“You want me to say it again, real slow so you understand?”

Jed Byron’s eyes widened with fear as I gripped his shirt sleeve. Chase, our tail gunner, stood at my shoulder. He put his hands on his hips so his cut spread and Jed could see the Nine he had holstered.

“No, man. No. I’m telling you. It’s just a misunderstanding. I’ll have your envelope by the end of the week.”

“You’re not on an installment plan,” Chase said. Jed was on borrowed time. He’d jerked the club along for the last time. We’d provided a shipment to him last week and he’d fallen behind in payments. What’s worse, rumor had it Jed was running scared. It made him a weak link that had to be dealt with.

I pushed Jed against the wall with an armbar under his chin. Adrenaline shot through me as terror filled Jed’s eyes. The guy was trouble. Bear hadn’t wanted to deal with him at all but for a while, his money was good at a time the club was in desperate need. Now, with things looking up and shit calm along the docks, asshats like Jed weren’t as necessary. If that weren’t bad enough, this little prick liked to take his troubles out on his wife’s face. Addie Byron used to date Chase back in the day. We’d seen her around town sporting a black eye just last week.

Rage boiled through me as I squeezed Jed hard enough he started to choke. I don’t know what it’s like for other people. For me, things go dark and quiet. I felt my heartbeat start to slow and a rushing sound filled my ears. Chase said something behind me but the words just flowed together.

“How long did you think you could keep this going, Jed?” I said through clenched teeth. “Huh? One more week? Two? Bear’s a patient man, but he’s not stupid. You think you’d get a better deal from the Hawks up in Laredo. Sheeit.”

One heartbeat. Two. I could crush Jed’s windpipe and end Addie Byron’s troubles forever. She didn’t deserve this fuckhead. He’d had this coming for a long damn time.

“Axle!” Only Chase’s grip on my arm started to pull me back from the brink. My pulse started to quicken and spots swam in front of my eyes. I suppose they did for Jed too. A vein bulged in his temple and the white of his left eye filled with blood as a capillary burst.

I loosened my grip on Jed and let his feet fall to the floor. He doubled over, coughing. A thick line of spit ran from his bottom lip all the way to the ground. He took one staggering step sideways then puked in the corner.

“We clear now, Jed?” I said, side-stepping the mess he’d made on the floor. He put a defensive palm up. I got closer so my boots filled his vision where he looked at the floor. Finally, he got himself together enough to stand upright. Wiping the back of his hand across his mouth, he nodded.

“Wait here. Jesus. Just give me a second.”

Still retching, Jed moved around to the desk in the corner of his office. He ran a shitty tattoo parlor as a front for his main business. Jed Byron was a bookie with an appetite for girls and guns and thumping his wife. He pulled a metal lockbox out of one of the desk drawers and counted out two thick wads of cash. Tossing it to Chase, Jed flopped into his chair, still trying to catch his breath. Chase counted the cash and gave me a quick nod.

“We’re good,” Chase said. “This time.”

“You hear that?” I said. “You’ve got Chase pissed now too, Jed. You’re on a roll.”

“Just take it,” Jed said. “Tell Bear we’re on the same page.”

“Well, I sincerely hope we are, Jed. Because I’m getting sick of having this same conversation week in and week out. If you don’t have the stomach for this business, you might want to think about a career change.”

Sweat rolled down Jed’s temple. He wore a ridiculous Hawaiian shirt and a diamond stud in his left ear. Chances were he took even that from Addie. She’d have been better off staying with Chase. But sweet as she was, Addie was needy. It made her easy prey for a d-bag like Jed.

“Now, you gotta go. I’ve got a full house in the front parlor,” Jed said. “It’s bad for business you being back here.”

Chase laughed. “You serious, man? I’ve seen your work. If one of your customers thinks you inked one of us, that’s good for you. Now, I personally wouldn’t be caught dead out there.”

“Fuck you, Chase,” Jed said, getting bolder. It had to sting knowing Addie had been with Chase first. Plus, with all of his other faults, Jed was a dope fiend. My guess, whatever he’d taken just before we got here was starting to kick in and make him brave.

Chase made a move toward him and this time it was my turn to hold him back.

“We’re done here,” I said. “For now. But do us all a favor and keep your shit straight, Jed.”

Jed put up a hand in surrender. Chase made a move toward the back door. I took a step that way but turned back. As Jed rose to his feet, I landed a blow straight across his nose. Blood poured down his face and stained his fucking Hawaiian shirt.

“That’s for Addie,” I said. “Next time I see a mark on her, you can count on getting double from me.”

Chase was still laughing as we headed out of Jed’s office and into the light.