice is just a whisper and his eyes are suddenly lifted and searching the room. I follow his line of sight, his gaze falling upon Precious. Watching, I see him swallowing slowly, his jaw ticking as he observes her speaking with the chief of police.
“Who the fuck is that?”
“He’s from the police department. And let’s just say he works with the MC, not against us. We have his full backing on our new business venture.” I lift my hands, gesturing to the club.
“Listen, Nate.” He jabs his index finger against my chest. “I pay good money to have her exclusively.” He accentuates the word “exclusively.”
“Man, I get it. I do. I’ve known it since forever. You got feelings for that pretty pussy. But this is her job. Fucking men is what she’s being paid for.”
His nostrils flare and his shoulders slump as he presses the bridge of his nose. “I’m the only one she fucks, Nate. I’ll pay. Whatever it takes.”
“Why don’t you just make her yours, man? Take care of her the right way.”
“She has complications at home. She works because she needs the job. So won’t take my money. I’ve already offered. Says she ain’t no charity case.”
“Listen, we’ll honor the agreement… for now. But it’s gonna cost ya!” I smirk and he drops his head backward.
“I’ll pay, man. She’s more than fucking worth it.”
Squeezing his shoulder, I lift my brows. “I’ll take your word on that, brother.”
“Hey.” Tara’s voice calls from behind me, her hand resting against the bottom of my back.
“Hey, baby,” I say, wrapping my hand around her waist and guiding her until she’s standing beside me. “Tara, this is Hunter. Hunter, this is Tara.”
She holds her hand out to him and I see it wavering. His gaze drops to her hand but he doesn’t take it. Instead, he steps forward, holding out his arm and embracing her.
“Hey,” he greets her warmly, his hand rubbing back and forth against her back.
“It’s so good to finally meet you.” She beams, separating from him and looking up at him. I glance between the pair, and I kind of see it. The slight resemblance.
“I guess we have a lot to talk about.”
“We do,” she replies coyly. “I mean, if this is all a bit too weird for you, I’d totally understand. I don’t expect anything from you,” she adds.
“No,” he rushes out. “I’d really like to get to know you.”
Looking between them, I rest one hand on each of their arms. “I’m going to leave you two to chat while I mingle. You know, business stuff.”
Tara chuckles. “Okay, baby.” She lifts up, kissing me lightly on the lips.
I circle the room, chatting and welcoming some of the most influential businessmen in the area. Brax really has some lucrative contacts.
“I love what you’ve done with the place,” Counselor Johnson praises with a huge grin on his face, his eyes never meeting mine. They’re all over the girls as he eye-fucks each and every one, his tongue darting out occasionally. “So how long before you’re open for business?”
“Tomorrow,” I reply but my eye is quickly caught by Zane waving his hand frantically, eyes wide.
“Uh, excuse me for just one minute.” I pat him lightly on the back and he nods, returning his gaze to the earlier eye-fucking of the girls.
I rush over to the door. “What is it, man?”
“You need to come outside. The boy too.” His arm outstretched, he points to Hunter. I tip my head to the side, studying the look on his face.”
“You gotta clue me in, brother.”
“It’s Brewer,” he talks low and through gritted teeth. “Security is struggling to hold the motherfucker back.”
Turning my head, I look over my shoulder at Hunter talking and laughing with Tara. With a roll of my eyes and a sigh I tell him to get my men. Turning and heading over to the pair, I rest my hand on his shoulder to get his attention.
“Can I borrow you for a minute, man?”
“Sure.”
“Stay right here.” I glare at Tara and she looks back at me, frozen to the spot. She must know something is going down, but doesn’t ask. I quickly press my lips to hers, trying to assure her with a fleeting kiss. She grabs a hold of my arm tightly, stopping me from walking away.
“Should I be worried?”
“No, baby. Just stay here, everything is fine.” She loosens her grip on my arm and I manage to break away, making my way outside.
As soon as I push open the door, I can hear the commotion. This is the last thing I need when I’m trying to draw in the big money.
My eyes catch a glimpse of Brewer wrestling to break free from the hold of two of my doormen. My men surround me and I know I need to defuse this situation.
“Let go of him,” I instruct the doormen and they do as I order. A flustered-looking Brewer runs his hand through his hair, attempting to straighten his disheveled appearance.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Son?” He glares at Hunter, tugging on his cut. “You abandoned your club, now your men?”
Throwing a hand in the air, he lets out a huge rush of air. “You know this is where the boys and I hang out. I was just checking out the place since the remodel.”
“So, where was my invite, Nate? Huh?”
“This is a small private gathering for potential new customers. Nothing personal, man. Now, if you don’t mind, I have business to attend to.”
“Nah, see I don’t buy it. What is really fucking going on here? Because it seems that my son is rolling with the wrong crew.”
Stepping closer to Brewer, I narrow my eyes, getting annoyed and fed up with his bullshit. The closer I get the more I smell the overwhelming smell of alcohol. “You need to sober up and go home. Now is not the time.”
“You don’t fucking tell me what to do,” he roars. He’s causing a scene. “I know he’s here. I know Braxton Harris is here and I want to hear what he’s got to say. You promised me a meet, boy. Now I want that goddamn meet.” He steps toward me, his hand pushing against my shoulder.
“Not today, Dad.” Hunter steps in front of him.
“It’s whenever I fucking say it is.” Pulling out his gun, he holds it to his chest. “You need to learn your place, Son.”
“Whoa, everyone needs to calm down,” Zane interjects, appearing by my side. He pulls out his gun, drawing and pressing it against the back of Brewer’s head. “So much as move and I blow your fucking brains out.”
“You need to step down, cocksucker. This is not club business, this is Deathseeker business.”
“Bring your shit to my door and that becomes Savage business. You need to back down and go home.”
“I never back down,” he snarls through gritted teeth.
With a push against his chest I try to remain calm, when all I really want to do is blow this motherfucker’s brains out.
He glares at me but wears a smirk on his lips, like he’s annoyed but is slightly amused.
“Dad, come on, let’s go,” Hunter prompts, sidestepping the barrel of Brewer’s gun and tugging on his arm. But he’s quick to turn on Hunter again, pulling back his arm and striking him across the face. Hunter’s head falls to the side and he places a hand on his cheek where the back of his father’s hand connected with his skin.
Brewer lifts his hand, resuming the aim he had on Hunter. He pulls back, cocking the gun and my adrenaline spikes. I have to do something. Rushing toward him I knock him to the ground, his finger pulling on the trigger and the sound of the gun firing rings out. I roll on the ground, quick to get back on my feet. “Shit, is anyone hurt?” My head sweeps the area, checking on my men before I barrel over to Hunter. “You’re not hit, right?”
“My arm,” he says placing his hand over the wound. “I think the bullet grazed my arm.”
“We should get you cleaned up. Zane, get him out of here. NOW.”
The sound of the door flying open draws my eyes to the entrance of Elysium. Tara comes barreling out, followed by Melody.
“What’s happened?” she gasps, her chest heaving as she tries to take in the scene before her eyes. “I heard the gun go off and panicked.”
“Get back inside,” I shout at her with a little more venom than intended, my protective mode is in overdrive.
Brewer yells and struggles against Roach and Zane’s hold. “Get the fuck off me,” he roars, gun still in his hand.
“Let go of the gun, Dad.” Hunter steps toward him, trying to get the gun out of his hand while he thrashes in the grips of my men. My head whips between Brewer and Tara. She turns to make her way inside and I can’t help but relax as she steps away from danger. But she stops, turning on the spot.
“This is Brewer?” she asks me, her hand pointing at him and her eyes fixed at the madman holding the gun.
Breaking free of the hold my men have on him, he charges toward Tara, wrapping his arm around her neck and pulling her backward. She struggles against his hold and I charge toward them, only to freeze when he holds the gun to her head. Brewer continues to move backward until he’s close to the side of the building.
I’m not going to allow this motherfucker to hurt her but I’m torn between the gun against her head and the need to go over there and kick the fuck out of him.
“Dad, don’t do this... please.” Hunter holds up one hand taking small steps toward him as he pleads with his father.
“What? What is she to you?” He shoves the barrel of the gun harder against her head and I jerk forward. Zane captures my arm, holding me back.
“Don’t do anything rash, boss.”
“Let her go, Brewer,” I yell over to him, anger lacing my tone. My whole body shakes as my adrenaline spikes.
“You’re in no position to make demands,” he taunts and I struggle to keep my explosive rage canned. Blood rushes to my head and it starts to pound.
His arm around her neck tightens and she tugs at his arm, trying to get him to loosen the hold. Her eyes are wide and pleading with me to help her.
Fuck.
I feel so useless. I rush over and he could pull the trigger. But that tearful look in her eyes is like a knife in my throat. I feel like I’m struggling to breathe and all I can hope is that Hunter can talk him down.
Tara cries out, the color draining from her face.
“Let her go,” Hunter yells and the seconds feel like hours. Every millisecond he has hold of her feels like a lifetime.
“I want to hurt her. Fuck her up and really show this pussy who’s boss around here. Because that prick there,” he points to me. “He ain’t nobody.”
“NO!” Hunter yells, racing toward his father and knocking him and Tara to the ground. I see my chance, so I take it. I race over, grabbing her hand and pulling her up from the ground.
“She’s your daughter, asshole. Tara is my sister.”
“Wh-h-at?” he stutters. “No, it’s not possible.”
“No,” Tara cries out. “My mom, Nate. He can’t know.”
“Take her inside,” I instruct to Melody and make sure the pair are safely back inside before turning my attention to the asshole whose life I’m about to rip from him.
The rumble of bikes approaching behind us puts me on high alert. I look between Brewer’s crew approaching and my men.
I glance over to Brewer and Hunter. Brewer’s gun is pointed at Hunter once again.
What the fuck do I do?
Reaching inside my pocket I draw on Brewer. My arm held out and my feet moving me closer to him, I pull the trigger, the shot ringing out. But I miss.
“You better run, motherfucker,” I growl, my anger no longer under any kind of control. The darkness clouds my vision and making this cocksucker pay is all I can see.
“Let him go,” Brewer’s VP roars, pointing his gun directly at me. “Unless you want a mass murder outside your new shiny establishment, I suggest you stand down.”
Hunter steps up and races over to where his MC is lined up, guns cocked and pointing at my men.
“Guys, don’t do this.” Hunter tries to intervene but it seems useless.
Brewer’s VP lowers his gun firing a shot at the ground. “Drop your gun. Last fucking chance. I have no idea what has happened here, but you let him go and we talk this out later. It’s what's best for both clubs.”
Brewer races toward his bike, covered by his line of men and I struggle to get a clear aim on him.
“This isn’t your fight, VP, and it ain’t club business. This is between me and Brewer.”
“What the fuck?” Brax exclaims, coming up behind me. His eyes wide with shock as he focuses on the Deathseekers standing with their guns cocked and pointing at me and my men. Pulling out his gun, he releases the safety and points toward the gang. “I asked what the fuck is going on. So would one of you please answer my goddamn question.”
“Fucking Brewer,” I grate out.
“It’s ’bout time you fuckers saw what your prez is really like.”
“We take this to the table and find out what the fuck happened here today.” The VP glances to Hunter and gives him a flick of his head. “You coming?”
“I’ll catch up with you.” Some of the crew step toward Hunter, shaking his hand and slapping his back. Whispers are exchanged but I can’t make out what’s being said.
“Boss, what do we do? Just let them walk away?” Zane asks in a low voice, his eyes full of concern.
“For now, yes.”
“Listen, man, I’m so sorry about Brewer,” Hunter says with a shake of his head.
“You know what this means, right?” I’m quick to reply.
“I know the score,” he says, his head falling and his hands pushed into his jeans pockets. “You do what you gotta do. I won’t stand in your way.”
An angry Brax interjects. “You have to find him and now. I’ll get my men all over this.” He goes to dig out his phone, but my hand lands heavy on his arm, stopping him.
“Brax, man. I love that you have my back. I appreciate you, brother, you know that. But I have to deal with this myself. The club has to deal with this.”
He inhales loudly, dragging one hand down his face. “I get this is Savage business, but Brewer is as dangerous, if not more so than Jeffries. I can’t and won’t allow anything to happen to Tara, or the baby.”
His words hit like a sucker punch. I failed to protect her once and he’s worried I’ll fail again. “Brutal,” I say with a sigh.
“I’m not trying to piss you off or cause trouble here, Nate. But the truth is, I won’t allow anything to happen to her…”
“Don’t you think that’s my responsibility?” I snap, my voice becoming louder as I struggle to hold back my anger. “I will do everything I can to keep her safe.”
“And you.” Brax turns to Hunter. “You need to bring your club up to speed. They can and will not back your father. Doing so will be your downfall. So if you love your club and men, I suggest you set the wheels in motion. Or so help me God.”
“What… you think I have some sort of control over the club.” He laughs. “Are you out of your goddamn mind?” Hunter scoffs, shaking his head from side to side.
Brax steps closer, until their faces almost touch. “Get. Control.”
“Yeah, I hate to break it to you, man. You either fight for control of the club or we patch over. Our club will take control of yours.”
“Ain’t gonna happen. The issue here is with my father, not with my club, or the men.” Hunter becomes more animated, jabbing his finger toward the ground.
“Your club, those men, just allowed your father to get away. They are just as responsible,” Brax snarls.
“That’s bullshit and you know it,” he throws back, stepping away from Brax. “They had no idea what my father had done. How could they? They’re loyal to my father, naturally.”
Glancing between the two men, I see the small smirk tugging at the corner of Brax’s lips and know exactly what game he’s playing. He’s trying to antagonize Hunter. Get him to react. And he’s playing a good game. Glaring at one another, I know I have to step in and defuse this before someone gets hurt.
“Guys, let’s wrap it up. This is the grand opening and not exactly the first impression I’m trying to give to potential customers. Besides, we need to get back inside and check on the girls.”
“Sure,” Brax replies leisurely, a weak shrug and a turn on his heel, he makes his way back inside. I give the nod to my men until just Hunter and I are standing face-to-face.
“Guess it’s time to stand up, huh?”
“You got a lot of work ahead of you, Hunter. But one thing I need you to do is make sure that Tara’s mom isn’t in danger. You blurted out a secret to your father that Tara’s mom had kept to herself for years. She’s fearful of Brewer, and she has every right to fear him. Between us, I’ve given her the money to go somewhere, to escape for a while, just until the dust settles. But you need to check, bro. This one is on you.”
“I was trying to save her life. Dad wouldn’t hurt her knowing she was his own flesh and blood. Well, not physically anyway.”
“I’m not sure you really know what he’s capable of, Hunter.”
And that was the truth. I’m not sure any of us know how dangerous the leader of the Deathseekers really is. But I’m not taking any chances.
“Listen, I’m gonna split. I’m taking Tara with me, so I need you to clean up this mess. Locate your father and keep her mom safe. It’s the least you can do.” Tapping his upper arm a little with the palm of my hand, I flash him a sympathetic smile. “I’m trusting you, brother. Don’t let me down… or Tara for that fact.”
Standing up tall and lifting his chin, he gives me a confident smile. “I won’t. This is my time. My chance to make something of myself and the club. I won’t let either of you down.”
“Glad to hear it.” Turning away, I head back inside to grab my girl. I need to know she’s okay. I need to make her okay.