Zephyr Chapter 21 #3
No one bothered replying verbally. Instead, Harbinger casually backhanded him. “No more. Piss yourself if you want, but you’re not getting one more damn thing until you explain the rest,” he snapped. Ducky glared at Harbinger for several beats before he resumed speaking.
“He said that he had to know if the curse was weakening. It seems about six months ago, Aksel came across a man who knew all about the curse you’re all under.
The guy told Aksel that immortality was fleeting and that the key was to know when it weakened.
The man said he knew of the curse through an ancestor—someone who would know what happened the night the curse was cast.
“He claimed that Aksel would know when that time came because others would begin to have wives, husbands, and even children. When that began, the bonds were weak, and it was possible to eliminate enemies once and for all.
“After that, Aksel apparently became obsessed with finding out if it was true. He kept searching for anyone in his original group who had left and betrayed him. He wanted to see if the time was now. Then, when he recognized your descriptions and photos, he was excited. He had to know if any of you could be killed. You had a woman with you, one who was claimed based on the property cut she wore. He took that as a sign. Caves was ordered to see who he could kill. He had no idea that you were all supposedly immortal. Aksel didn’t care whether he survived.
“When Caves failed to return, I was contacted and ordered to send a few more of my men to your compound. Your cuts at the rally led us to where you lived. It didn’t take much asking to find your so-called compound.
However, as we waited for them to return, things got out of hand, and the next thing I knew, you attacked our clubhouse and killed everyone but me. ”
“What was the man’s name who told Aksel this story?” Pirate asked.
“Did he say who exactly was his ancestor who told of the curse? Or where the information about weakening the bonds came from?” Everlyn added.
I knew she was wondering why Sokanon hadn’t passed that along her family line if it had been said that night.
“The man’s name was Gunther. He claimed it had been passed down through his family for generations. He sought out Aksel in the hopes that he’d find the information helpful and would be willing to reward him,” Ducky continued.
“And did he reward him?” I asked.
Ducky grimaced. “He killed him. That’s all I know, I swear.
I never wanted anything like this. I just wanted to have my club and live life the way I wanted.
I should’ve never listened to Aksel when he approached my club.
He wanted us to become a chapter of his MC.
He talked about strength in numbers and how being a single chapter without sister clubs left us vulnerable.
I knew he was right, so we patched over.
I thought it meant safety, brotherhood. It didn’t. Instead, it meant death.”
“You’re right, you shouldn’t have. Tell us. Where exactly is the charter chapter that Aksel runs?” Raider asked.
A look of fear overcame Ducky’s face. He shook his head hard. “I can’t help you with that. No one knows exactly where it is. Aksel likes it that way. He says no one can betray him if they can’t pinpoint his location. He has trust issues.”
“But you have to have seen or heard something. A state? A town?” Harbinger said kindly.
“You don’t understand, Aksel is the devil. He’s got abilities, and he’ll find you no matter what. He knows when someone betrays him. He’ll know what I told you. Please, I don’t know anything else. Let me go. Tell everyone you killed us all. I’ll disappear and never show my face again,” he pleaded.
“Ducky, you’re holding something back. I can tell. What is it?” Invader pushed.
For the next twenty minutes, the pushing was repeated, growing in intensity. There were punches and more backhanded slaps. Finally, after a good pounding from Harbinger, Ducky broke.
“Aksel wanted firsthand confirmation, so he sent one of his own men down to wait nearby. He didn’t want to be too close, so he’s staying in Blakely, Georgia. It’s about fifty miles from Albany.”
“We need a name and address,” Raider growled. He was at the end of his patience. No one could blame him.
“He’s called Wick. As for where he’s staying, it’s a small house outside of town. He doesn’t like prying eyes. The address is on a piece of paper in my left outer cut pocket,” he said, tiredly gesturing with his chin.
It was Pirate who looked and found the piece of paper. He examined it, then nodded. “It’s got an address on it.”
“How long will he wait?” Everlyn asked.
She’d been quiet for a while. I was afraid this was becoming too much for her, but I knew not to suggest she leave.
“He gave us twenty-four hours from the time of the attack, which gives you until seven o’clock tonight, unless he gets antsy and tries to call me. If that happens, and I don’t answer, he’ll get suspicious,” Ducky replied.
“You mentioned Aksel wanted confirmation. Was he expecting a phone call, a picture, or a personal visit to verify it?” Invader asked.
There was a hesitation from Ducky lasting a mere three seconds before he caved. He was tired and just wanted it over with, which was funny since we hadn’t actually gone hard at him or been at this long. He was weak.
“A face-to-face at the address and…we were to deliver something to him if we succeeded in killing any of you.” His voice was barely above a whisper.
“Oh yeah, what was that?” I asked. Ducky frowned before answering, softly.
“Aksel wanted your heads cut off and delivered to Wick, so he can deliver them to Aksel when he returns home.”
A chill went through me. I saw the color drain from Everlyn’s face as my brothers’ faces turned to granite.
We knew what we had to do. It was time to pay Wick a visit.
I wondered which of Aksel’s old followers he was.
It would be interesting to catch up. We might not be able to kill him, but anything that prevented Aksel from getting back one of his main guys was a win.
We’d find a way to keep him prisoner and have the pleasure of making his eternal life utter hell.
But before that could happen, I needed to get Everlyn to lie down. And to figure out what I did next. Should I go with the group sent to take care of Wick? Or stay here and try to save my relationship? Both choices pulled at me.
They returned Ducky to the cell, I pondered it. I knew we wouldn’t dispose of him until we verified his information. That was in case we had to question him further to get the real truth. I almost pitied him if he was lying.