6. Incubus
INCUBUS
I’m beyond so fucked up in my brain because hearing this jagoff’s screams of pain are finally just starting to clear my head.
It was pure goddamn luck that Ghost and Mammoth were doing a perimeter check around town, when walking out of the local gin mill, two of Gino’s stupido goombahs were stumbling out to their car.
Leave it to my brothers to not only grab the two assholes, but they also had to put a call to the club for a prospect to come and pick them up ’cause they were both on their bikes.
They also didn’t reach out to Cobalt. What cracked my shit up was that while they waited for the club van to arrive, they beat the living shit out of the two bastards.
So by the time they were tossed into my wet room they were already in a lot of hurt.
I can only hope, if they were the ones to lay hands on my Stella, the pain my brothers pummeled their bodies with did some real damage.
Though it doesn’t matter ’cause the only way they are leaving my office is in bags being shipped to Gino.
Hearing the gurgling brings me back to the present.
This asshole has my hard black heart feeling pretty shitty.
He’s so young and stupid. He didn’t realize that Gino was not only holding but hiding one of our ol’ ladies.
When Ghost broke all his fingers the kid kept screaming, “Why are you doing this? I didn’t do anything.
” Why am I letting any emotions cloud my judgment to just put this motherfucker out of his misery?
I know why and hate to even admit it. He reminds me of my younger brother, who we lost to drugs when I was still in high school.
Finley had so many fucking problems that our father ignored, and he wouldn’t let our mother get Finley help when she was there.
By the time we found out about him being strung out on drugs, it was too late.
No matter how many times our parents threw him into rehab he never finished, always found a way to escape.
The last time he got his hands on some bad heroin that was laced with fentanyl and that was it.
He was found about two weeks after he died.
I think our mother lost her mind after we lost Finley because one day not too long after he died she just up and left.
Our asshole father wouldn’t go identify him, so it was left to me.
Not only did I go to the morgue but also paid to have him buried with a priest there.
Being raised Irish Catholic, it was literally pounded into our heads that you had to have the blessing to enter the gates of Heaven.
Obviously I’m not following all of that stuff in my current position in life.
Back then though my father was beyond pissed when he found out what I did, but by that time in my life, didn’t give a flying fuck about his feelings and shit.
Now, if someone was to ask me if I felt the same as my actions back then, I’d ask if they were crazy.
I had problems with that particular religion growing up and haven’t set foot in a church since before I even entered the military.
When Isabella said grace before dinner, I almost fell off my fucking chair.
When I get Stella back, gonna have to have a serious conversation with her.
If she wants our princess to have faith, I’ll have to find a way to incorporate some of it in me, ’cause Isabella will never see her mamma and papà fighting in front of her or anywhere she can hear us.
Both Stella and I grew up with that bullshit and we talked about and agreed it won’t happen with our baby girl.
Realizing while my mind was wandering and drifting in my head, my body took over because I’ve done this for so very long.
Not the kid just trying to fit in with all those around him or hide behind my other cocky side.
The motherfucker who has been on my last nerve, so it’s time to get rid of the roach on my ass.
Well, he’s actually on one of the two tables in this wet room.
Ghost has been helping, and damn, the man has a wicked-ass mind.
There isn’t a place on this motherfucker that Ghost’s knife hasn’t left marks, some deep, while others are more like paper cuts.
Both eyes have blown blood vessels ’cause his whites are now a deep pink.
Oh well, he’s done, so not worried about it.
I glance at Ghost, who must read my face because he steps back, wiping his hands on a towel he shoved into his front pocket.
Two blown eyes follow his movement before he jerks and sees me walking toward him with my Bowie in my hand.
He starts shaking his head, trying to lift his arms, but he’s secured, both his arms and legs.
Ghost don’t fuck around, just like me, he makes shit a lot easier.
I get as close as I want but within reach and ask the one question I’ve been asking all night.
“Where the fuck does Gino have my ol’ lady stashed, you piece of shit?”
Before, whenever I asked that question, he would roll his eyes or make rude comments about Stella, which put him into a shit ton of pain.
To my surprise, he tries to talk but his mouth has to be drier than the Sahara Desert.
Ghost walks over with an open bottle of water and just tips it over the asshole’s face.
Some of it hits his lips, which he licks up eagerly.
When I clear my throat he tilts his head, closes his eyes, and when he opens them I see he knows today is his day to die.
I don’t expect a lot out of him, being he’s an asshole goon of Gino’s, but he does surprise me.
“I honestly don’t know where they took her, but the boss has quite a few properties in both his name, the wife’s, the corporation, and also his LLC, I think that is what they call it too.
The four, I think, he’d use are the ones that are private, so look there first. She’s in pretty bad shape and not sure Stella even knows, but they’ve been drugging her a couple of times a day, especially at night.
I think that’s the only way Gino could have his imaginary control over her.
Stella is tough, man, and before you ask, no.
Neither Angelo over there or me put hands on your woman.
I was in charge of mainly food and Angelo was never even near the inside of the property as he was on outdoor security.
I know whatever they’ve been giving her is laced with fentanyl, so she’s going to get addicted pretty quickly.
A few of her ribs are either badly bruised or broken, and she has superficial injuries that haven’t really been treated.
To be honest, before Gino came to get her, not sure exactly what was going on because three, no, four of the other men took over control of her.
I wouldn’t put two cents in to this, but they talked big like they were getting…
.Well shit, dude, don’t want to say it, but all I got is be prepared. ”
Not sure what happened, one minute the Bowie hunting knife was in my hand and the next Ghost, who rarely raises his voice, is screaming at the top of his lungs.
I look down and I’m covered in blood, guts, and who the hell knows what else.
The guy tied to the table is almost cut in half and his intestines are hanging off the table.
The odor is nauseating, gut smells along with urine and feces.
Fuck, didn’t want to do this. My plan was to kill him, yeah, but wasn’t gonna make it horrible.
Looking at the mess left, he suffered, and that was not the intention.
He was being truthful in the end because he knew he wasn’t leaving and probably was trying to make his peace.
Hearing sniffles, I turn to see the kid, fuck, what was his name?
...Angelo, yeah, that’s right. He’s shaking, his eyes leaking, and his eyes are huge and watching me.
Turning, I can see Ghost is in the corner on his phone, whispering to someone about what just happened and me losing my fuckin’ mind.
When he realizes I’m glaring at him, he tells who he’s talking to he’s got to go.
When he puts his phone in his back pocket, I raise an eyebrow which he knows means, “Spill, motherfucker.”
“That was Cobalt. He’s been blowing up my phone and I’ve ignored it until now.
Prepare, brother, think we are gonna get a visit shortly.
Don’t kill the messenger, Incubus. He’s our prez and I refuse to lie to him, not even for you, brother.
Whatcha gonna do with the kid or do you want me to take care of him? ”
The kid lets out a gasp before I hear him clearing his throat.
“Hey, Mr. Incubus, I don’t have a problem with any of you so I’m begging you to just let me go.
Not for me but for my wife, who’s pregnant with our third child, and my two boys.
I’m all they have, and the thought of leaving them out in this fucked-up world by themselves about guts me.
If you want to cut out my tongue so I can’t talk, go for it.
Do whatever, as long as at the end of it I’m able to go home to my family.
I don’t beg anyone, but I’ll do anything. Please, just let me keep breathing.”
Ghost is standing directly beside me when he whispers over to me.
“Ya know, this would have to go before chapel because seriously, how do we keep his ass alive when he’s seen all of this shit tonight?
Thought we were leaning toward going straight and staying away from the dark shit.
Fuck, Incubus, the thought of whacking this kid and knowing we are leaving his ol’ lady and kids helpless and alone is gonna eat at my gut.
Son of a bitch, how do we keep ending up in these no-win fucked-up situations, brother? ”
Before I can answer him, a voice from behind both of us asks, “What situations?” Son of a bitch, that was quick.
How did I not hear this stealthy fucker sneak up on us?
Turning, I see Cobalt leaning against the doorway.
Those eyes are reading the whole room and the shit situation.
When those blue orbs catch on the carcass left on the table, his hands go right up to his head, fingers running through his hair.
I know this got fucked up, but needed to get information in any way I could.
Cobalt’s eyes shift to Angelo, and I see confusion on his face when he glances back at me.
I shrug my shoulders and that prompts him to walk to Ghost and me.
“Brothers, we will talk about this shit later as to why I’m only learning about it after the fact. Second, and more importantly, why is that one still breathing? This mess is going to take all day and part of the night to get cleaned up. Either of you want to explain or should I just guess?”
Trying to find the words, before I can get to it, Ghost gives Cobalt a brief overview of the situation at hand. I watch as our prez’s eyes close briefly before his eyes lock on to me.
“Did you even think before you just went apeshit on him? How the fuck did you even find these two guys, and who helped you get them back here? Goddamn it, we have club rules for a reason, brother, and you know it. If suddenly we all start doing whatever we want, this club will implode on itself. Come, let’s walk outside for a second to try and figure this shit out.
I know you, Incubus, and with that look on your face, I hate to guess, but you want to do something unheard of in this club, like leave a witness alive. Am I motherfuckin’ right, brother?”
Yeah, son of a bitch, we are that in tune with each other.
I just nod, though Ghost’s eyes haven’t stopped going from one of us to the other like he’s watching a tennis match.
I know Ghost and Mammoth had the best of intentions, but I didn’t and don’t need extra shit to deal with right now.
And now that we were informed that Gino is actually drugging Stella…
GODDAMN MOTHERFUCK is the only thought that comes to my mind.
How dare that bottom-feeding asshole think he can do this and, worse, get away with it?
Ghost fills in Cobalt as I just stare out into the dark.
The only light coming is from the moon and stars in the sky.
Fuck me, what is Stella going through right this minute?
Or do they have her drugged outta her damn mind?
That thought almost brings me to my knees, knowing what can happen while she’s under the influence of the drugs.
I watched my brother Finley fight and lose his battle.
I can’t bear to think of Stella doing anything to feed her addiction, and that’s if the fentanyl doesn’t kill her first. Son of a bitch is my thought when I turn back, my eyes meeting Cobalt’s right before the angsty sound of a human suffering comes out of my mouth in a tortured animalistic scream mixed with a growl from deep in my soul.