Chapter Three
Hurricane
The brothers take their seats around the wooden table with ornate carvings. The thing is a work of art as I stand with my back against the wall. Pono turns to me and gestures for the seat at the end of the table. “Brother Hurricane, take a seat. You are welcome at church anytime.”
I slide in, sitting at the table as requested before Pono bangs his gavel. “Welcome to Oahu, Hurricane. It is our honor to receive you today, and you have come at a time when our club could do with the help of another haole. One whom the people of our island don’t know.”
I sit taller after being referred to as a non-Polynesian, intrigued by his situation. “I’m here on my honeymoon, but if the job isn’t too involved, I’d be willin’ to help however I can.”
Pono glances at Mauka, and he rolls his shoulders. “Thing is, Hurricane, it involves Malia and my daughter, Nalani. We believe she is involved with our rivals, more specifically, the son of our rival.”
Grimacing, I let out a heavy exhale. “That shit is never good. Who are you at war with?”
Pono scowls, sliding a folder across the table toward me.
I place my hand on top to stop the folder from sliding off the end, and he dips his head.
“Their information is inside, but they’ve been on the island for as long as we can remember.
They do all their business out of Chinatown and call themselves The Ministry.
In the folder, you’ll see a dossier on their business dealings and their three main players. ”
My lips turn down, wondering exactly what the fuck Pono and Mauka want from me regarding this?
But my curiosity gets the better of me, and I open the folder to view the pictures of the men, heavily tattooed, each with an upside-down cross on their chest, surrounded by other tribal markings.
My eyes widen as I let out a small laugh.
“Upside down cross, great start,” I mumble.
“It’s the cross of Saint Peter, but it is speculated that The Ministry is into satanic rituals, and that is the use of their cross. Getting it tattooed on them is their initiation into The Ministry.”
I flick through the pages, looking at the three people.
Jun Liú—head of The Ministry. Seems to run a tight ship and keeps his men under control.
Cheng Xú—second-in-command. The quiet assassin, by the look of it. This guy keeps to himself, but if you want something done, he is the go-to guy who gets shit taken care of. People don’t tend to make it out alive if they cross paths with him.
Park Liú—the only son of Jun and heir to the throne of The Ministry. He’s young, though, and impressionable. Only twenty-one, he has a long way to go to get to a top-ranking level.
Turning the page, I scan the rap sheet to view the shit they dabble in—money laundering, gambling rings, prostitution, and the list goes on and on. These guys do it all.
Raising my brow, I glance up, letting out a small chuckle. “And what is it exactly you want me to do that involves assholes like these?”
Mauka places his closed fists on the table, leaning forward, his eyes somber as he rubs at his salt-and-pepper beard. “Our daughter, Nalani, has gotten close to Park. Too close. And we think he is brainwashing her against us, or maybe using her to get information on us and what we do.”
“That’s unfortunate, but without me knowin’ what it is you do and what you’re askin’, I don’t know how I can help.”
Mauka looks at his president, and he dips his chin in acknowledgment.
“We may be a small club, but we run a big operation…” He pauses momentarily to get his words correct before speaking them.
“We make methamphetamine for the island. The Ministry wants to cut into our profits. They know we have the market, but they want to know everything about our process and how we are the only ones on the island doing this. They want to cut us off at the knees so they can add our market to their list of earnings. But it’s our only source of income for the club.
They cut that off, and our club goes under.
If Nalani spills the beans, Oahu Defiance will bleed… in more ways than one.”
“So what do you want me to do?” I ask again for clarity.
“None of us can frequent the local haunts where The Ministry hangs out. We want to get to Nalani and try to lead her away from Park and the rest of those assholes. We need to convince her to return to Defiance, but we can’t get close enough before all hell breaks loose.
But a haole going in, someone they don’t know, a stranger if you will, perhaps he could pull her aside and talk to her.
Tell her what is at stake, then maybe… maybe she will come home to us. ”
Rolling my shoulders, my thoughts instantly cross to my pregnant wife outside. I don’t want to disappoint her on our honeymoon and run off doing damn club business.
But these are my brothers, and if I can help them, I have to try.
“If I do this, Kaia stays here under your protection while I’m gone.”
They all nod, but Pono speaks, “You do this for us, brother. You get Nalani home. Then Oahu will be forever in your debt. You do anything you need to bring her home to us, Hurricane… just don’t get caught.
Of course, we will have your back, but those Ministry men don’t play.
They will have you on the ground before you even have a second to think, let alone react, if they are made aware you are there to cause a problem. ”
Inhaling deeply, I crane my neck to the side. Great. “Okay, tell me where to go. I’ll make my way there now. Let’s fuckin’ do this!”
Wipeout types something into his laptop, then spins it around to face us all. “Tracking Nalani’s watch, it pings her at a sushi train in Chinatown. Generally, that is where The Ministry has its meetings with new clients. Nalani must be there with Park while his father and Cheng discuss business.”
“So how the fuck do I talk to her if she’s gonna be with Park the whole time?” I ask.
“Wait till she goes to the bathroom?” Chopsticks states with a shrug.
“Bit fuckin’ seedy, but it works,” I reply. “All right! Send me the location of the sushi train and a picture of Nalani so I know who I’m lookin’ for. I’ll take my rental. That way, it’s even less likely to be the club because there’s no bike.”
“Good idea, and Hurricane? Thanks for helping us get my baby girl back,” Mauka states, his eyes hopeful.
I nod. “You got it. Just don’t tell Kaia what I’m doin’ till I get back. She’s gonna kick my ass as it is. So at least if I come back with Nalani, it’ll make the ass kickin’ worth the pain Kaia is gonna put me through.”
Mauka chuckles. “Totally understood, brother. Malia would be exactly the same. Be careful, and if you need backup, text my cell with a 9-1-1. We’ll come with lights and sirens.”
Chuckling, I stand, the other guys following me. “Appreciate that. I’ll do my absolute best to bring her back to you.”
“That’s all we ask,” Pono urges before I walk toward the door, a text shooting through to my cell with the coordinates and the picture I requested.
As I walk out into the main clubrooms, my eyes scan the room. Kaia is sitting with Malia—she looks so happy right now. I don’t want to upset her, and she hasn’t realized I have come out from church, so I’m just going to leave.
She can castrate me when I get back.
I turn back, looking at Pono and Mauka, signaling to Kaia, and they dip their heads in acknowledgment.
So I continue outside and step over to my rental.
Pressing the button, the car unlocks, and I jump in.
An uneasiness flows through my stomach. It feels strange going out on a mission without my men, my NOLA brothers behind me for backup.
I’m completely out on my own here with no one to watch my damn six.
I can do this.
I’m the president of NOLA fucking Defiance!
I’ve been through so much with Anton Novikov and the Bratva.
I have never backed down from a fight, but somehow this feels different.
I have a child on the way, and I don’t even know if it’s a boy or a girl.
I haven’t even heard its heartbeat yet. I haven’t even been able to feel the little thing kick Kaia’s belly.
It’s too soon, and the idea that I could be walking into this unknown, alone, without backup, unsettles me more than I’d like to admit.
But I must keep my wits about me for the sake of Kaia and our little ones.
Because I am not coming home from this honeymoon in a fucking body bag.
No.
Fucking.
Way.
I flick on maps and drive to the city to find Chinatown. Taking a few wrong turns and getting frustrated, but eventually, I find where I’m meant to be. After parking the car, I pull my cell from the holder when a text comes through.
Old Lady: I told Mauka if he didn’t tell me where you went, I would castrate him. If you die out there, I’m going to fucking kill you. Be safe.
Smiling, I quickly type back a response.
Me: Just got here. Going radio silent. Will let you know when I’m on my way back. Love you. x
Flicking my cell to silent, I place it in my pocket.
Then I jump out of the car, take off my cut, and store it under the seat of the driver’s side.
Closing the car door, I then turn and make my way into Chinatown.
The buzz and atmosphere of this place is electric—the smells, the sounds, the colors.
I have never been in a Chinatown before, but I will admit this one is pretty fucking cool.
As I glance at all the stores along the street, I spot the sushi train they mentioned, and my stomach swirls in apprehension.
Gritting my teeth, I step up to the window and pull out my cell, quickly glancing at the picture of Nalani on my screen.
My eyes shift up to see her sitting near the back with a guy who definitely looks like the picture of Park from the dossier.