Chapter 28 Dragon #2
"Yes, sir," his men said, and one of them picked Xiù up, carrying her out of the place as she was unable to walk on her own.
Dragon watched as Montgomery walked behind Li, but at his side, and a part of him was happy that they had come to an understanding because he could tell which side Montgomery was on. He was Jade Dragon Triad. At least now, Richie wouldn't have to cut ties with his best friend.
"Here's to our new empire," Dragon said as the door closed.
Enzo threw Dragon a nasty look but didn't say anything to the man. "Let's wrap it up and get the fuck out of here," he said instead.
Dragon smiled because he knew why Enzo had looked at him that way.
Their new empire was built on his and Li's relationship as well as Cenzo and Xiù's child.
They were the ones making the grand sacrifice, but Dragon didn't care.
They could work it out because money was the universal unifier. And business was business.
"Let's ride out," Dragon said, and the Lords who were still around said their goodbyes to each other before hopping on their bikes and leaving.
Dragon, Burger, and Nine all rode together, heading back to the clubhouse, and when he got there, he hugged his brothers and family. Then he and Richie went back to their room for some alone time.
"I was so scared, but I just stayed positive," Richie said after listening to Dragon tell him everything that happened.
Dragon held his man closer and kissed the top of his head. "I know, baby, but I was determined to get back home to you. I wasn't going to let anyone take me out."
Richie smiled. "I know you're a badass, but I was still worried."
"I think now we'll be okay. With the Triad forming an alliance with us, we can just have peace and make money," Dragon said.
"My drug has y'all that hopeful?" Richie asked.
"From what you've told me and from your own experience with it, don't you think so?" Dragon asked.
Richie laughed as he thought back to the night he tried it for himself, and he nodded. "I didn't have any withdrawal or side effects. I didn't even feel hungover the next day, just embarrassed."
Dragon chuckled. "You were in good hands, and it's a feel-good drug that will ensure that we have repeat customers.
Gone are the days when we had to pick and choose who gets jobs in the club.
We're all about to be rich, and I'm sure my father is thinking about opening more chapters all over.
Can you imagine a chapter in Singapore or Japan? "
"Wow, it's really that big?"
"Didn't you see this prospect when you and Montgomery were creating it?"
"Yes and no. I mean, Monty wanted to go big with it. He's a businessman, so of course, he saw the full potential. Me... I just wanted to get high without the baggage that comes with other drugs. Something better than marijuana, ya know?"
Dragon nodded. "That university degree came in handy."
Richie chuckled and shifted to rest his chin on Dragon's chest. "So, you met Monty. Did you two get along?"
Dragon sighed with an arch of his brow. "We didn't really have time to chat, but we didn't fight, if that helps. What rank is he in the triad?"
Richie pursed his lips. "He doesn't have a rank that I know of."
"He was giving the orders until Li was free."
"Then those were his people. Ren and he have a security detail, and they follow his orders as well as Ren—mainly Ren's. But Ren is controlled entirely by Monty. So, if Ren says they must follow Monty's command, then they have to obey," Richie said.
"How did Monty do that?"
"One of the reasons why Monty and I could never be lovers is that he's a full-time Dom. As you know, I'm not the submissive type. But that's just one reason; the other is that we are way better friends than we could ever be lovers."
Dragon chuckled. "Are you telling me this because you're worried I'll be jealous of him? Now that we're both out of prison and you'll be able to hang out with him, you don't want me to hate him."
"Maybe," Richie said. "I just don't want you to think that any man is a threat to you when it comes to me. I'm yours through and through."
"Damn right," Dragon said, then lifted Richie's chin with his finger and kissed him. "But getting back to Montgomery."
"Yes?"
"He's triad for sure. He may be a Dom, but they tapped into something else about him. I saw it in his eyes. He's killed someone. He walked into a room full of killers, stone-cold gangsters, and didn't bust a bead of sweat. He was fearless," Dragon said.
"But he's always been that way," Richie stated.
"Trust me. I know a killer when I see one, and he's taken a life at least once," Dragon said.
"Is that a problem for you?" Richie asked.
"Not at all. But I want you to know... keep in mind, if for some unfortunate reason we fall out with the triad, he'll be taking their side," Dragon said.
"And I'll be taking the Lords. The thought of us parting like that does break my heart, and I don't like to think about that possibility, which is why I'm really happy we've decided to form this alliance. But the moment he married Ren, I prepared myself for that worst-case scenario," Richie said.
Dragon nodded, satisfied with his man's answer. "Okay. I just wanted to make sure you were aware and okay with it."
Richie leaned forward and kissed Dragon.
"I know that Monty has a darkness in him.
I knew that if we were to be successful with our drug, just the two of us, that he could really kill people who were a threat to us and sleep like a baby afterward.
I... I can kill if I need to. If it's my life or theirs. "
"Leave that dirty work to me," Dragon said.
"When I can, I will, but I know part of being a Lord is being able to carry my own weight. I'm not a punk—"
"Fuck no, you're not," Dragon said, interjecting because the words 'punk' and 'Richie' should never be mentioned in the same sentence as far as he was concerned.
Richie smiled and kissed his nipple. "But I also know that I'm not like you, Burger, or Nine, or Maverick, or even Ace."
"You're like Charlie and Footlong, and that's okay," Dragon said. "As long as you'll always have the club's back, you're family."
"Always," Richie said, then sat up. "But enough talking. I need you to fill me up with spunk."
Dragon's lips curled up in a lusty grin. "Oh hell yeah."
What a perfect way to pass the time, he thought as he pressed his lips to Richie's.
"Big bro!" Maverick exclaimed as he rushed over to Dragon, wrapping his arms around his brother and giving him a hearty hug.
"Little bro," Dragon said in response as he squeezed the man tightly.
The two parted and smiled widely at each other as they took in their appearance. "I can't believe I had to watch you grow up from being a teen to a man and father behind bars," Dragon said with a hint of regret. He'd missed so much, like birthdays and holidays.
"Man, that's all in the past now. And we'll make sure you'll never have to go back. We've got connections now that we didn't have back then. We had a whole fucking war, and not one cop interrupted us," Maverick said.
"Let's not get too comfortable about that," Tank said. "We need to always be careful on our end."
"True, Uncle... I was just saying," Maverick shrugged.
Dragon patted his brother's shoulder. "I get you, but unc is right. We may be in bed with them, but they didn't put a ring on our finger. We still have to be careful."
"Burger and Akari are so close though," Richie stated.
"Akari is like family to them, but he ain't blood-related. He's staff," Dasan pointed out. "We play it safe no matter what. Like I said, Rico is a fucking rattlesnake, but as long as we continue to prove that he needs us, he'll be okay."
Several men nodded in agreement.
"Enough about all that; let's celebrate! My fucking brother and TT are home," Maverick said, and then he walked over to the big man and hugged him. TT lifted Maverick off his feet, and both men laughed before he was placed back on the floor. "I fucking missed you, man."
"Shit, I missed everyone too. Thank God the Castiellos needed our help and got Dragon and me out earlier. It's so good to be back in my cut, on my hog, and with my club," TT said.
"And your boyfriend," Maverick said.
"Definitely that," TT said with a wide grin.
Dragon watched them talk as they began making their way over to the lounge section.
He still had so much catching up to do. He didn't have much time to chat with his family and club before having to leave to help Enzo out.
Now that was all done, it was time to put his feet up, and that's what he did.
Taking a seat on the sofa and bringing Richie down to sit on his lap, he sipped his cold beer and caught up with his loved ones.
This was the life for a Lord.
The story continues in Empire: Lords of Chaos MC Book 9.