1. The Price of Survival
1
The Price of Survival
July 3rd 2023
T oday marks the turning point of my life. I have no choice but to step back and place Raphael in charge of the club. The moment I learned that the man I killed had ties to a powerful and dark leader, I knew my world was about to descend into chaos. The weight of my actions and the looming threat of retaliation have made it clear that nothing will ever be the same again. I can’t risk losing my club–my family.
The doorbell to my house rings, jolting me upright and out of bed. I throw on gray sweatpants and a white muscle tank showing my ink-covered skin, nearly tripping over my feet as I rush to the door.
When I opened it, no one was there. Instead, a package sits at my doorstep. I scan the area, searching for whoever might have left it, but no one is in sight. “Quick, little bastards,” I growl under my breath.
I bring the package in, lock the door behind me, and throw a pot of coffee on. I am on edge. Tilting my neck from side to side, I crack like a glow stick. This was the first night in years this home was empty. I had to take Esmé–my little sister, to Sasha’s house to give her a sense of protection while I dealt with whatever the fuck I caused myself.
The smell of freshly brewed coffee wafts through the air, sharp and invigorating. I reach for the coffee cup Esmé made for me years ago in school. The familiar and comforting weight grounds me at the moment and reminds me of all the changes I made in my life just for her.
I watch the rich, dark liquid swirl and settle as I pour it, releasing even more of its enticing aroma. I take a moment to appreciate the balance I aim for in my coffee—not too sweet, not too bitter—just the perfect harmony of flavors that dance on my taste buds, waking me up gently but surely. The robustness of the coffee is like a jolt to my senses, a reminder that the day is about to begin and challenges await.
Sitting at the table in the center of the dining room, I reach for the box. It’s unmarked, plain as day. I pry it open, and there it is—a burner phone, just lying there like a rock weighing heavy in the box. I hesitate, my fingers hovering over it. I take a swig of my drink, feeling the burn as it goes down. Steeling myself, I grab the phone and flip it open, powering it on with a practiced flick. I’ve dealt with these things before; they’re never a good sign.
The screen lights up, and I head straight to the messages. My gut tightens. There it is, just as I suspected—a single message: a location to meet Marklov, complete with the date and time. The message is terse: no frills, just business. I stare at it for a moment, letting its weight sink in. This meeting is going to be anything but simple.
Unknown: Abandoned Warehouse, Riverside. 11/03, 11 PM. Come alone.
It’s funny that I know exactly where that is. I’ve made quite a few stops there before, handling my own business.
My phone rings, causing me to slap the phone shut. It’s Sasha.
“Hey Gabriel, I am sorry to bother you…” she starts, but I interrupt her, my heart racing.
“Sasha, is everything okay? Is Esmé alright?” I blurt out in panic, my mind racing with worst-case scenarios.
“Everything is perfectly fine over here. Relax, amigo. She was worried about you and had a hard time sleeping last night without her big bro there. I think you should try to talk to her.” Sasha’s voice is calm, trying to soothe my nerves.
I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. The thought of Esmé struggling without me there tugs at my heart. “Thanks for letting me know, Sasha. I’ll call her right away.”
“Of course, Gabriel. She just misses you. We all do,” Sasha adds softly before hanging up.
I need to run a few errands before tonight’s event, but before I do anything else, I need to call Esmé.
As I pull up my contact list, my mind can’t help but drift to the club and think about what might be happening in my absence. Raph, my right-hand man, is someone I trust with my life and the club, but the thought of not being there for everyone gnaws at me.
After just two rings, a sweet, tired voice answers.
“Hey Es, you doing okay?”
“I miss you. It feels weird not being in my room, and the scent of spicy cinnamon will probably haunt me for the rest of my life.”
I chuckle. “Well, it could be worse, Es, and don’t worry—I plan on getting you back home as soon as I can. I just have some work to do and don’t want you to be alone.”
“Yeah, yeah. I get it, but I hate it.”
“Do you need me to bring you anything? Do you have your vitamins? Are you eating?”
“No, yes, yes. Relax, I’m not a baby anymore. I have some stuff to do. Call me back later?”
“Stuff like what? You’re only seventeen, Es. What could you possibly need to do in such a timely manner?”
“Te amo.”
“You know you’re never going to outgrow me, Es. You’ll always be my little nina.”
No matter how old she gets, she will always be my sole priority. Life may be a labyrinth of shadows and pain, but let me tell you, Esmé will always be worth it. I’d be there in a heartbeat if she told me she needed me. She is my little sister, my beacon in the darkness.
Every storm we weather, we weather together, and every rare moment of peace is made precious by her presence. No matter what darkness looms, Esmé will always be the light that guides me, the one I would protect with my very last breath.
She lets out a sweet chuckle.
“Te amo yo también,” I let out softly before hanging up.
I smile, feeling a piece of comfort, knowing she is okay and staying strong. Her eighteenth birthday is in a couple of months, and I pray this nightmare will be far over before then.
I know I need to do this. If I don’t, who knows what Marklov will pull out of his ass or how far he will go if I don’t repay him for the loss of one of his men. The stakes are too high, and I can’t afford to take any chances.
Every move I make is crucial, and the pressure is mounting. I need to stay focused and get this done, not just for myself but for everyone involved. The consequences of failure are too dire even to consider. I have to be meticulous and strategic, ensuring that every detail is accounted for because one slip-up could mean the end for me or worse. Those I’ve grown to love and put under my protection.
Esmé is tough. She always has been. I tried to save her childhood as much as I could, but I could only do so much.
I take the last little swig of my coffee and set the cup down, noticing the coffee getting cold. The steam that used to rise from the cup is gone, leaving the surface still.
The warmth that once came from the mug is now just a memory, replaced by a chill. The rich aroma that fills the air starts to fade, and the liquid darkens as it cools. The flavor changes, too, becoming more bitter as it loses its warmth. The mug, once warm in my hands, now feels indifferent. The coffee, now cold, reflects the room’s chill. As they say, “All good things must come to an end.”
A voice cuts through the silence.
“You make living alone look… lonely,” a voice too familiar follows with a slight chuckle.
“Raph, what the fuck are you doing here? Who is watching over the club? And how did you get in so quietly?”
“G. Don’t worry, I got everything under control. I just wanted to check in on you and make sure your head was still attached to your body.”
“You got jokes. I was going to swing by the club later today to check-in. My morning has been unplanned, to say the least.”
“Why don’t you go get some pussy, let loose a little bit. God knows when the last time you had any action was.”
Raphael is correct to a certain degree. Action, as in sex, is slim to none. Action, as in killing, is relatively high. But hey, who says you can’t come when you kill someone?
“Yeah, that’s the least of my worries, mi amigo. I’ve got bigger problemas to handle.”
“Oh, right. Has anything else come of it?”
“I got a burner in the mail today. A location was in the messages. I meet with him tonight.”
“Oh shit, a burner, this fool means business. Do you need the crew and I to follow?”
“No, I go alone. I did this. I don’t need you guys in harm’s way. I am a big boy. I can deal with this shit on my own. I just need everyone to do their part and make sure eyes are always on Esmé.”
“Okay, as you say, boss. If you need me, you know where to find me.” Raph playfully walks out the front door as I shake my head at him. Some days, I don’t know how I put up with him.