"Continue with the story Joe, I'm losing my patience with you." Slick rubbed his knuckles as Joe tried to hold it together.
"I got caught dealing on the Holloway Estate."
I let out a low whistle, "Well I'm surprised you're not fucking dead already." The Holloway Estate was run by the Triad and we made sure that all club business was conducted away from there.
Slick glanced in my direction and then turned his attention back to Joe, "Go on."
Joe struggled to breath and blood poured from his nostril but he continued, "They asked me where I got the drugs from and who I was working for."
Slick ran his hands through his hair trying to keep his composure, "And you told them that you were associated with the Satan's?"
Joe looked at the floor, "They wanted me to set up a meeting with Onyx."
"And so we did this morning." Onyx stated stepping forward into the circle with his cigar hanging from his mouth.
"And what was decided?" Slick asked concerned.
Onyx bent down in front of Joe, "I had to give Mr Li my word that we would never step foot in their territory again. I had to also promise that I would deal with my little problem." Onyx stood tall and passed a large blade to Slick that I hadn't seen him holding. "He's your problem, deal with it."
I saw the panic on Joe's face as he looked between Onyx and Slick. "I'm sorry man, I didn't know it would cause a problem. A good prospect learns from his mistakes and I promise not to step out of line again."
"Shut him up." Onyx ordered.
Slick held the blade horizontally and surged towards Joe. His screams pierced my ears as Slick rammed the blade into Joe's mouth and pushed forward. The skin around his mouth sliced easily and the blood spurted in every direction as Slick continued to add pressure. Joe's legs thrashed around and the chair moved up and down as Joe tried to get away frantically but he was only delaying the inevitable. Joe's chair finally tipped backwards from the pressure Slick was applying and he fell on top of him, the screaming immediately stopped but Joe twitched as he lay bleeding out on the floor.
Slick stood and wiped his hands on his jeans, "What a mother fucker, I actually liked that kid."
Polar roared with laughter as he patted Slick on the back, "You kill me man, you kill me."
"Come on boys you all deserve a drink after that, get Wes in here to clean this shit up." Onyx left the room followed by a few of the guys leaving myself, Poet and Sketch behind.
I walked slowly over to Joe still twitching on the floor, he wasn't even dead and Onyx was asking Wes to clean him up.
"Wes is only a kid himself, he can't do this on his own."
"I agree but Onyx will start asking questions if you and Poet start helping." Sketch stated coming to stand beside me.
"Fuck Onyx!" I spat.
"Who's gonna finish him off?" Sketch asked joining us as Wes entered the room with a mop, bucket and hack saw.
The three of us stopped what we were doing and looked at Wes. "What? Polar said to come in here with these." He glanced around the room before he saw Joe on the floor with the blade still deeply inserted in his face and heaved, bringing the bucket up close to his face so that he could catch his vomit.
"Well, that's what the buckets for. What we supposed to do with the mop and saw?" Sketch sniggered, trying to inject some humour into the situation.
"Rock, paper, scissors." I stated turning towards Poet. He nodded and we lifted our fists three times before revealing what we had. I lost the first round as Poet's paper wrapped my rock. He let out a sigh of relief as I turned to Sketch. We lifted our fists three times then revealed our hands, again I lost.
"Well it looks like I'm putting the boy out of his misery." I pulled my blade from my secret pocket and knelt on the floor close to Joe. He was still convulsing but not as much as he was earlier because of his blood loss. I gently pulled his head back but it hinged where he'd been sliced back to his ears. I felt bile rise in my mouth and had to swallow hard to keep it down. I decided to lift his chin instead to reveal his neck and placed the blade between my teeth as I used both of my hands to pull his head back. I could hear his shallow breathing and on closer inspection noticed that his eyes were still open staring at me as I prepared him for what I was about to do.
I took the blade from my teeth and positioned the knife, "I'm sorry Joe." I ran the blade deeply along his neck making sure that it would do enough damage to end the suffering.
I knelt by his side as I contemplated how easy it was to end a life, so why had I been here for five years with only one death under my belt? I wiped Joe's blood onto his jeans and returned the blade to my pocket as the door opened.
"Come on Poet, Saviour, you're missing the first round of drinks." Hustler said from the doorway.
I stood and glanced at Joe, "We can't leave Wes to do this on his own, he'll be here all fucking night and we need to get rid of it quickly."
"Well I'm sure Sketch and Wes are more than capable of chopping up a body."
"I'm sure they are but wouldn't it be quicker if Poet and I helped." I stated firmly.
Hustler pushed off the door frame and stepped further into the room, "And Onyx has sent me to get you, so don't make me go back empty handed."
He had a few inches on me but I wasn't threatened by him, I stalked forward making sure he knew that he hadn't scared me with his threats.
"Saviour it's fine mate Wes and I can manage this." I turned to look at Sketch.
"You sure? I really don't mind helping."
He smiled, "Honestly we'll be fine."
I nodded and saw Hustler smirk as he turned to leave the room and slowly I followed him out into the bar to see the party in full swing.
"Take a seat Saviour." Onyx said as I strolled past the group in the direction of the front door to the clubhouse.
"Nah I'm good, I'm gonna get going if you don't need me for anything else."
"I said take a seat." I stopped in my tracks and glanced over my shoulder to see Onyx stare at me as he swigged his beer.
I let out a sigh as I turned on my heels and made my way over to the seating area where the guys had congregated.
"What's up?" I asked casually placing my hands in my pocket.
"I want you to have a drink with us." Onyx nodded at the bird sitting next to him for her to move. She huffed and stood, making sure she brushed her tits against my chest as she strutted past.
I sat on the chair she'd just vacated and stretched my legs to rest them on the coffee table in front of us.
Hustler used his teeth to open a beer bottle and passed it to me before opening one for himself.
"Why? Are you thinking of giving me Slick's interpretation of a Glasgow smile?"
Onyx dribbled beer down the front of his t-shirt as he laughed, "You're a funny man Saviour, even when you're not trying to be."
I smiled out of politeness and looked around the group as Polar, Hustler, Fix and Poet stared at me. "Will you fucking spit it out, you obviously want to ask me something." I glared at the guys before I turned my attention back to Onyx.
Polar sniggered, "What's the matter Saviour, you seem a little jumpy."
I flashed him the birdie to the roar of laughter from the other guys and Slick as he joined us. It looked like he'd taken a quick shower to remove the evidence of Joe's death.
Onyx leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees, "We're concerned about you."
"Well I ain't, I couldn't give a shit." Polar scoffed.
Onyx kicked Polar's legs from the table, "Stop being a fucking prick all of the time."
Polar stood and glared at me before walking over to the bar, I couldn't resist in smirking at him for being reprimanded by Onyx.
"Concerned?" I asked confused.
"Yeah, you ain't been on the job lately, like your heads all over the place." Slick stated as he sat beside me on the arm of the sofa.
Onyx rubbed his chin, "I mean you don't talk much anyway but you've been even quieter recently. You got someth
ing on your mind?"
I looked at the guys and couldn't believe my ears. I despised these very men with the exception of Poet, Sketch and Wes. These three guys had been my life for the past six years and friendships had developed, it was only natural to depend on people over this long period of time and I now considered these men as family. I would support and defend them like I would any of the Aces members.
What shocked me most from this conversation was the very man that I wanted to see dead actually cared. I hadn't realised how much of a manipulator I'd been over the years and how convincing of a liar I could be if I set my mind to it. They'd accepted me as one of them, moving me into the inner circle of the group and playing a big part in important decisions but I'd been here far too long. I'd surprised myself at how quickly I'd infiltrated the group but I'd only managed to put an end to Priest over the six years. I couldn't do this for much longer, I was getting tired of pretending to be someone I wasn't. It was exhausting, I was lucky not to have been discovered already.
I scoffed, "I've got a lot on my mind." I glanced around the room raising my hands, "Like all of us I suppose."
Onyx narrowed his eyes, "Anything we, the club need to worry about?" He asked pulling on his moustache.
I shook my head, "Nah man, just a bird. I've had to knock it on the head she was getting too clingy."
I took a sip of my beer and was taken aback as Slick clinked his bottle against mine. "I'll drink to that mate, bitches are more trouble than they're worth."
Polar joined us again with a round of beers, "Is the bonding over?"
Onyx sniggered, "Yeah the fucking bonding's over, let's get pissed."
Chapter 8
Saviour
One year earlier
I was looking forward to a night off away from the clubhouse. Poet had called me earlier and asked if I wanted to go out for a drink but I declined, I needed to get a few things in order and wanted to spend some time by myself as I enjoyed my own company more than others.
I pulled a beer from the fridge and walked into the living room when I heard a quiet knock. I strolled over to the door and placed my hands either side of the spy hole, closing one eye to look through so I could see who was knocking. "April?" I whispered aloud confused as to why she was here.
I opened the door, the sound made April jump and she quickly placed her hands on her chest as she glanced up and down the corridor. She returned her gaze to me and smiled, "You scared me."
"What the fuck's happened to your face?" I could see red blotches and swelling on her cheek under the streams of mascara stained tears.
"Can I come in?" I opened the door wide so that she could enter and closed the door firmly behind her. April walked slowly into the room taking everything in as she looked around coyly.
I followed closely behind her and folded my arms tightly across my chest as I waited for her to speak. I'd known April for six years and in that time she'd never been back to my bedsit. I rocked back and forth on my heels as I waited for her to speak, I wouldn't push her. April had obviously come here for a reason but I wanted her to freely offer the information rather than me hounding her.
"You have a lovely home," she stated looking around the shabby living room. I sniggered as I moved to sit on the arm of the sofa, now I knew she was lying. This flat never looked lived in as I shared my time between the two clubs and didn't have many possessions.
"I wasn't disturbing you, was I?" I shook my head letting her know that I didn't have any important plans this evening. April pursed her lips and sat on the edge of the sofa, I could see that she was struggling with her emotions and wanted to get things off her chest but I sat still waiting for her to lead the conversation.
"Polar and I had a fight." She whispered. The atmosphere became thick from her revelation. I thought as much but I didn't tell her my thoughts, she needed to make the decision on her own to leave.
"Aren't you gonna say something?"
I shrugged, "What do you want me to say babe?"
April stood and paced the room, finally stopping to look out of the window, "He told me he loved me."
Well that surprised me, Polar wasn't known for his more sensitive side although she'd obviously seen it at some stage to fall in love with him.
She turned from the window to look at me, "So I suppose you're wondering where this is going right?"
I let out a sigh, "Look April, you know that I like you but your love life is none of my concern." She looked affronted by my comment and wrapped her arms around her waist protectively. "Your fucked up relationship with Polar is toxic, and you're gonna end up getting seriously hurt if that's the way he leaves you after declaring his love."
April looked at the floor, her hair fell around her face shielding her but the small sobs could be heard as they gently filled the room.
I was an arsehole sometimes but I couldn't leave her like this, I stood and slowly made my way over to where she was standing and wrapped her into my embrace pulling her close into my arms. April's sobs became louder and I was finding it difficult to console her, I gently placed my hand at the back of her head trying to comfort her as best I could.
April pulled away abruptly but I still had hold of her, "Sorry I shouldn't have come here, I shouldn't be bringing shit to your door." She used her thumbs to wipe the tears and tried to get free from my grasp.
"No you shouldn't have but you did, now sit down and we'll work something out." A small smile crossed her beautiful face as I directed her to the sofa and sat beside her with my arm firmly around her shoulders. "What's gone on babe?"
April let out a loud sigh, "He came to my flat this evening and unsuccessfully tried to explain to me why he couldn't take me as his old lady, it's the same old shit I've heard for the past ten years."
"And his reasons were...?"
"Because I've slept with his brothers."
I laughed and April looked affronted by my reaction, "I'm sorry but what gives him the right to take the moral high ground?"
She rolled her eyes dramatically, "Do you mind, this is my life you're taking the piss out of."
"I'm sorry but the man's a prick!" It was now April's turn to snigger, "Where does the whole love thing come into it?"
"Well after telling me that I can't be his old lady he ranted for the next twenty minutes about me being a prick tease and casting a spell over him." She huffed.
"And the marks on your face?" There it was the elephant in the room that neither of us had mentioned until now.
"You know how he likes control."
I removed my arm from her shoulder and turned so I was facing her directly, "Are you fucking kidding me? He does this to you and you still make excuses for him."
"But he..."
"But nothing! I like control in my life also but I've never laid as much as a finger on a woman." I could feel myself about to explode and I needed to keep it under control, she had come to me but I was still no closer to finding out why.
"So why come to me? You know how I feel about him, I tolerate him because he's a brother and I'd die for him because that's what I'm asked to do by the club but he's not a friend." Her eyes widened as I ranted. I fucking hated the prick and even more so by the way he'd treated April over the years, keeping her dangling on a piece of string for when he wanted her.
"I'm sorry Saviour, I really am but I had no one else to talk to."
"Come here." I wrapped my arms around her again and pulled her close, I wasn't good with emotions and I certainly didn't know how to deal with crying women.
April came easy into my embrace and looked at me sweetly before moving in for a kiss.
"Whoa!" I stated shuffling back further up the sofa as she continued her pursuit.
"I need this Saviour, I need to feel wanted if only for a short amount of time. We've done it before."
I sighed and grabbed her wrists softly, "It's not happening babe, you don't want this not really."
"What's fucking wrong with me?" she screamed loudly as her e
yes sparkled with tears.
"April just fucking stop it!" I grabbed her and positioned her body so that she lay on my chest to stroke the back of her head. "Just fucking stop it!"
We lay on the sofa lost in our own thoughts as I slowly stroked her back, soothing her. After a while she stopped fighting me, I felt her body relax and noticed how her breathing had slowed, and I realised that she'd fallen asleep. I let out a sigh and contemplated what I'd say to her when she woke. She needed to get away from here but I knew that she didn't have any close relatives to turn to, come to think of it she probably didn't have any savings either.
I slid from underneath her making sure that she didn't roll from the sofa, and leaned over to open the drawer on the coffee table. I pulled out the brown envelope and flicked through the notes mentally calculating a grand. It wasn't a lot but it would be enough for April to get herself sorted and bide herself some time until she got a job.
"Saviour!" I felt her hand on my shoulder as I sat on the floor beside the sofa.
I patted her hand briefly before turning so that I could see her reaction to what I was about to say. I handed her the money and her eyes widened as she took the bundle of cash and flicked through the notes. "I want you to take this, to get away from here. It's not much but it will see you through until you get on your feet." April glanced in my direction opening her mouth to say something before she closed it again. "It could help you start a new life April, think about it babe."
April let out a small sigh, "You are one of the kindest men I know Saviour. I knew from the first day I met you that you were special." She leaned forward and placed the notes into my palm before closing my fingers around the money. "I'm flattered that you would want to help me, I really am but I can't accept this." April swung her legs off the sofa and adjusted her clothes before she stood. "This is my life, it's what I know and what I deserve."
April's mobile bleeped, she quickly removed it from her pocket to read the text before she typed a quick response. She looked up and smiled, "Polar's looking for me, I'd better make a move."
Locke (Aces MC Series Book 4) Page 7