6. Diesel
6
DIESEL
D iesel paced to and fro, his heavy boots thudding against the wooden floors, sending vibrations through the dilapidated shack that rumbled like distant thunder.
Diesel’s head Beta, Striker, explained to him the absolute clusterfuck that was the raid the night before due to Jax and Zane’s interruption. She explained how some passing guards almost caught them because Jax and Zane had to leave early for some school function.
At this point, Diesel was already fuming.
That was precisely what Striker wanted, too. She turned away from him, grinning and baring her teeth as she explained the situation of the Nadir family.
“You threatened them, and they still didn’t pay the protection fee?” Diesel questioned as if insinuating that Striker had not done her job correctly.
“They refused, Sir. I don’t think they could afford it. I told them I’d be coming for their heads the next time I came around,” she quickly defended herself.
Diesel stroked his scruffy chin in thought. “The Nadir family… They have a young daughter, don’t they? About Jax’s age?”
“Yes, she’s a scrappy one too. She had no problem jumping into the fight, even though she could barely transform.” Striker found this hilarious, but Diesel didn’t laugh.
“Leave the Nadir family to me. I will take care of it.” Diesel was happy he finished his conversation with Striker as Jax and Zane entered the dilapidated abode. “There you are, Nephew. I’d like to talk to you about last night.”
Jax’s demeanor stiffened as his shoulders rose to protect his neck. “I don’t know what Striker told you, but we lingered there longer than needed. We had already gotten what we wanted from them. There was no reason for that job to take us to almost Solare rise.”
Diesel raised his hand to stop Jax from talking. He had little to no patience for the know-it-all sass of being a teenager. “Striker’s job is to make the people fear us, and it’s your job to keep Striker safe. That is all. If you abandon your post, all I have built threatens to crumble. Do you want our family to fall back into the pits of poverty once more? Imagine how much your mother will struggle. Could you live with yourself if you allowed that to happen?”
Jax grimaced but ducked his head in compliance.
“I didn’t think so.” Diesel growled in the base of his chest. He thought he had won the argument and turned his back to the young boys, but Jax wasn’t satisfied.
Jax barely spoke loud enough for Diesel to hear. He balled up his fist tightly, and his claws grew out, jabbing into his palms. “Once I become a famous potionist, we won’t have to keep this up.”
Diesel turned slowly to face Jax. He couldn’t believe the audacity of this kid. After everything he had done for him, he was going to forsake him for what? To be thrown in jail for being a poor man seeking a better life?
“You can’t really be that stupid, can you? What do you think will happen to you if you try to achieve wealth and power?”
“Others have achieved it before me. I can do it, too.” Jax stood fervently for what he believed in.
“Don’t believe everything you see, dear Nephew. Things are not as they seem. Most of those who have risen through the ranks from the depths of poverty end up at Ryklira, imprisoned for the rest of their days.” He walked down to the lower level to be closer to Jax and could intimidate him better.
“I don’t believe you. We are potionists, not thugs.” Jax faced his uncle without a hint of hesitation. It was pretty brave for a boy his age.
“We’re not thugs.” Diesel shot Jax a violent smile that would scare the soul out of the toughest warrior. “We’re entrepreneurs.”
“Yeah, right. Well, whatever you call it, I don’t want to be that for the rest of my life.” Jax winced as he tried to keep his composure.
“When you need money again, don’t run to me,” Diesel practically sang as he turned his back on Jax and Zane, sauntering into darkness.
“Too much like your father, Nephew. All this ambition, but not enough talent to back it up.”