by Zoey Parker
“That greaseball cocksucker,” Ash fumed. “He doesn't give a shit about the rules, he's just a greedy prick. We're not gonna let him get away with ripping us off like that, right?”
“We should firebomb his goddamn house,” Panda snarled. “And all his fucking businesses, too. We should shotgun everyone who works for him, and then grab him and cut his head off.”
“Yeah? How exactly are we supposed to do any of that shit and get away with it?” Bumper asked angrily. “They're the fucking Mafia, in case you haven't noticed. They've got more guys, they've got more guns. We start an all-out war with them, they'll mop the floor with us, guaranteed.”
“So we're just supposed to bend over and take it?” Ash retorted hotly. “Is that why we joined a fucking MC? So we could let some asswipe in a fancy suit walk in and piss on us whenever he feels like it?”
“Ash is right,” Skull said quietly, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. “We're Voodoo Devils. The day we start acting like pussies and pushovers is the day we may as well hang up our cuts.”
“Fucking suicide run,” Bumper grunted.
“You're right too,” Skull continued. “We go head-to-head with the Altamura, we'll end up at the bottom of Lake Pontchartrain with cement blocks tied to our ankles.”
“So what are you saying?” Panda asked, frowning.
“He's talking nonsense,” Bumper said. “His head must have taken a harder hit than we thought.”
Skull shook his head stubbornly. “No. I'm saying we need to get some fucking payback, and I'm saying we won't be able to get it by fighting like we usually would. We'll need to come up with something else. Something smarter.”
The Devils traded uncertain looks.
“Like what?” asked Ash.
“I don't know,” said Skull, smiling slowly. “But I think I know someone who can help.”
Chapter 1
Bax
Bax Barton poured himself more champagne, admiring how the golden bubbles seemed to dance and twirl in his glass like high-priced strippers. The familiar thrill of victory radiated through every cell in his body like warm sunlight. He leaned over his lunch of caviar and prime rib and toasted David Choi, the smiling, baby-faced Chinese-American man sitting across the table from him.
“Here's to another successful score,” David said, beaming. “I still can't believe we managed to pull off the Beijing Tea House scam in fucking Houston.”
“Hey, if I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times,” Bax replied, sipping his champagne. “You can run any con, anywhere, with absolutely anyone. All you have to do—”
“—is know how to sell it,” David finished with him, laughing.
They were sitting in the Longhorn Supper Club, surrounded by polished mahogany paneling and sparkling gold fixtures. This was one of the most extravagant restaurants in Texas, where senators made deals with oil billionaires and paid more for their meals than most families spent on food in a week.
Later, when they hit the road on their motorcycles, Bax and David would don the well-worn riding gear they were more comfortable in—jeans, t-shirts, cowboy boots, and sleeveless leather vests with faded patches that told stories of where they'd been and which MCs they'd previously been affiliated with. But for now, they were clean-cut and wore expensive suits and ties, as though they'd just stepped out of a board meeting at a Fortune 500 company.
In Bax's experience, it was important to make both of these looks work. Either one was capable of comforting or intimidating, depending on the mark and the situation.
“I still say you almost pooched the deal, though,” David chided him, stealing a bite of scalloped potatoes from Bax's plate. “Making goo-goo eyes at the guy's wife, I mean.”
“I was just trying to be charming,” Bax insisted.
“Bullshit,” David snickered. “You wanted a piece so you went for it, like you always do. And if I hadn't been able to distract the husband, he'd have kicked you in the balls and the whole damn thing would have gone out the window.”
“I wasn't worried for a moment,” said Bax. “A slick, talented operator like you? I knew how easy it would be for you to keep him busy.”
David rolled his eyes. “I appreciate the handjob, Bax, but I'm being serious here. You're the most gifted con artist I've ever worked with, and you're smarter than I am by a country mile. Hell, you might even be one of the best hustlers in the world right now. But if you can't learn a little self-control and keep it in your pants when it counts, you'll end up dead somewhere with your dick cut off and a mud hole stomped in your ass, and you'll have flushed all that potential down the toilet.”
“But what's the point of living the romantic life of a wandering outlaw without the romance?” Bax asked playfully.
“Shit, the money we just made? You can buy all the romance you want,” David said.
“Paying for it's just not the same, man. It's that look in their eyes when they want you, you know? There's nothing in the world like it. And no one can fake it, either, no matter how much you pay them...or at least, they can't fake it well enough to fool me.”
“I give up,” sighed David. “You're fucking hopeless. So where should we go next?”
“I don't know. Miami? Boston? Mexico City?” Bax suggested. “Wherever the money's green.”
“Is Mexican money green?” David asked, frowning.
Bax shrugged. “One way to find out, right?”
Bax's cell phone trilled and he took it out of his pocket, looking at the caller ID. It was a Louisiana number he hadn't seen or thought about in years. His eyes widened, and the corners of his mouth slowly pulled back into a grin.
Holy shit, Bax thought. It's Skull. But why would he be calling after such a long time? We used to be close, sure, but Skull was never the kind of guy who'd call someone just to aimlessly shoot the shit.
Maybe he's in trouble.
“Give me a minute,” Bax said, getting up from the table.
“Fine,” David retorted. “But I'm taking the rest of your prime rib.”
As Bax walked over to the window, memories of Skull flooded his mind. They'd grown up together in Grosse Tete—or “Gross Tits,” as they'd called it—just outside of Baton Rouge. As teens, they shared a fascination with motorcycles and decided to form a gang with a few of their friends. Back then, they were just a pack of bored and reckless punks—racing their bikes, vandalizing property, and terrorizing the more conservative locals with their long hair and loud music. Bax was the one who'd come up with the name The Voodoo Devils. But as they got older, Bax decided it was time to hit the open road and find new adventures.
Well, perhaps “decided to find new adventures” wasn't entirely accurate. Perhaps “got caught with his dick in the sheriff's daughter and had to leave town in a hurry” was a little more on the nose.
Damn, maybe David's got a point, Bax mused. This has been kind of an ongoing theme in my life.
Before Bax could take the call, a waiter appeared by his side, eyeing the phone apprehensively. “Excuse me, sir? I'm afraid we don't allow our patrons to talk on their cellular phones here. It's impolite, and it upsets the other diners.”
“Oh, you mean this?” Bax asked, indicating the phone. “I know it looks like a cell phone, but it's not.”
The waiter raised an eyebrow. “Sir?”
“Yeah, this is actually a combination shaving razor, potato peeler, and pocket watch,” Bax continued. “Benjamin Franklin invented it back in 1754. Here, I'll let him tell you about it himself.” He pulled a hundred dollar bill out of his wallet and handed it to the waiter, who pocketed it and promptly vanished without another word.
Bax answered the phone. “Jesus, Skull, is that you?”
“None other,” Skull answered. “How's it hanging, Bax?”
Bax was happy to hear his old friend's voice, but he couldn't help but notice that it sounded blunted somehow, as though Skull's lips were swollen.
“Hanging, hell. Most of the time, it stands up and danc
es the Hokey Pokey. Hey, Skull, is something wrong? Your voice is funny.”
“Yeah, I took a mother of a beating about an hour ago,” Skull said.
“That's a normal Tuesday night for you, though, right?” teased Bax. “Anyway, I hope whoever it was, he's currently wondering how he'll wipe his ass with two broken arms.”
“It was Benny Altamura.”
“There's another Benny Altamura?” Bax asked.
“No,” Skull responded flatly. “There ain't.”
Bax let out a low whistle. “Then you're lucky to be alive. That little psycho usually doesn't do beatings, just executions. What the fuck did you do to piss him off?”
Skull told him what happened with the truck and the quarter million. As he did, Bax pulled a notepad and pencil from his breast pocket, jotting down notes and names.
“We can't let this stand, man,” Skull finished.
“No, you certainly can't,” Bax agreed. “But if you take a shot at Benny and miss—or even if you don't miss—then everyone wearing a Devils patch is going to end up with a hell of a case of lead poisoning. I'm guessing that's why you're calling me?”
“You always were the man with the plan, Bax,” Skull said. “If anyone can figure out a way to take this cocksucker down without starting a war, it's you. We need that quarter mil back.”
Bax snorted derisively. “Skull, by the time I'm done with this pasta-munching motherfucker, a quarter mil is going to seem like loose change to you.”
“You mean that?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely,” said Bax. “Here, hang on for a second.”
He walked over to his table again, just in time to watch David shove the last few bites of prime rib and potatoes into his mouth.
“Change of plans. We're heading to Louisiana to run a classic Spanish Prisoner con.” He handed the notepad to David. “These are the guys we'll need to pull it off. Go grab them, and don't take no for an answer. Let them know this is going to be a massive payday. I'm talking high six figures for each person involved.”
David looked at the list dubiously. “Should I tell them you're the one running this thing?”
“Sure,” Bax said. He thought for a moment, then added, “Well, you can tell Millie, anyway. Maybe it'd be best if Harry didn't know I was involved, at least not right away.”
“Why?” David asked. “You fuck his sister or something?”
“No!” Bax replied defensively. The truth was, he actually had, but that wasn't why Harry didn't much care for him anymore. Still, he was fairly certain Harry would be onboard once he found out how much money they could all make from this score.
“Once you've got them,” Bax continued, “meet me in New Orleans in three days.”
“You got it,” David said. “Can I get dessert first?”
“Fuck dessert,” Bax answered. “You hit the road now, and when this thing pays off in a few weeks, you can buy your own chocolate factory and spend the rest of your life playing Willie Wonka with it. Now go.”
David nodded and got up, heading for the door.
“Did I hear you say you'd be here in three days?” Skull asked. “I'll be honest, I was really hoping we could kick this off sooner.”
“Trust me, it'll be worth the wait,” said Bax. “I need to make a stop first, to talk to someone whose help we'll need if we're going to pull this off. Meanwhile, give me everything you know about Altamura.”
“Well, mostly I just know what everyone knows about him,” Skull said, thinking it over. “I mean, he's the undisputed boss of New Orleans, and he controls most of the heroin trade in the state. He likes to make a big show of how old-school he is...you know, the whole 'Sicilian man of honor' act, and all his fancy talk. But the truth is, he's just a selfish thug, a big fish in a small pond.”
“Good, good,” Bax murmured. “We can use that. But does he have any weaknesses?”
“What, like kryptonite?”
Bax chuckled. “Like personal stuff, dummy. His habits, his fetishes, his friends and family...”
“Well, I don't know much about his private life,” said Skull. “I ain't even sure he's got one. But since you mentioned family, I've heard some stuff about how he's trying to marry off his daughter.”
Bax grinned. “Tell me more.”
Chapter 2
Stef
Stefania Altamura impatiently drummed her fingers on the dining room table, ignoring the meal in front of her and wishing the minutes would pass more quickly.
At the other end of the long table, her father Benny and her mother Gracie were eating spaghetti in heavy red sauce, with spicy sausage and meatballs on the side. Benny mopped his plate with a hunk of bread, slathering it with butter and stuffing it into his mouth.
By contrast, Stef's plate looked like a minimalist art project. A small pile of wilted greens, a slice of dry-looking turkey breast, and a dollop of plain yogurt. With a whole lot of empty space in between.
“Stef, sit up straight and take your elbows off the table,” her mother said curtly. “No one's going to want to marry a hunchback, especially one with bad manners.”
Stef sighed, straightening up and putting her arms down at the sides of her chair. Of all the things she hated about living with her parents, she had come to despise meal times most of all. She loathed the unappetizing food her mother prepared for her, always based on the latest—and most vile—health trends Gracie read about online. Even when she could force herself to eat everything on her plate, she still felt hungry and miserable all the time.
More than that, she couldn't stand the constant scrutiny and criticism. Most of the time, she could spend the rest of the day in her room, reading or watching TV. But when it was time to eat, she felt like she was being studied under a microscope.
“She's wearing too much makeup,” her father commented, shoving a forkful of sausage into his mouth. “Gracie, ask her why she's wearing so much makeup.”
“Sweetie, we've been over this and over this,” Gracie said to Stef in her most frustrated and long-suffering tone. “When you put on makeup, you need to go slow and use the techniques I've taught you. Otherwise, you look like a puttana or something from the circus.”
Stef felt a volcanic flash of rage run through her, but she did her best to keep it under control. Ever since she'd turned twenty-one last year, her parents had taken control of every aspect of her life—trying to turn her into the perfect prospective bride for a seemingly never-ending parade of male heirs from other Mafia families. They kept a close watch over how she dressed, where she went, and who she spent time with. She had almost no friends, and she was strictly forbidden from interacting with any boys that weren't introduced to her by her father. The way her father saw things, it would be harder for her to attract a respectable mate if she got a reputation as a slut.
When Stef asked her parents why things had to be this way now, Benny had told her that he was getting older, and it was time to start thinking about who would take over his businesses if anything happened to him. Since he'd never had any sons, old-world traditions dictated that his daughter marry a man who could fill this role. Stef had tried to protest, but Benny had made it very clear that as long as she was living under her roof, she'd obey him.
So far, Stef had met almost a dozen boys from different crime families across the country, and she'd refused each of their proposals. But she knew she couldn't keep refusing them for much longer, or else she'd tempt her father's wrath and he'd punish her by taking away the few privileges she had left.
But then she'd met Arthur.
To be fair, she'd never actually “met” Arthur. She'd connected with him via her social media account—one of the few ways in which she was allowed to communicate with the outside world unsupervised. He was good-looking and had a perfect smile, and they enjoyed a lot of the same books and movies. They'd chatted for hours, and last night, Stef had finally summoned the courage to suggest that they meet in person. She made arrangements for her friend Alice to say she'd be spending
a few hours at her place, but once she was there, Stef planned to sneak out the back and have ice cream with Arthur at a nearby diner.
And her parents would never have to know.
All Stef had to do was survive a few more minutes of torture at the dinner table, and then she'd be on the first date she'd truly planned for herself in over a year. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself, thinking of Arthur's blue eyes and straight white teeth. She wondered what it would be like to get a goodnight kiss from him.
“Make sure you wash some of that greasepaint off your face after dinner,” her father said, dabbing at the corners of his lips with his napkin. “And pick out something nicer to wear. Tonight, I'm going to introduce you to Carmine Ficociello. His father runs the unions in Philly.”