Chapter 3

Creed

It took all kinds.

That’s something my dear ole dead father had said far too often. As if the man had any right to be appalled with anyone’s behavior, given he’d been a true savage. However, on this sunny and rather humid late afternoon, the phrase suited the situation perfectly.

I was a sadistic man by anyone’s standards, reveling in causing pain before pleasure while spending time with a member of the opposite sex, but I didn’t enjoy heading into a strip club before dark. Maybe it was a just a Creed Saint rule that I hadn’t realized until now. I stood outside the Dark Room, a catchy title for the private club, sighing.

I’d come alone, which had allowed Kane and Christen, my first and second lieutenants to handle the concrete pour. We’d had the groundbreaking ceremony two weeks before and were right on schedule. The last thing I wanted to do was fuck that up because Carlos Alvarez had insisted we meet on this very day.

Granted, he was the kind of customer most corporate men would cater to, allowing for every whim the man had. I wasn’t typical for anyone. I didn’t give a shit he’d signed a contract worth thirty million dollars. If he was an asshole, then he could forget about working with the Saint brothers. I’d shred the legal papers in seconds. And there was nothing a single lawyer could do about it, nor would Carlos dare talk to anyone. He knew better.

I didn’t make it known I sold the company’s goods to cartels who ruled countries, but they would beg, borrow, or steal their hardware from someone. It might as well be from the Saint Corporation.

I pulled off my sunglasses, shaking my head as the booming music from inside leaked from around the edges of the sealed door. I shoved the dark shades into my coat pocket before entering, not needing to flash any credentials at the two barbarians holding court at the entrance. They knew who I was. I doubted there was anyone in town who didn’t.

They also knew who I was coming to meet with as evidenced by the brawny dude on the right pointing to the upper tier. I’d been here twice before, both times for meetings. I knew my way around. I headed toward the set of spiral stairs, the music pumping wildly in my ears. There was no reason for me to be in such a cranky fucking mood, but I was, the task from earlier in the morning doing nothing but sitting like a lead weight in my stomach. Or maybe it was the thought of going to the ballet that had me in a piss poor mood.

I was almost halfway up the steel stairs when my phone buzzed, indicating a text. I could guess who was trying to make contact with one hand minus four fingers. As soon as I pulled the cellphone into my hand, I grinned. I should gamble in my spare time. Stopping short, I took a couple of seconds to text Styx back.

Styx:You are coming tonight, or should I contact Easton so we can go on a hunt together?

My brother meant a hunt for me, but his use of the term was surprising.

Me:I thought you hated the darker part of our legacy.

The three dots indicating he was typing appeared immediately. I leaned against the iron railing, waiting as I scanned the club below. There were four dancers currently on stage, only one of them using a tall metal pole. I had to admit the facility was nicer than several of the dance clubs I’d been in over the last couple of years, the clientele likely demanding it.

I’d learned a long time before that every powerful man had a weakness, a penchant for something. Sex. Drugs. Extortion. Women. Cigars. Every man had different tastes, some favoring the darkest proclivities out there. Finding them and exploiting them when necessary had become another tool in my arsenal. Although as with everything else of late, I’d grown bored.

Styx:It’s growing on me.

I laughed and knew better. My older brother was almost squeaky clean and had been since meeting the love of his life. That left a bad taste in my mouth but at least we’d grown close again, something we’d been as kids but that as well as our humility, our humanity, and our souls had been beaten out of us.

Me: Right. You’re a terrible liar. Wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Yeah, well, the last part was a lie but pretending I was one of the good guys was part of business. I shoved the phone back into my jacket, heading up the last few steps. As expected, Carlos was holding court at the special table in the peak of the odd-shaped loft, two of his soldiers standing a couple of feet away. They bristled at first when I approached until they recognized me, one even pulling out a chair.

A drink had already been ordered. I had no doubt it was the scotch I preferred. If there was one thing about the merciless man who continued to enjoy the art of slaughter like I’d used to, it was that he had excellent tastes and an even better memory.

“Welcome, my American friend,” Carlos said as he leaned back in his chair.

“What do I owe the pleasure of your presence a month early to, Carlos?”

He laughed. “You always did want to get straight to the point.”

“I am a busy man just like yourself.” I lifted my glass, giving him a slight smile before turning my attention to the closest platform being lifted into the air. The club was unique in several ways, including the owner’s forethought into creating various and very distinctive dance numbers. I also liked the fact two of the three dance floors could be raised by several feet, providing the three floors with a more personal dance.

“Yes, and that’s something I can appreciate, Creed. I assure you this won’t take much of your time, but I did prefer to speak in person versus over the phone.”

The girl was bathed in blue neon, collapsed in the middle of the stage, her long hair and arms splayed out in front of her. She wore a striking red leotard, body hugging yet not too revealing. I did prefer to unwrap the package myself instead of having it shoved into my face initially.

I’d never seen her before, but as soon as she began to dance, I was mesmerized. In bare feet, her modern dance was provocative yet subtle, the mask she was wearing adding to the allure of the dance.

I hadn’t realized how entranced I’d become at her presentation until Carlos chuckled from beside me. “She is lovely. Yes? I’ve seen her once before. She is very… what you Americans call lithe in her movements.”

“I think you mean graceful.” And professional. And damn good. As she moved, my cock stirred. I was surprised, pleasantly so.

He laughed. “Yes. Imagine her in bed. However, as you said, you are a busy man.”

I turned my attention back in his direction although the gothic music she’d selected made it difficult to ignore the lovely girl. “What is the issue?”

“We need to renegotiate.”

I was in the middle of taking a gulp of scotch, and almost spit it out. I didn’t like wasting good liquor. I wiped my mouth, taking five seconds to watch as she flew through the air, landing with a hard thud as if in sorrow. Goddamn, my balls were tight.

“Did you suddenly have a brain lapse that we have a signed contract?” I asked, trying to remain neutral.

“And you know in our worlds, that doesn’t matter.”

I was forced to curl my fingers around the glass instead of doing what I’d prefer, snapping the bastard’s neck. To aid in my resistance, I kept my eyes locked on the girl while other lights swept over the audience, including highlighting our table. That was the very moment she’d twirled and dropped a second time onto her knees, the suspended stage creating the illusion of her being only a few feet away. “You have me curious, Carlos. Why the sudden need for a reconfiguration when we’ve been in agreement for four months?”

He’d asked for very specialized equipment, several pieces of security that had required alterations by our computer geeks. That had taken longer than usual.

“Because it would seem getting the shipment back to my country has added danger.”

“Not my problem.” When the girl crawled toward me on all fours before rising onto her knees, running the palms of her flexed hands down her chest as she tossed her hair, my mouth watered. She threw her head back and forth, the glistening light accentuating her long, dark curls.

“It is if you’re the reason for the excessive amount of danger.”

He knew me far too well in that it would take a few seconds for what he’d just said to sink in. When it did and I glanced in his direction, the smug look on his face pissed me off. But I said nothing at first, wondering if the situation with Paul and his friends had led to this. I was no fool. The fucking dark web as well as the gossip on the streets had been buzzing with the fact our family had a new enemy shrouded in the shadows.

It wasn’t rare but with the upcoming quarterly Saint Corporation board meeting, it would need to be brought out in the open. Barely more than two months went by without mention of some asinine organization attempting to usurp our glory. It was to be expected in the kind of business we participated in, but for a man like Carlos to become affected by it, that I didn’t buy.

He was simply a cheap son of a bitch like so many others, the kind of rodent I didn’t have time for.

“And here I thought you were a powerful man.” I gave him a hard stare but everything about the woman drew me back to her gestures as she beckoned for me, daring to drag her tongue around her mouth in the most wicked way possible. I couldn’t help but smile as well as have several luscious and filthy thoughts about what I could do to her.

Including keeping her naked in a cage, disciplining her with one of my favorite straps or canes, and using her body in the vilest manners. Yes, it would be more than enjoyable to drive my thick cock deep inside her pretty pink pussy. Maybe that was the root of my problem, the ugly boredom I’d felt for months. I needed to get laid.

My brothers would laugh at me but there was something about the power of sex that the most vicious and violent men needed in order to carry on.

“Don’t fuck with me, Creed. You’re making a fortune off me. However, it’s costing me a tremendous amount of money to hire additional soldiers.”

The man had an army, unless they’d suddenly jumped ship.

“What the fuck do you want, Carlos?”

“I want you to provide secure passage to Cartagena.”

I took a deep breath. It was a rule everyone who did business with me knew up front. Once the shipments left our warehouses, we weren’t responsible for them. The caution lowered our risks. “Not a chance.”

“I will ask you to reconsider.”

“You knew the requirements the day you contacted me. I suggest you remember who you are dealing with.”

“And I suggest you remember just how powerful I am, Creed. I certainly don’t want to make you an enemy, but I will if necessary.”

The man was stupid enough to threaten me? Was he kidding? He came into my city to be that careless? That meant whatever he’d heard was truly bothering him. Why should that concern me?

Unfortunately, the lovely girl had moved to the other side of the stage, taking her evocative performance away when I needed it to keep from cutting the bastard. Very few things could quiet the beast once he erupted from his lair, and it would seem she was one of them. I shifted my chair, leaning over the table.

“Do you know one of the most effective methods of killing someone in broad daylight in the middle of a huge crowd of people?”

He smiled as if I was surrendering to his sense of logic. He obviously didn’t know me that well.

“Tell me, Creed. I’m certain I’ll be fascinated to hear it.”

I swirled my drink, taking another gulp before answering. “It’s very simple and extremely effective. You come up behind your intended victim, slitting their throat. However, you must slice through their trachea, which effectively pushes the blood flow into their throat. That not only keeps the carnage from view, allowing for time to leave the scene, but they are unable to issue a single sound.” I grinned after issuing my own threat. If anyone knew anything about me, it was that I didn’t make idle threats.

I made solid, reputable promises that could be banked on.

He sat back, understanding what I was saying. “I will ask you to reconsider, Creed. If you do, I will add five million dollars to what you are expecting to be paid.”

I already had a nonrefundable deposit of fifteen million, which was enough to deter most men from making the stupid choice of cancelling a contract, especially since every order was very personal. Often the contracts included items that couldn’t be sold to anyone else.

For the sake of keeping the meeting civil, I nodded. That was something that would need to go through my brothers before any decision was made, but I could virtually guarantee they wouldn’t be keen on the idea. The waters of the gulf were loaded with Coast Guard and other international law agencies determined to crack down on the illegal drug and weapons market.

The Saint Corporation had kept out of being accused of any heinous crime, although the ATF had certainly tried to pin things on us over the years. I wanted it to stay that way. Whether or not we continued selling illegally had yet to be determined, but I wanted it to be our choice.

“I will give it some thought, Alvarez, and be in contact. Enjoy your stay.” As I rose to my feet, I noticed the sinful dancer was getting ready to exit the stage. Why not soothe my anger somewhat by showing my appreciation of the arts. It was that kind of day.

Laughing, I adjusted my jacket as I sauntered down the stairs, well aware Carlos was watching me intently. While the beatings I’d received as a child had cemented my hatred of my father, they’d also taught me to hide my emotions with ease. I was furious, so much so I needed to work off some steam or I would find a hapless victim, inflicting pain when I should be handling business.

As I drew closer to the young woman, I gathered a whiff of her delicate perfume. It wasn’t the usual overpowering cheap shit that I was used to savoring. Hers was a quiet, refreshing citrus and floral combination, the kind only the most innocent women found attractive. But for me, the sweet fragrance evoked even filthier thoughts and images of defiling the lovely creature wearing it.

This afternoon was no exception.

Her manager was talking to her, and it was quite apparent neither one of them was too happy. I waited just off to the left until the manager noticed my presence. It would seem my reputation preceded me. He swallowed hard, then pointed his finger in her face.

“Don’t be late the next time,” he told her.

Sighing, I could tell she was trembling from the asshole’s warning. I hated men like him, dickless wonders who lorded their positions over women. I might not be interested in having any decent kind of relationship, but I couldn’t stand a man who used his heightened level of testosterone as a weapon.

Before she could scuttle off, I moved in front of her. “Never allow men who have nothing better to do than attempt to destroy the beauty and versatility of your craft to trouble you. You are as beautiful as you are talented. I applaud you for being so professional.” I surprised myself with the words, even chuckling inwardly as I pulled out my wallet, folding several bills before lifting her hand. “True beauty.” I folded her fingers around the money, hoping that whatever reason she’d taken the shitty job, the small amount of cash would help. Maybe at least provide a smile.

I doubted any of the fuckers inside the posh club ever took a few minutes out of their precious day to provide compliments to the hired help.

She seemed flustered and I would bet underneath her gothic mask her cheeks were as red as her leotard.

If only I could stay long enough to peel away both.

And ravish her inch by inch.

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