Chapter 18 #2
King puts the gloves on, steps to Brennan, and gives him two solid punches in his stomach.
“Leave some for me,” Stone says. “This is my show.” But King doesn’t listen.
This man almost killed the woman he loves, and the only reason he didn’t kill Brennan himself is that he knew it would cause a war that would put Eden in more danger.
King punches him two more times before I push him away.
Brennan has doubled over and vomited on the floor.
“Hold him,” Stone commands to no one in particular. Two guards follow his order, and Stone proceeds to punch Brennan in the face until he passes out.
Stone steps back, and his pristine white shirt is covered in blood. Another guard appears out of nowhere with a duffel bag. I watch as Stone strips out of his clothes and dumps the bloody pants and shirt in a plastic bag.
“Thank you, cousin,” he says to the new guard.
He’s given a towel, and he wipes his head and chest. He throws that towel in the bag, too, before he puts on an oversized jumpsuit.
“Make it look like a suicide,” he says to the guard.
“Bedsheets. He lost the will to live after he was beaten up a few days ago.” His cousin nods, and Stone pulls out a wad of cash from his bag to pay the guards.
Once I give the guard my portion of the payment, he hands Stone the duffel bag, and we walk out.
We don’t speak after leaving the jail. Preacher heads toward the highway as if he’s going home, but Ripley and I take two different paths to the old diner where we first met.
We’re seated in the back for ten minutes before Steel and Stone arrive. Stone is back, wearing an outfit identical to the one he wore before he fucked up Brennan.
“Gentleman.” Stone gives us a curt nod. His brother does the same. Steel sits next to me, and Stone grabs a chair from a nearby table. “I’m tired, Steel’s going to get right to the point.”
I’m sick of dealing with weird fucking siblings, is my first thought, but at least the Titans are united. They would never have a breach like the Brennans.
“We have a need, and you will fulfill it.” Steele Titan doesn’t waste time. “You owe us.”
“What the fuck do we owe you for?” The question comes from Ripley, but he should already know the answer.
“We don’t deal with drug money,” I remind our guests.
“Tough shit.” Stone Titan doesn’t mince words either. “Since when are you so fucking ethical? Drug money made you. We made you. That little shitty diner your daddy was running was about to be shut down until we approached him. It’s time to come back home, Hunt.”
“Not a matter of ethics. It’s a matter of survival.”
“And we want to survive as much as you, Dax.” Steel inches closer.
“You,” he gestures at Ripley, “Almost beat Brennan to death and pointed the finger at us, and we handled it. Hell, I don’t blame you.
Any man who would dare to put his hands on my wife will sign his own death certificate, but that doesn’t negate one very important detail.
” He jabs his index finger on the linoleum table.
“You fucking owe us.” He leans back. “It’s business, gentleman, and you will be well compensated.
You can leave the hustle after this, should you desire. We are.”
“Brennan hurt your daughter, Steel, and we informed you. King gave him a good dose of street justice. I say we are fucking even.”
“King didn’t do that shit for my daughter. Let’s be real. He did what he did for his wife. Have you ever met a Titan woman? My daughter almost shot his eye out,” Steel says. “Regardless, we took the blame for you. As I said, this will be the last time.”
Bullshit. They’ve been saying that for almost a decade. They’ve had ample opportunity, and each time they stay because the money is just too good. Eventually, their luck will run out, and I want no part of it.
“It’s true.” It’s like Stone can read my mind. “I’m out, and these fucking losers can’t do shit without me.” He looks at his brother, and Steel nods. “We’re rich enough. My kids are almost grown. It’s time I sit back and enjoy life. Maybe find a woman.”
I almost choke at his last statement. “I’ll warn all the women of the world, then.” Stone’s brows crease. “I think you should stick to getting a dog.”
“You think King can get a woman, and I can’t?” Stone seems affronted by the thought.
“Those seem to be the facts,” I state. “Ripley didn’t just get a woman. Getting a woman is easy, but King’s kept his. Can you do that?”
“If getting a woman is so easy, how come I can’t get one?” Preacher tosses his hands in frustration.
“Because you’re a fucking weirdo,” Steel snaps. “Who the fuck would want to be with you?”
“How much?” Ripley asks, totally ignoring our conversation.
“How much are you going to make, or how much cash do we have?” Steel asks.
“Both,” I answer for my friend.
“Enough to retire you.” Steel looks around. “God, I wish I had a cigarette, but Nadine will go upside my head.” He pulls a stick of gum out of his pocket and puts it in his mouth. “Always a fucking disappointment.”
“Fifteen percent. That’s my price tag.” It’s three times as much.
“Fuck outta here. We’ll meet you in the middle at seven point five.” Stone looks at his watch and appears bored, but I know he’s not. His left cheek twitches, and I know he’s doing calculations in his head.
“I don’t want any parts of this.”
“Tough shit, Hunt. Tough fucking shit.” Steel looks at Ripley. “You want the Brennans coming after your woman. What’s her name again? Eden? Beautiful name.” Steel smirks. “Beautiful woman. Didn’t think she would be your type, though.” His lips twitch after the last statement.
“Leave my wife’s name out your fucking mouth.” Ripley is about two seconds from pulling out his gun, and the Titans are not ones to back down, so I need to diffuse this quickly.
“Show some respect, King. That beautiful, Black queen is safe because we took the blame.” Steel never raises his voice.
He doesn’t need to. He commands a room with only his presence, but King isn’t one to take orders, especially from anyone who mentions his wife.
“All we ask is for your services, complete with a big payday. You’re getting the most out of this deal, and you get to go home every day to your lovely wife. ”
“Steel, this motherfucker put his hands on your daughter. We did you a fucking favor. Don’t act like you hold all the cards.”
“I might not hold all the cards, Hunt, but my hand looks a lot fucking better than yours.” We all go silent.
Steel relaxes his shoulders and smiles like a man with no worries.
“We’ve all worked well together in the past. What’s one more time?
And since you don’t like to get your hands too dirty, we’ll take care of the rest of the Brennans should they become an issue. ”
Steel sticks out his hand as if we already have a deal.
“I can take care of the Brennans,” Ripley says.
“King, you can, but let’s just say that we have more experience than you in eliminating undesirables.
And you’re angry at them. You need to be clinical, not emotional.
” They do have experience in handling undesirables, but my operation is not violent.
Not unless we have to, and we haven’t needed to until the Brennans.
“Think about it this way, if you go away for this, that beautiful wife of yours will spend years missing you.”
“Didn’t I tell you to stop talking about my wife?” King growls.
“You did. And?” Steel scoffs.
“Twelve percent, and it’s a deal.” I eye King and warn him to be quiet with just a look. I stick out my hand to Steel, but he doesn’t take it.
“Fuck no.” Stone looks up as if my demand is outrageous. “Nine, and that’s the highest.”
“Ten,” I counter. “I don’t like to deal with odd numbers. I’m going to have a family to feed soon. And I’ll want our ten percent up front in a lump sum, not over time. And this will take time, gentleman. Preacher is thorough.”
Steel cackles. “Who in their right fucking mind would settle down with you? But I guess if King can find a woman.” He snorts at the thought.
“Fine. Ten.” His hand wraps around mine.
He then extends it to Ripley, and he takes it too.
“Congrats on your marriage, King. Let me know where you’re registered, and I’ll have Nadine send a gift. ”
“This uncouth motherfucker has a wife, and I get to go home to a cold bed,” Stone snorts. “Life just isn’t fair sometimes.”