Chapter 2
Chapter two
Gage
The rumble of my Harley between my legs gives me life, allowing me to breathe as I ride along the open road. The day is cool and grey, great weather to embrace my freedom.
Nomad. Biker. Outlaw.
I’ve had a billion labels, but none of them define me. Revving the throttle, I speed forward, the trees whooshing by in my periphery. The dense forest disappears as I get closer to my destination.
Halo City. So glitzy at first glance, but the underbelly—now that’s where I thrive.
My boss, Vance Landon, has called me in on urgent business. When he says something needs my attention, I know it’s gonna be something big. Halo Protective Group tackles anything that needs doing.
Danger? We laugh.
Help? We provide it.
Backup? Don’t need it.
Rough, tough, and ready for action. Nothing scares me.
I slow as the city comes into view, my bike eating up the ground, but I follow the traffic laws to a tee.
Not wanting to deal with greedy cops and corruption.
The coastal metropolis looms ahead, with giant shining skyscrapers reaching for the heavens.
I make my way around the city, then locate the Halo building.
It’s a shiny steel-and-glass skyscraper, much like any other.
It doesn’t quite catch your attention amid the other buildings, but the tech and everything else within it are top-notch.
At the parking garage, I type in my code and enter before parking my bike in its designated spot.
After removing my gloves and helmet, I fortify myself. Even though the Halo guys are the best of the best, I still hate social interactions, preferring to fly solo and get my orders digitally instead of trekking into the city.
But Vance made it very clear that this was no-phone-level classified.
Color me curious. He flat-out refused to give me any info until I came in.
So, here I am. I lock my Harley in place using the kickstand, then stand and head for the elevator, which requires yet another personalized code.
This place is a fortress, except for a lobby, where clients enter and exit as needed.
The elevator zooms toward the penthouse, and I ignore the press of the walls surrounding me.
It makes my skin itch, but I’m the master of my own emotions.
My body does what I decide. The elevator slows, then dings, and the door opens straight into Ops Headquarters, or as we like to call it, the Glasshouse.
Several guys are in the gym, working out, while others linger on the couches. But I only have eyes for one person, and he’s behind a large, imposing black door.
It looms in front of me, and a tingle of excitement races up my spine.
Action. All this cloak-and-dagger shit must mean serious action is in store.
Hopefully, I’ll get to use my skills. It has been a little while since I’ve gotten to dust off my big toys.
I’m more than ready for whatever he has in store.
Life’s not good unless I’m putting it all on the line.
After shoving the heavy door open, I stride into the office, not even bothering to knock. It swings open without a creak, silent and deadly, the way we like our personnel. My ever-so-prompt boss will be ready and waiting. As the saying goes, if you’re not early, you’re late.
And I’m right.
“Fuck, I’m glad to see you.” Vance stands, gesturing for me to enter. There’s a deep furrow in his brow, and a grim frown twisting his face that makes my nerves tingle.
This is going to be even bigger than I expected.
“Always happy to be here, boss.” I wait awkwardly, sliding my hands into the pockets of my leather jacket.
“We both know that’s a lie, but thank you for coming in. This is top secret.” He studies me closely, tapping his fingers on the desk as he gathers himself.
Jeez. This must really be something. I shift from foot to foot.
“Got something for me?” Direct and to the point, there’s no reason to beat around the bush. Vance needs to spill before I combust.
“You might want to sit down for this one.” He gestures to the chair in his office. With a reluctant sigh, I do as he says, sliding into the cushy seat, ready to get this show on the road.
“Hit me, boss. I ain’t scared. I’ve been ready for this for weeks. Action’s calling my name.” My last mission was a pretty big one. After it, Vance felt I needed a break. I’m not sure that was true at the time, but I am definitely ready to get back out there.
“Fuck, there’s no good way to say this, so I’m just gonna rip off the Band-Aid. You’ve got a message from the Tigress.”
What the...
Holy fuck.
The room spins around me, and my breath gusts out like I’ve been sucker-punched. The Tigress is in a league of her own. A deadly assassin with a perfect kill rating. If she accepts your bounty, it’s lights out.
“Okay... And is she coming for us or asking for a favor?” Her identity is a secret, one only a select few know. Including me.
Though I’m hoping she’s asking for my help, I can’t imagine a single scenario where she might need it.
The Tigress, a.k.a. Katarina Farrelli, is the daughter of Matteo Farrelli, an all-powerful Italian Don who rules through fear.
Out of necessity, Kat a.k.a. Tigress, has become a ruthless assassin who kills without remorse. .. and her family’s secret weapon.
If she’s coming for HPG, this is the end of us. She’ll pick us off one by one, and we won’t have time to see her coming. She’s a cat who enjoys stalking and toying with her prey.
But if she’s asking for a favor... Well, that’s a whole different story.
“I’m pretty sure it’s a favor. Though the letter is in code. It was sent for your eyes only.” I chuckle, knowing my boss wouldn’t be able to stop himself from taking a peek. Kat clearly knew it, too.
Over the years, I’ve had a few run-ins with Katarina. While most of them have been all right, I wouldn’t exactly call them pleasant. At least I still have my head.
He passes me a black envelope, the scratch-mark seal already pried open, making it simple to lift.
Without hesitating, I pull out the letter and scan it, my mouth going dry.
Holy fucking shit. I can’t have read that right.
I quickly read it again, decoding it, and yep, I was right.
“This is a suicide mission.” My eyes meet Vance’s across his desk, and they widen. For me to use that term, he knows it’s truly dangerous. Gulping, I try to dissolve the thick knot in my throat before speaking. “She’s requesting an extraction.”
“For herself? That doesn’t make sense. That woman’s never been stuck a day in her life,” he rants, but a shake of my head stops him.
“No. For her sister. Aurelia. According to this, her father is looking to arrange her marriage. He wants to do it on the basis that she be wed only to the cruelest and sickest of allies.” Knowing Don Farrelli the way I do, I wouldn’t put it past him.
Several years ago, right around the time his wife died, something broke in that man.
The Don was once jovial and fair, but now he’s terrible and terrifying.
Although he has five children, all his anger was directed at his youngest daughter, Aurelia.
Beautiful, bright, and blond, the girl has always stuck out like a sore thumb in that family.
Immediately following his wife’s death, the Don executed countless soldiers of his best friend, Don Rossi’s family, my brother included. Thus starting the Famiglia Feud.
“I don’t understand why Kat needs you. The Tigress should be more than capable of hiding her baby sister from that monster.” Vance cocks his head to the side, considering the angles. “Then again, a boon from The Tigress would be invaluable...”
Just the idea of visiting the Farrelli mansion makes my palms start to sweat.
It’s been forever since I had to face my past. That’s why I joined the Spawn of Hellfire MC in the first place.
They were a club in flux, and I was a man with a past I couldn’t run from any longer.
Of course, that blew up in my face, turning me into a nomad until I eventually found a home here at HPG.
Still have plenty of ties to the Spawn of Hellfire MC, though... Might be a good place to help a woman disappear.
Although I don’t want to get involved in Matteo Farrelli’s business, I can’t just leave Aurelia to a terrible fate. I have the right connections and ability to save her. And according to Katarina, I’m the only one who can.
“It’s time to Halo Up.” I use our team’s favorite phrase, and Vance eyes me warily before nodding in agreement.
“Halo Up.”
We’re really doing this.