Chapter 22
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
EMMETT
After draining Blair , I took her back to her place. On our way back, I had gotten a message from Grimm that we had a little delivery from RSB . I stayed with her for a while, making sure she was okay. She ended up falling asleep on my chest and it took everything in me to slide out from under her and go home.
The Red Skull Brotherhood - otherwise known as RSB - is one that lasts a lifetime. Once you’re in, there’s no getting out. The only way out is through death, of either yourself or the one who initiated you.
With us being seniors, we are the members tasked with the most challenging and dangerous assignments. The tasks are usually assigned by house, which means me and the guys are always on these expeditions together. We work well as a team. Each of us has an asset that the others don’t possess, making us an indestructible group. Being close friends helps because the trust has already been established .
We were assigned our first task of the year. An envelope was delivered to us with a name and what information we needed from them. How we get it? Well , that’s the best part. As long as the task didn’t give specific directions on how to retrieve information, we were free to…research as we please.
As long as it ends with their death.
The realization of senior year hits and I think back on my friendships with each of the guys. I met them all at different points in time, but they've managed to ingrain themselves into my life. Being as closed off as I am, it's a mystery how they’ve gotten past my defenses.
Grimm has been my best friend practically since birth. We were neighbors and our mothers were close, causing us to be around each other from the time we were in diapers. Truthfully , I had no choice but to be his friend.
I remember the first time Grimm and his mother came over. We were outside playing with my toy trucks when his mother came outside to let him know it was time to go. I looked over at him to say goodbye when he pulled his shirt off, raised his fists in the air, and ran straight over to the lake shouting, then did a belly flop.
His mother screamed and rushed to get him. Fucker didn’t even know how to swim yet, apparently. When his mom pulled him out of the lake, he coughed up water and started laughing, a full-bellied laugh that shook his whole body. He’s always been sort of unhinged, the kind you can’t really explain and don’t want to understand.
When my mother died, Grimm was there for me when no one else was. That was the darkest time of my life, for multiple rea sons. He doesn't know it, but if Grimm wasn't there, I wouldn't be here today.
I'd never tell him that because his ego doesn't need the boost, but he truly fucking saved my sanity. He didn’t do anything in particular, he was just a constant companion, able to pull me from the darkness of my life with his constant jokes and distractions.
Shortly after my mom’s passing, Grimm’s mother left. No letter, no notice. She was just gone. A few days went by and then a few weeks. After three months, Grimm had accepted that from now on it would be him and his dad. I could tell that it affected him, but he tried his best to never let it show. However , Grimm’s mother wasn’t his father’s first wife.
His first wife was his high school sweetheart. They had their first kid right after graduation and continued to pop one out each year for five years. She ended up cheating and Grimm’s dad left. Shortly after, he got together with Grimm’s mother. When his mom left, he reconnected with his first wife and Grimm went from being the center of his dad’s world, to being knocked to the bottom of the food chain.
His siblings are all older than him and would constantly leave him out. The stories he’s shared about his older siblings belittling and bullying him tugged at my heartstrings. I had a bully too, my dad. Grimm was the only one that knew. We were two lonely kids who just needed someone and thankfully, we found each other.
It’s kind of an unwritten rule that we don’t talk about the misery of our childhoods.
Since then, we became a package deal, doing absolutely anything and everything together. We were inseparable from then on. Shortly after we both lost our mothers, our dads built a friendship. They would occasionally hang out and were acquaintances, but nothing compared to us boys.
Because Grimm and I have polar opposite personalities, we balance each other out. Where he was quick to act out, be irrational, and carefree without a thought of the consequences, I was typically calm and reserved. I grew up with more of a militant lifestyle. My father didn’t let a hair out of place for the fear of ruining his perfectly crafted image. Grimm’s household with seven kids was beyond hectic and loud.
With my dad being the dean, and Grimm’s dad being one of his newly close friends, he cashed in a favor with Grimm’s acceptance into Blackwood . No one really has any idea what Grimm is studying. He’s kind of just here. He’s never mentioned his major and I can’t remember if I’ve ever seen him pick up a textbook or study for a final. I saw an anatomy book in his room once, but I don't know if that was for classes or for his own…
Personal interests.
Eli and Jaden came along later. Grimm and I met Jaden in high school. He was the new kid who transferred in our sophomore year. Most students knew to stay out of my way and didn't bother me. Unfortunately , the new kid didn't get the hint. One day in PE , he thought it would be funny to trip me during the mile run.
I beat his ass that day.
He left school with a broken nose and a black eye but he slapped me on the back and told me I had a good right hook. I decided then that his type of crazy would fit perfectly with ours, and we took him under our wing. Jaden and Grimm instantly c licked. Both unhinged in their own ways. Jaden’s studying psychology. He said mind manipulation fascinated him, another weird motherfucker.
Elijah on the other hand, we met our freshmen year of college. The brotherhood was always a thing of my future, regardless if I wanted to join or not. I didn’t have a choice. My father made sure of that. Freshman year when Grimm , Jaden , and I were initiated, so was Eli .
In initiations, they take us in groups of four. It was Grimm , Jaden , Eli , and myself. That's how we met him. After the ritual, we talked to him and found our fourth missing link. I think it's because Eli has his own darkness lurking inside that calls to mine. I'm not sure if the others took notice of it, but I sure did.
We had an extra room in our house and offered it to him, and our friendship was born. Eli doesn’t seem to feel or think the same way the rest of us do, but he’s smart as fuck. He’s a Computer Science major, hoping to break into Cyber Security and his IQ is the highest I've ever seen.
He's the youngest of the group at twenty, skipping a grade due to his intelligence. He went straight from seventh grade, into high school. One thing I've learned about Eli is that he’s the type of unhinged that sneaks up on you. The kind you wouldn't see coming until it's too late. He would likely sit there and watch as the life leaves your eyes for the fun of it.
And Blair thinks I’m insane, ha.
When it comes to the brotherhood, Grimm’s father knows about the society due to his friendship with my dad. Eli’s not too close with his family so they have no knowledge of anything he’s doing here at Blackwood . Jaden’s family, on the other hand, tries to pry into his life, but he keeps his walls up, and for good reason. Our dynamic works for the brotherhood assignments based on our different abilities.
Eli is the smart one, the one who can hack into systems. Grimm is the muscled maniac who likes a good fight, especially when there’s torture involved. Jaden knows just the right things to say to trip people up and get them to spill their dirtiest, darkest secrets. And I make sure all of these fuckers remember the bigger picture. My father raised me to be a leader so I guess you could say that’s what I am.
The leader of the pack. The alpha. The one who calls the shots.
We received our envelope this morning with the name.
Travis Young
Our latest victim, Mr . Travis Young has valuable information for the brotherhood and tonight, I will be meeting the boys at Sinner’s Child to discuss our game plan.
I’m dressed in all black. My dress shirt is buttoned, but the remaining few buttons at the top are open, and the sleeves are folded up to my elbows, exposing my forearms and tattoos. Crisp black slacks and midnight Italian leather shoes complete my outfit.
Arriving at the club, I walk past security and head inside. Being the dean’s son, my status follows me wherever I go. Since this place is strictly for Blackwood University students, no ID check is needed. They know me. One of the only perks of being the spawn of Satan himself.
Our usual table is on the second level, away from people and the poun ding music. I sit and wait for the others to arrive. The atmosphere is similar to downstairs, blacked out walls with neon signs and lowlight single, black shades that hang from the ceiling, providing a dim ambiance.
Jaden and Eli arrive together, dressed similarly to me. We greet each other with claps on the back and they join me in our booth. Eventually , Grimm decides to make an appearance, running late as usual.
“ Hey fuckers, who are we killing tonight?” He greets the table.
I let out a laugh and shake my head. “ Sit down shithead, you’re late. Ten more minutes and we wouldn’t be targeting anyone tonight.” Grimm shrugs and slides into the booth next to me.
Eli doesn’t waste another minute. He pulls out the envelopes and flips open the flap. Tugging out the paper, he quickly unfolds it and places it on the table.
“ Travis Young , thirty-five years old. Apparently , he has a gambling problem and stays in Edmore to lay low, away from his wife and kids. Not to mention the amount of hookers and whores he’s got on speed dial.” Eli explains to the table.
A brunette waitress comes over and takes our drink orders. Her interruption has rubbed Eli the wrong way, you can see the annoyance covering his features. She leaves to prepare our drinks and Eli continues to share the information he snagged on Travis .
“ He’s the CEO of a big corporation based in New York , but his family didn’t want to leave North Dakota , so he flies out frequently. Despite running a successful business, his gambling problem has landed him in some hot water with your father. He borrowed three million dollars under the pretense that it was a business loan. Once James found out what the money was actually for, he gave him a timeline of six months to pay back the loan, and long story short, he has not.” I nod, following along.
“ So , where is he now?” I question, my brows furrowed.
Eli gives a quick nod and continues, “ He’s meeting us at a warehouse in Edmore , it's about forty miles out from Devil’s Lake , but his permanent residence is in Rosetown . After we received the letter this morning, I spent most of the day going through his text messages, security camera footage, and I have been tracking his car all day.”
“ What the hell, you weirdo. Remind me to never get on your bad side.” Grimm chimes in. “ How did you find all of that out so fast?”
“ Maybe pick up a book instead of beers and blunts once in a while and you’d be the brains of the group. No one is questioning your place as the maniac.” Eli quips back.
Grimm lets out a chuckle, “ Touché . Do your thing, cyber nerd.” Eli rolls his eyes in annoyance.
Just as he’s about to continue, the brunette arrives back at the table, holding a tray with our drinks. Eli is bouncing his leg underneath the table with so much force that the table shakes, sloshing some of the alcohol out of Jaden’s glass and onto the table. The waitress takes out a rag to clean it up, but I quickly scoop a napkin from the dispenser and wipe it, thanking her, and giving her the hint that she’s free to go.
Eli lets out a frustrated sigh, “ As I was saying, Travis is currently staying in Edmore , which isn’t too far from us. We could meet up with him under the pretense that we want to do a deal and b e out in a couple of hours. There’s already a pre-dug grave with his name on it.” He finishes.
“ Alright , so when do we want to go pay him a visit?” Jaden asks, throwing back his drink.
“ We are going tonight, just need to be prepared. He believes we’re securing him with another loan and a shipment of coke. I’m known because of who my father is, so he’ll have a false sense of security. Once we’re inside, we’ll ask our questions. We need him alive long enough to give us the answers we’re looking for, got it?” I say to the table, but focus my stare on Grimm .
“ Why can’t I just have a little fun with him? You guys are boring.” Grimm pouts.
“ You can have your fun once we get what we need. Alright ?” I compromise.
“ Alright , fine.” Grimm accepts. He throws back his drink and drums on the table. “ So now that the plan is figured out, are we setting it in motion? Or can we party tonight?” He asks.
“ Have your fun and meet us back at the house in two hours. Not a minute longer or we’re leaving without you and you won’t have any fun with Mr . Young . Got it?” I reply.
Grimm brings his hand up to his forehead, saluting me. “ Sir , yes sir! Now excuse me, I need a blunt and some head before we depart for our mighty expedition.”
He stands and walks to find a vixen for the hour. Leaving Jaden , Eli , and myself to wait for his no doubt, untimely arrival for our operation.