CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
– FALCON –
Thorsten and I are hiding in the shadows behind the back of a bar on the outskirts of town. Macsen, Jocko, and Elric are down the road waiting in case we need backup. Lenz, Midas, and the rest are at the clubhouse guarding our old ladies.
When Livi and Kenz mentioned the possibility of Kayden still working for the cartel, we had to act now. Which is why we’re here tonight, waiting for Kayden to show up. Archer has been notified and he’s putting Bee, his old lady, on digging into the fucker’s background. We had Lenz already doing the same thing for us, but it never hurts to have more eyes on the matter.
Thorsten throws me a look, and I know my brother well enough to see he’s building up to something he wants to either say or ask.
He clears his throat. “Do you…do you talk to her?”
There it is. I stated my claim in front of Kenz’s brothers to fuck with those idiots after he deliberately confronted me. Fucking asking me if I had something to say when it’s damn well common knowledge I don’t say shit. Not ever.
I slowly shake my head. Though, I have given my woman a single word more than once when it was just the two of us. The relief I see in my brother’s gaze lets me know it bugged the shit out of him. He might even think I blame him or have some other reason for not talking since I recently stated something in the middle of the clubhouse.
Taking out my phone, I type the message, “My throat has been fucked up ever since it happened. You know about my stutter. Everything combined is fucked and it’s easier not to use words at all. It is what it is,” and show him the screen.
He releases a deep sigh. “I know. Except, shit has changed now. We could have you checked out, see a specialist, maybe an operation, speech therapy or…fuck, I don’t know. Point is, we can afford it now too.”
Giving my phone my attention, I let my fingers tap the screen and show Thorsten my message. “My life changed the moment Kenz saw my photograph and claimed me. No amount of money, or a voice, will add to what I have now.”
I tuck away my phone when Thorsten says, “Believe me when I say I understand. Livi changed mine, and I’ll fight like hell to keep her at my side.”
Minutes pass as we stare at the back entrance of the bar, still waiting for Kayden to show up, when Thorsten out of the blue states, “Rainer made you his personal enforcer, didn’t he? He used you for his personal shit, or when he didn’t want Atteo to interfere with his shady business. The way you torture without a doubt or remorse, him putting you in the basement, gone most nights. He used you.”
Slowly sucking the crisp air into my lungs, I think about how to respond. There were times growing up where I wanted my brother to find out, while other times I wanted to protect him. Rainer, a man who doesn’t deserve to be called our father. The fucker has never been one to either of us.
Thorsten was always thrown into club business, handling shit Rainer didn’t want to deal with. Me? He hated me with a vengeance. First because our mother held on to me, so I was a momma’s boy who, according to him, was weak. Then he killed her, and I was only good for one thing; raised as the mute torture machine to do his dirty work.
I give Thorsten a tight nod. There’s no need to deny it or spare him from shit that cannot be changed.
“We should have killed him years ago,” Thorsten grumbles.
Smacking his shoulder and gripping it, I give him another nod and move my hand between us before pointing it at the ground.
“Yeah, yeah,” Thorsten mutters. “We’re here now. Both lucky fuckers with gorgeous badass women. Hey, I don’t think I’ve said it yet, but you and your old lady getting rid of a body? Can’t think of anything that would create a more solid bond or show loyalty for that matter.”
I grin while movement catches my attention. We both watch as Kayden grabs a woman by the neck and pushes her to her knees.
I smack Thorsten’s chest with a flat hand and he grumbles, “Oh, I’m seeing it too, brother. He’s a fucking dead man now.” Thorsten brings up his phone and snaps a picture. “I’ll give Archer a heads-up. I’ll be filling out more fucking paperwork.”
Kayden was a prospect and had to return his cut with the prospect rocker. Lo and behold, the fucker is wearing a leather cut with Wisely Dicey patches.
He whips out his dick when Thorsten whispers, “You were right, the sweetbutt led us right to him. I hate the woman, always calling me Thor with a whiny voice. Kayden doesn’t have high standards; the fucker wants his cock sucked and she’s always been easy access.”
In the clubhouse I’ve always kept to myself and out of sight. Didn’t mean I didn’t see or hear things and Kayden was an idiot who liked the outlaw side of our club a little too much.
Taking out one of my ninja stars, I move forward and stay in the shadows. Thorsten moves to the other side and while my brother confronts Kayden, I’m the element of surprise the fucker doesn’t see coming.
“Still on your knees, sucking cock, eh?” Thorsten makes their heads whip in his direction.
Kayden’s cock falls from her mouth as she scrambles back and gets to her feet. The ninja star leaves my hand and cuts through the air until it hits flesh, ripping through it before lodging into the wooden panel of the bar. The fucker’s scream is cut short when I grab him by the throat. I make sure to keep my distance from his bleeding groin.
“Get the fuck out of here, and keep your mouth shut. You know what happens if you don’t,” Thorsten threatens the woman making her bob her head as if her life depends on it and rushes back into the bar.
“We’re going to have a little chat.” My brother gives him those words, but I’m the one dragging him with us.
“Please, come on, man. I didn’t do shit. I’m fucking bleeding all over the place. Fucking stop, okay?”
We approach the vehicle when I’m fed up with Kayden’s stupid ramblings. Jocko is behind the wheel of the SUV when I reach for the side of my jeans where I’ve put a piece of duct tape. Thorsten keeps Kayden in place as I cover Kayden’s mouth. The fucker’s eyes widen and he mumbles stuff as I take out a piece of tarp and cover the back. I strip the fucker of his leather cut and bind his wrists and ankles.
“Oh, the fuck he didn’t,” Jocko growls.
“First we’ll get some answers, then we’ll deal with it,” Thorsten states as I throw Kayden into the SUV.
Pulling my fist back, I punch the fucker’s lights out and close the door.
“Get him back to the clubhouse,” Thorsten orders.
Jocko drives away and we head for our bikes. I’m itching to torture the fucker. Seeing him wear club colors while he’s not a fucking member, or a part of it? Fury hits hard. Like my brother said, he’s a dead man.
Thorsten and I ride side-by-side while the rest follow us back to the clubhouse. Once we park our bikes, I resist the urge to check on my old lady and head straight to the back where we have a warehouse. It’s divided into separate rooms for brothers to crash in, but a few we changed into holding cells.
“Where do you want him, Falcon?” Jocko asks.
I turn to see Jocko and Macsen carrying Kayden inside the warehouse. Pointing at the first cell, they head inside. I take one of the cases lined up on the shelves outside of the room and walk in after them.
“Mind if we stick around?” Macsen asks.
My gaze hits my brother’s, and I tap the patch on my pecs.
Thorsten nods. “Give us an hour and then bring all the members into the backyard for the grand finale.”
“Appreciate it,” Macsen grunts.
Kayden is sitting in a chair, his wrists and ankles taped to the legs and armrests. Panic is in his eyes, and I might be enjoying it a bit too much when I place the case on the small table in the corner. Flipping it open, I let my hand hover above all the different tools and decide on a simple hammer.
I keep my distance, hammer in hand, when Thorsten steps closer and rips the duct tape from the fucker’s mouth. “I only have one question and I only want one word as an answer. Either yes, or no. Listen very carefully…no bullshit loopholes thinking you should reply untruthfully. No bullshit of any kind because we will find out if you’re lying. Now, as for the question I want you to answer…are you still working with the cartel?”
The fucker is already shaking his head before my brother asked the question. “It’s not like that, please, Thorsen, hear me out. I can help you. I can–”
His scream is loud as fuck when I swing the hammer and fracture his shinbone.
“You can…what? Not follow rules?” Thorsten sneers. “Not even do as I asked and answer my fucking question with one simple word? Try. A-fucking-gain.”
Kayden starts to ramble again, making me swing the hammer against the other shinbone. More screams and I fucking love the bloodlust rising inside me to force this fucker to tell the truth.