Chapter Five
Savage entered the back of Club Jus Sanguinus.
The head of his security gave a tight nod as he walked past. With his senses open, Savage searched the male’s mind, uncaring if others thought it rude to look without asking.
He was the fucking Boss, and it saved him time.
In his world, his time was worth more than bullshit niceties like asking when everyone who worked for him knew he took what he wanted, when he wanted.
If you didn’t like it, then you shouldn’t have come to work for the likes of him.
“Why did two of our suppliers say they were shorting us this week?” he asked, seeing that it had been an issue they were dealing with.
Royer moved in next to him. He pulled out his iPad and started tapping away as they moved through the hall and down the first flight of stairs.
“Giuseppe said they had supply issues. Taul blamed his shortage on freight delay and some bullshit excuse that you’ll see was a total lie.” Royer handed him the black device.
Savage clicked on the small triangle to start the video playing.
He gritted his teeth as the little shit, who thought he was a big man in town, spoke with several other big players, talking as if Savage was losing his edge.
They spoke on and on as if they were going to take him out, and one of them would become the Mafia King of New York.
“As if any of them have the balls to take me out, let alone the ability.”
“Taul was a little more sophisticated in his approach. He at least tried to hide his movements.” Royer pointed at the following video with one blunt finger.
Savage glared at the other man, who had been his friend for hundreds of years. “You’re not giving the bastard a virtual high-five before we behead him, are you?”
“Hey, I feel it is good form to give props where they are due.”
He slapped the iPad against Royer’s chest. With little effort, he shoved the male out of his way, smirking as Royer hit the concrete wall with a solid thud.
“See, that right there is why you don’t have any friends.”
With the twitch of his finger, he pulled Royer back to him. “Do I look like I want or need friends?” Savage asked. His hand shot out, grabbing the other male by the back of the head.
Royer attempted to jerk away. However, Savage’s grip held him with ease.
He grinned, letting the other man see the futility in his efforts.
His teeth elongated. His eyes became solid black as he held Royer in his mesmerizing stare.
“Tilt your head to the side. Offer your blood for my sustenance,” he growled.
Royer’s eyes widened, pupils blown as he tipped his head to the side. A full body shiver wracked the other male’s large frame. While Savage was several inches taller, they were both about the same size. Before his teeth broke the skin near Royer’s carotid artery, Savage released him.
“Motherfuck, Savage. I was joking.” Royer wiped a hand down his face. The visible shake angered Savage.
“That was a bit harsh, brother,” Scepter said in a deceptively calm tone. Through the path in his mind, Savage could see his second didn’t appreciate his way of handling the other male.
“He’s lucky I didn’t rip his throat out for being a dickwad. You coming down to the candy shop or what?”
“I’m on my way. Try to be...nice.”
Savage closed himself off as he pressed his palm onto the pad next to the steel door leading into what he dubbed the candy shop. The five-foot-thick door opened soundlessly once he’d shown his security clearance and was verified, granting him access to the interior.
“Hello, boys. How are our guests doing?” Savage glided into the room, eyeing the first man lying on a metal table while the other male hung from chains in the ceiling.
“Savage, you and I have worked together for many years, and before you, I worked for your father. You’re making a grave error holding me like this,” Giuseppe said, straining against the cuffs holding his arms above his head.
Beads of sweat gathered along his temples and stained the pits of his expensive button-down shirt.
“Hmm, it is a tragedy for sure, old friend. I never thought the day would come when two men whom I trusted would think to steal from me. I’ve given you both a lot of leeway because of your familial ties.
Some would say too much, since you’ve chosen to steal from the hand that has fed you and your families for over half of your lives.
” He came to a stop in front of Taul, who was at eye level with Savage.
The other man’s toes barely touched the concrete floor.
Despite his perilous position, he didn’t try to alleviate the stress on his wrists as he hung from the ceiling. Interesting.
Bright blue eyes met Savage’s with a calm detachment. He’d met Taul years ago when the other man took over for his father, Taul Sr, at the young age of twenty.
“Your father would be ashamed if he were still alive, boy.” Savage used the other man’s loss as a dig to see if he got a rise out of him.
The slight wince and intake of air, along with the increase in his heart rate, were all things the average human wouldn’t have noticed, letting Savage know he’d hit a nerve.
“Nothing to say?” Savage asked, shaking his head as he looked over at Kessle to see if he was reading anything from the two males.
Kessle grinned. “Giuseppe is a well of information. It seems Taul is angry at you for allowing his father’s death to have gone unpunished. He’s planning your gruesome takedown, and wow, it’s really gnarly, Boss.”
“What the fuck? I didn’t say anything,” Giuseppe gasped. His hips bucked off the table. His head twisted toward a swearing Taul.
“You think I did nothing about your father’s death?
” Savage stepped between the two men and spread his arms. “Stop,” he roared, freezing their thrashing and words.
And because he wanted to make them both aware of his powers, he sealed Taul’s lips with visible-looking stitches, doing the same to Giuseppe.
“Taul has been digging into the murder of his father for the last five years and seems to think you had a hand in it. Of course, the ones who are doing the pointing are not trustworthy, but he and his mother are desperate for answers, even ones that make no sense,” Kessle muttered.
Savage hadn’t thought to go inside the minds of the men who worked for him.
As the Mafia King of New York since the inception in the nineteen hundreds, he’d taken for granted the loyalty they’d given him.
Although he’d had many others in charge, he’d always been the one Boss.
Never, to his knowledge, had any of the underbosses challenged him.
Obviously, he'd lost his edge if a mere human planned his downfall.
The fear he’d wanted to see from Taul earlier came from both men in a rush. The pungent scent of ammonia hit him as dual wet spots appeared on both men’s crotches.
“Ah, sheot, Savage. Look what you made them do,” Kessle groaned and took a step away from the table.
The air stirred near the door as Scepter entered. “I thought I told you to be nice.”
Savage rolled his eyes. “Has everyone forgotten the fact that I’m the Boss around here.
This one,” he stabbed his finger toward Taul.
“He has been actively planning my downfall for some time, all while actively stealing from me, and discussing his plan to take me out with Giuseppe and others. So tell me, have you anything good to report, Scepter?”
“We’ve located both shipments. However, there’s a snag. It appears local law enforcement has been alerted, which means the feds might be as well.” Scepter’s shoulders lifted and fell in a negligent shrug.
Savage looked upward, wondering how the fuck he could’ve missed all the damn signs. “I’m assuming you’ve handled that little situation?”
“I’ve got Harlie and Oakley on it. Within the next hour, it shouldn’t be a problem,” Scepter agreed.
He turned toward Taul. “Your father’s death wasn’t dismissed or swept under a fucking rug, you insolent child.
He was my friend long before you were even a thought in his very dirty mind, and trust me, he and I were friends, so I know him well.
And as I’m sure you might be wondering in that tiny brain of yours what I am, I will tell you, I am not like you.
None of my men, or women, are. We are much, much more.
I’ve been around for centuries. I’ve seen men live and die from natural causes and get murdered for looking at a man’s woman.
However, when someone kills one of mine, I take it very personally.
When they die, they’re not placed in a fancy box, put six feet underground, and then forgotten by me and my kind.
Your father, I considered one of mine. I made sure you and your family were taken care of.
Me. I saw to that. I could’ve put someone else in his place with the snap—” he snapped his fingers before continuing, “instead, I ensured the other Bosses respected you.”
Taul’s nostrils flared.
“You want to speak?” Savage waved his hand, eliminating the stitches.
“You bastard. What the fuck are you?” Taul snarled, spittle and foam spewing out of his mouth.
“I am, in fact, not a bastard. My parents were married when I was conceived. However, what I am is not something you’re ready to hear.
I think what you really need to comprehend is what happened to those who killed your father.
Being a benevolent host, I think I will show you.
Nobody ever said I wasn’t all about showing instead of telling. ”
Savage placed his finger on Taul’s forehead, forcing the images of the night he’d found the men who’d killed his friend, Taul’s father.
Was it a harsh thing for him to do? Yes.
But a necessary one, since the fool wouldn’t believe his words.
Plus, Savage knew that forcing memories into another could cause excruciating pain if he allowed it. And he allowed it this time.