CHAPTER 10 #2
I slam my foot down and drive straight at the fucker.
A roar tears out of my throat, fueled by rage and the need to make an example out of someone.
The man doesn't even have time to turn, my Charger hits him at full speed.
Skin and bone slam against the hood, everything cracks at once.
His body rolls over the windshield before disappearing over the roof.
I slam on the brakes and climb out before the engine even dies. I stalk toward the broken body, he's still alive.
I grab him by the collar and yank him toward me.
“You touched my rookies,” I snarl. “What belongs to my gang.”
The man whimpers in pain, I shake him violently, making him cry out.
“Where's your boss?”
“F-Fuck... y-you.” he spits.
Really?
I hit you with my fucking car, and you're telling me to go fuck myself?
They never learn.
I don't answer, I don't wait, I grab him by the hair, fisting it tightly as my eyes glow brighter, fueled by incandescent rage.
My jaw locks, my grip turns deadly.
“As you wish.”
I pull my arm back, every muscle contracting beneath my skin, then drive his head straight into the concrete.
Crack.
Crack.
Crack.
At first, he screams, then he gurgles then he only whimpers.
I don't stop until the concrete begins to fracture beneath his skull. Blood splatters across my face, across my clothes.
I don’t stop until I hear bone give way.
I don't regret it, I don't give a fuck.
I let the body drop, dismissing him completely. I wipe my hands together and look around.
The rest of my gang is already dealing with the others or helping the rookies—The ones still alive.
Varek is terrifying in a fight. He's deadly calm, one punch, and a guy gets thrown across the ground like he weighs nothing.
Neo is a fucking tornado, usually bare-handed. He snaps necks and grins while doing it, but his eyes stay dead serious.
Ren is different, he prefers weapons. He takes people down by shattering bones, knees, arms or wrists.
That's one of the reasons they're my most loyal and trusted people.
If one day I disappear—even though that'll never fucking happen—I know they'll take care of Crimson Velocity.
I step forward, not toward them.
Toward the rookie I saved, I crouch beside him and assess his injuries.
“Can you stand,” I ask, “or do I need to carry you like a fucking princess?”
The rookie's eyes widen.
“I can stand. I-I think.”
He pushes himself up, but cries out the second he puts weight on his left leg.
From the way he folds over, I'm pretty sure his ribs are fucked too.
I sigh, slide one arm behind his back and the other beneath his knees, careful not to aggravate the broken bones, then lift him.
Carrying him like a fucking princess.
I walk toward one of the gang's trucks.
At least one of my members had the brains to bring it, knowing there'd be injured people.
I carefully lower the rookie inside with the others who are still alive.
“Don't move,” I point at him “or I'll finish the job that bastard started.” I threaten.
Then I turn back toward the fight, it looks like a fucking slaughter.
My gaze sweeps over the battlefield. Some of them are mine, some of them are dead.
I sneer and look away.
“Where's your boss?!” I shout, my voice cutting through the fighting with a deadly edge.
Everyone freezes.
I take a slow step forward, slow and steady. Menacing enough to make them think twice.
“I won't repeat myself.”
One of them, holding one of my members at bay with a raised steel bar, speaks up.
He smirks.
“What do I owe the fucking pleasure?” He looks me up and down. “The boss of Crimson Velocity in person.” A grin spreads across his face. “What a fucking honor. Here I was thinking that crossing into your territory would just make you send more of your little slaves for us to slaughter.”
“It's not you,” I say, sweeping my gaze across the crowd. “You talk too much.”
My eyes keep searching.
“You're hiding like a coward.” I grin and crack my neck. “Show yourself...” I pause. “And I promise I'll spare you.”
Another pause.
“And your members.” I tilt my head. “Mostly.” My grin widens. “Maybe.”
My gang chuckles.
Movement catches the corner of my eye.
Found you.
Before I can move, a gunshot rings out. I stumble back a step and look down.
Warm blood spreads rapidly across my side, I can already tell nothing important got hit.
I press a hand against the wound, lift it, study the blood coating my fingers, then let my arm fall back to my side.
My pain dampeners are already kicking in, taking the edge off the agony.
“You missed.” I take a step forward. “Next time, aim for the head or the heart.”
My eyes glow brighter, I can feel it. I snap my head toward him and lunge.
The wound pulls painfully at my side, but I don't slow down.
I land directly in his path.
“Going somewhere?” I tilt my head.
“I-I...” the leader of this pathetic gang stammers.
Cute.
“I-I...” I repeat, mocking him. “You fucking shot me.” I take another step forward. “But more importantly...”
I lean in.
“You thought you could take my territory and kill my rookies without consequences?” I tower over him. “Big mistake.”
I feel every muscle coil beneath my skin. I pull my fist back and swing.
One hit. That's all it takes.
The leader collapses. I stand over him, my breathing slightly hoarse from the gunshot wound.
“Already?” I sigh. “Oh, come on. We were just getting started.”
I nudge his leg with my boot to see if he's faking. He isn't.
I roll my eyes, bend down, grab him by the arm, and drag him toward my car.
I pop open the trunk and throw the little fucker inside before slamming it shut.
Then I turn back toward the fight or what used to be a fight.
Everything has stopped.
“All of you,” I shout. “Go back to your moms.”
I raise my bloodied hand.
“At the count of one, if any of you are still standing on my territory...”
I point toward Varek, Neo, and Ren.
“The mountain, the tornado and the short-haired asshole over there...” I grin. “They'll kill you. And I'll watch.”
I hold up three fingers.
Then lower one, some of them run.
Some stay, probably thinking I'm bluffing.
I lower the second finger, nobody moves for half a second. Then two more take off running.
Smart.
When I lower the last finger, a handful of idiots are still standing there.
I stare at them. They're convinced I won't actually do it, that I'll show mercy, that I won't let them die.
I already gave them a chance to live.
How fucking noble of me.
Especially when all I really wanted was to kill every last one of them for touching what belongs to me.
“Bold.” I shake my head. “Very stupid.”
My voice comes out low, almost disappointed.
I glance toward my trio and give a single nod, they move instantly with no hesitation, no wasted motion.
Less than a minute later, screams echo through the street. Then bodies start hitting the ground, and as promised, I watch them fall.
“Idiots,” I mutter, more to myself than anyone else.
“Okay.” I look back at my gang. “Clean this shit up.” I pause as I walk toward my car. “Throw them into the docks. Burn them.”
Neo steps forward.
“Evren, you need stitches.” He points at the gunshot wound in my side.
I glance down at the blood still soaking through my shirt before looking back at him.
“At the garage.” I open the driver's door. “If I don't show up in ten minutes, either I'm dead...” A grin spreads across my face. “...or I just wanted to piss you off.”
I slide into the driver's seat.
“You’re an ass.” Neo states.
“But the first option?” I wink. “Isn't happening.”
I drive away.
I think about the fight, the gunshot wound that will make Ren and Neo trying to hold me down for weeks.
There is no fucking way.
It's not fatal, not as long as I stop the bleeding.
That pathetic little gang, their leader knocked out cold in my trunk after a single punch.
I need to deal with him, send a message to every rising gang in Kairo-9—Crimson Velocity's territory is untouchable.
As I drive toward the warehouse, my thoughts drift.
Her.
My knuckles whiten around the steering wheel.
I'll figure out who the fuck she really is... and what makes her fight. Then I need to make sure she never forgets the day she raised a hand against me.