♫ Heathens - Twenty One Pilots ♫
This motherfucker.
The answer to my last question—could blindly aiding Vic truly be so bad—was a definite yes.
Yes, it could.
I should have stuck to my gut and walked the hell away, spared myself the imminent grief. But no, he hit me with the right bait, and my stupid ass agreed.
Just like he knew I would.
What Vic wanted to do wasn’t just insane. It was damn near suicide. Not only did it involve taking out Miami’s biggest drug lord, it also involved wronging those who’d been bested by said drug lord, too. Those who dreamed of revenge and reclaiming what was once theirs.
Those like me.
The corrupt were far easier to prey on than one would think. Dangle their greatest weakness before them like a fresh slab of meat and we’d fight for it to the death like the rabid dogs we were.
“Yo, earth to Rome,” Vic’s voice boomed, reeling me back into the moment. “You good, bro?”
“Fuckin’ peachy.” I scrubbed a hand down my face, cradling my mouth behind it as I watched him steadily.
One of his perfectly polished brows shot up at the snip in my tone. “I hear sarcasm.”
“No shit, Sherlock,” I growled.
“Care to tell me why? You’ve been in a shit mood since you showed your ass at my office earlier this morning.”
“C’mon, man. Do I really need to lay it out for you in black and white after what I told you?”
“I don’t need a spiel, no. I just wanna know what happened to the Rome I knew,” he clarified, which only served to boil my blood more than it already was.
“Dead and gone, Vic. The Rome you knew has been dead and gone for a long time.”
“And yet, that’s the Rome I need,” he countered.
Scoffing through my nose, I shook my head, mentally chastising myself for feeding into his bullshit again. “Sounds like you’re fucked then, huh?”
“Not particularly, no. Bringing him back from the dead shouldn’t be too difficult with what’s up for grabs and all.”
“And yet, it will be, considering I’m not willing,” I fired back.
“You already agreed,” he asserted.
“Yeah, and now I’m withdrawing. You’ve lost your fucking mind, mate. What you’re trying to do…” I trailed off, pinching the bridge of my nose momentarily before rising onto my feet. “It’s suicide—seriously.”
“Listen to me.” He jumped up from the desk, nervously blocking my escape. “I’m not negating the fact that this is going to be difficult. It is, but that’s why I need you, King. You’re the key to this plan.”
“As I said, sounds like you’re fucked then. I’ve got enough of my own shit to deal with to worry about yours, too, and quite frankly, yours stinks a hell of a lot more than mine. I’m good on that.”
“Hear me out, please. Wiping this leech out is the best thing we can do for Miami. We’d be doing them a goddamn service!”
“And why is that?”
“Because Lux is a backstabbing little thief and it’s time someone finally taught her a lesson,” he sneered.
Her?
Out of everything he’d just said, that one little word stood out most.
“Her? Right, funny.” I chuckled, only to fall abruptly silent at his stoic expression.
“I’m serious,” he deadpanned.
What the fuck?
“Your big, bad drug lord is a bird?” Amusement and partial intrigue practically dripped off my query.
Alright, fuck, full-on intrigue.
Vic hummed in satisfaction and dropped back on his desk, that eerie, despicable smirk curling his lips. He knew he had me, again. “Yep—Queen of Miami if you wanna get into specifics. Beautiful bitch...but lethal as hell. And before you ask,” he cocked his head to one side, “no, you can’t fuck her. You don’t even stand a chance. Trust me when I say you don’t want to either. She’s psychotic; pure evil to the absolute core. Chew you up and spit you out kind of broad.”
I huffed knowingly, moving toward the decanter of whiskey sitting on his bookshelf. Fucker hadn’t even offered me a drink when I arrived. “Sure you’re not embellishing to keep her for yourself, Kane?” I questioned, flipping over one of the sparkling glasses.
We’d been here before hence my asking.
“Hell no. Way too fucking crazy for my liking.”
“That’s what you said about Nadia,” I reminded him.
A nonchalant hitch of his shoulders was my response, his eyes steady on the fact I was helping myself to his alcohol. He didn’t seem pleased and I didn’t give a fuck. “You don’t have to take my word for it, Rome, I’m just trying to spare you from the chaos that is Lux Mercier. She’ll rot what's left of your soul from the inside out, without an ounce of remorse.”
I almost rolled my eyes. Was he for real? Did he not realize he sounded like a ginormous pussy?
“So, am I supposed to be afraid of her or some shit?” I laughed, swiveling toward him with glass in hand, my palm flush to the polished wood. “How bad can she be? She’s a female for fucks sake.”
“A female with a lot of man power. Really, just power in general. Lux is not an easy broad to subdue and she doesn’t scare easily. She’s smart, too, always five steps ahead. Bringing her to her knees is going to take an impenetrable plan and precise tactics.”
Precise tactics my dick. He’s scared of her.
Pathetic.
“Wanna know what I think?” I asked, pushing off toward him. “I think you have this girl on some non-existent, deranged pedestal. She’s a female, Kane—a fe-male. Take what’s yours and be done with it. What’s the worst she could do?”
Vic chuckled, his shoulders bobbing around as if I were the one talking crazy.
“This bitch could start the motherfucking apocalypse. Trust me, Rome. She’s not someone you wanna pick a fight with.”
“Ohhhh, she sounds so scawyyy,” I joked.
It really was a joke though. The relentless and ruthless Vic Kane was afraid of a chick. Quite priceless, if you asked me.
Maybe a little ironic, too.
“You see, this,” he motioned toward me, as appeased as ever. “This, is exactly why I need you. My warning means absolutely nothing to you. If anything, it’s luring you right into my plan. Now that you know who she is, you’re interested as hell to find out more about her, am I right?”
Yes…
But I wasn’t going to admit that. I’d fallen deep enough into his clutches as it is. While he regarded me curiously, awaiting my answer, I dropped down into the nearest seat and took another sip of my drink, my mind racing in a dozen different directions.
Who was this infamous Lux Mercier and what kind of damage had she done on Vic? He could bullshit me all wanted but I knew his motives weren’t just strictly business; they were personal above all else. I could feel it, smell it oozing off him.
But he didn’t need to know of my sixth sense. I’d keep that little morsel of intel to myself. Could come in handy later on down the line should this entire scheme crumble to the ground.
“Exactly,” he concluded, clapping his hands together. “So now my question is, are you in…or out?”
A smile slithered across his face as I contemplated my answer. Running the tips of my fingers along my stubble-dusted jaw, I watched him sharply, noting the nefarious glimmer in his eyes. What looked like hope with a hint of coercion, too. The man was hanging by a thread, pleading with satan himself that’d I’d firmly agree this time around so he could lock me in and throw away the key.
Did I really want to do this?
Was it really worth it?
For starters, I’d be putting myself in the shadowy spotlight of malfeasance yet again, and that presented a problem for me. Could attract a certain breed I had no intention of interacting with ever again.
“Does your previous offer still stand?” I blurted, ‘cause if it didn’t, I was out. I wouldn’t be doing this shit for free, not when so much was at stake.
“Absolutely. I don’t mind sharing with someone who’s going to help make this possible,” he affirmed.
And if he didn’t, I’d kill him. Simple.
“Then you’ve got yourself a deal, Kane.” Holding a hand out, I rose to full height. “But I want proof you’ll hold true to your word. I need a nice place to stay and my own personal form of transportation by the end of the week. Otherwise, I’m afraid I can’t help.”
Didn’t hurt to state my terms and remind him I wasn’t his bitch. He wanted my help? Then we were doing this shit my way.
Vic nodded, grinning from ear to ear as we shook hands. “We can make that happen. C’mon, let’s go meet the boys at Brickhouse and I’ll brief you all on the Queen of Miami. We have moves to make soon.”
“She won’t be the Queen much longer”—I straightened my jacket—“We’ll see what happens once Roman King turns her world upside down.”
* * *
Later on that evening, after a few Corona’s and a lucrative plan laid out for me in great detail, I finally made it back to my suite at The Colony. Weeknight or not, South Beach was thrumming with life, making it nearly impossible for me to drift off. The walls vibrated from the volume of the music and all the commotion outside as I laid there on the plush bed, staring at the tray ceiling above me in sick anticipation.
My entire body buzzed like a live wire at the many ideas racing to the forefront of my mind. The smell of a challenge hung thick in the air, exciting me more than it should’ve. Apparently, Miss Mercier was quite the busy woman; a true hustler focused on her money. Black Widow was her baby, a make-up company she’d launched on whim a little over a year ago. It did well enough that it served perfectly as a cover up operation for her drug ring, too, the drug ring that provided her the money to fund Black Widow.
Oh, but that’s not all.
Oh no.
She was also co-owner of some highly popular dance studio in the city.
The Queen seemed to be more of a jack of all trades, and I was thoroughly intrigued. Was beyond eager to meet this vindictive little pigeon…and turn her life into a living hell.
She deserved it, from what Vic shared with me.
Initially, I wasn’t too fond of what all his strategy entailed, but the more he elaborated and the more I thought on it, the more I realized I’d do anything in my power to make it work.
Vic wanted me on the front lines, the leading pawn meant to hop across the chess board and dethrone the Queen.
And honestly, I was perfectly okay with that.
I’d done it once and I’d do it again.
Not just for Vic and all he’d promised me, but for those who’d been silenced and banished, too.
This woman had ruled over Miami for a minute too long, backstabbing and incinerating anyone who stood in her path along the way.
But not for much longer.
Lux Mercier was about to learn the value of loyalty and respect. And if she didn’t, I wouldn’t hesitate making a mockery of her for all the world to see before sucking the life from her veins.