Hidden Empire: The Complete Series

1. Dax

DAX

The feel of your fist hitting against flesh is such an oddly satisfying feeling. Especially when it’s some cockwaffle who owes the leader of the organization I work with an explanation. I flick my wrist to shake off the blood and snot I got from punching the man I was questioning in the nose.

“Zeek, Zeek, Zeek,” I murmured as I walked around the chair he was tied to. “You do realize that the fact that I'm here dealing with this problem means you royally fucked up right.”

“Dax… please… I didn’t know who they were,” Zeek begged his eyes as wide as they could be with them swelling shut. Blood dripped off his chin from his broken nose and the cut under one eye.

Grabbing a handful of hair I yanked his head back so he could look me in the eye.

Even though I was five foot nothing, having him sitting brought him to the perfect level and I used that to my advantage.

“Here’s the thing… I don’t believe you. Two Tricks number one rival comes to you to smuggle their dirty money out of the country and you didn’t know?

The De León cartel isn’t where they are today from making rookie mistakes like that. ”

I released his hair and took out one of my daggers from my thigh sheath and flipped it as I started my walk around his chair again. When I face him I grasp the hilt tight and slam the knife into the chair right between his legs just missing the family jewels.

“You fucking crazy bitch!” Zeek spat out getting blood on me.

I frowned down at the blood then back at Zeek my eyes narrowing. “What did you just call me?”

Horror washed over Zeek’s face as he understood what he’d done.

“I’m sorry, please, I didn’t mean to call you that.

I apologize you are in no way a bitch, you're crazy— but not a bitch,” Zeek back-peddled, desperate to keep himself alive but he had done the one thing he shouldn’t so I stabbed him in the meaty part of his thigh and twisted.

“FUCK ME, SON OF A BITCH! I’ll admit it!

You’re right, I knew who they were! They gave me the payment up front and said if I proved to be trustworthy they would double it the next time.

I should’ve never made the deal, I knew you would find out. You always find out.”

I patted Zeeks cheek roughly giving him a smile. “Thank you for being honest and apologizing for being so rude. Now that I have this valuable information I’ll let my boys take over from here.”

I waved a hand to Jeff and Brian, two of my soldiers, signaling them to finish the job.

I’d gotten the information I needed and Wes had already gotten the hard data off Zeek’s computer so my work here was done.

I stopped to wash my hands and arms in the kitchen sink, making sure to remove all the blood.

Wouldn’t want to leave any evidence of what happened here as I took the long way back on my new bike.

Hopping on and pulling my helmet on, I started my new baby up and took off out of the warehouse parking lot.

The feel of the wind whipping by me while the sun beat down on my skin made me feel alive.

The hum of the engine between my legs made me smile at the raw power I controlled.

Oh, I’m sure you're thinking I’m on some sleek crotch rocket in a bikini like all the other girls in LA.

Naw not me. Nope, I needed something a little more substantial if you will between my thighs.

My baby was a stripped-down, blacked-out, Harley Iron 883 customized for more speed and power that could take me anywhere.

Or at least outrun any cop that would try and stop me.

The chirp in my ear signaled me that I had a call coming in.

Glancing down at my smartwatch I saw that it was the shop.

Growling I swiped to accept the call to my helmet's audio.

“This better be good,” I demanded, Wes knew not to bother me on a job.

“Kimber’s here,” Weston stated. “She brought a friend who wants you to set up a meeting with Tricks.”

Icy shock ran through my veins at this information. “I’m on my way.”

Hanging up the call I gunned the throttle on my bike weaving through traffic as cars honked at me.

Showing how much I cared I flipped them off as I left them in my dust. Why was Devin’s hoe bag of a wife looking for me of all people?

When my twin chose to join the Blackjax’s Motorcycle Club or MC, to be with Kimber I lost my shit.

I of course didn’t find out about it until I’d graduated college, bastard having kept that tidbit from me.

It was the first time I’d realized Devin kept a lot of secrets from me and it eventually caused his death.

Oh I’d gotten my revenge on the responsible parties but it still didn’t change that half my soul was gone never to be replaced.

Arriving I drove right onto the sidewalk of our Main street location.

The alleyway next to the building was the perfect place for me to park my bike and that’s exactly what I did.

Tugging off my helmet I shook out my short pink hair and swung my leg over and off the bike.

Yeah I might hate motorcycle gangs but I didn’t hold their actions against the machine.

The door chime sounded as I walked into the tattoo shop, Silver Bullet Ink, that I owned and ran with my best friend Weston.

I took pride in my shop and wanted it to be an experience like none other.

The walls were dark gray almost black with huge black and white posters of abstract art I painted breaking up the darkness.

The waiting area had a white tufted leather couch and two armchairs with a black coffee table in the middle.

We have four semi private rooms sectioned off with black velvet curtains.

I hurried up the stairs to the office Weston and I shared in the loft knowing that is where he would be waiting with our guests.

My leather boots clomped up the steps as I wanted them to know I was coming.

At the top of was the open area that had four vintage leather armchairs in a dark blood red color.

Catching my eye was a woman with long black hair and bright green eyes looking up at me.

Her lips thinned as she took me in as if she disapproved of everything I stood for.

I got that a lot, but ask me if I give a fuck.

She was dressed in a fitted black skirt with a silk cream blouse tank and had her black suit jacket over her lap.

Everything about this woman reeked of money and privilege making me dislike her instantly.

She rose gracefully from her seat and walked over to me.

Even without her four-inch heel she would have looked down at me but this felt more like a power play.

“Dax I presume, it’s nice to finally meet you. I'm Gabriella Rossi, Kimber’s cousin,” Gabriella said, holding out her perfectly manicured hand. “Thank you so much for helping to set up this meeting. I know Two Tricks doesn’t meet with anyone without an introduction.”

“What shit-for-brains said I would set up a meet?” I snapped, as I looked at her hand then back up to her face. “What would you want with him anyways?” I asked, crossing my arms. “You’re not really his type.”

I glared over at Kimber who was sitting there looking far too pleased with herself.

She was your picture perfect trailer trash.

Badly bleached blonde hair, tank top that never seemed to cover her stomach and short-shorts that were frayed at the bottom.

To tie it all together she had on worn out calf high cowboy boots.

I could fucking kill her for bringing this woman to my shop.

We never did business here and she knew it.

Kimber was one slippery bitch, always keeping you guessing on her motives for things.

Apparently she already promised I would set up a meeting and miss fancy pants thought I knew about it and agreed to help… . What a cunt.

Gabriella sighed and dropped her hand. “Why don’t we sit?”

“No, I don’t think so,” I answered. “See the thing is my lovely dead brother’s wife didn’t tell me anything about this. I never agreed to help or set up a meeting with anyone, least of all with Two Tricks.”

“Well, that is problematic and not starting us off on the right foot,” Gabriella said, turning to sit back down. “Seems to me that I should use this chance to explain myself and see if you can help us.”

Apparently I wasn’t going to get rid of her that easily. Fine, she wanted to play hardball, I'm game. She had no idea who she was dealing with and that gave me the upper hand in this negotiation.

“Okay, I’ll bite,” I said, sitting in the other chair propping my feet on the coffee table totally relaxed.

Gabrielle looked over me again and I knew what she saw.

My pastel pink hair always caught people’s eye first. Then they took in my elfin features with my almond eyes that were more silver than blue.

That’s where the softness ended. My nose and septum pierced along with my bottom lip with a silver hoop.

My ears were gauged, large enough you could notice but I didn’t have hockey pucks waving about.

The starting wisps of my chest piece tattoo peeked through the holes in my band t-shirt.

More tattoos covered my whole left arm and just the bottom half of my right.

The holes in my skinny jeans showed more tattoos on my legs.

I was a walking contradiction of cute and deadly all in one bundle and I fucking loved it.

“I represent a second party who would like to start doing business, but finding a way to make an offer is rather difficult,” Gabriella explained.

I didn’t answer right away considering if I should give her any hope at all. “I don’t like getting blindsided in my own shop by someone I don’t know, referred to me by someone who I no longer consider family. Tricks doesn’t need more business. especially from a small fish.”

“They are no small fish Dax,” Gabriella interjected.