Fuck it had been a stressful two days. I finally got Nicole packed up and moved into the club. She was fighting me every breath, mainly because her girl was being a bitch and refusing to come to the club. Nicole had flat out refused until I got a little more creative in my convincing.
Tonight would be the first real night Nicole would be staying at the club. I wasn’t going to fucking lie I didn’t know how she was going to fit in. I was expecting drama with the Twinkies. Tonight was also a party night and Nicole would probably see shit that will make her run. I wouldn’t let that happen. Or I wasn’t going too but then Skull had canceled out our meeting the night before and we were meeting up tonight instead. I was fucked. I couldn’t be there watching over my woman and here with my men and Skull and I fucking needed to be here.
Crush and I walked into the old factory’s slaughter room. I normally took care of my business at the shed, but since this involved Skull to a certain extent I moved to a more central location. I didn’t like it, but I also didn’t want that fucker on my turf, knowing where my shit was.
Skull and three of his men, Beast, Copper and Torch were already sitting in the corner watching as Gunner was hosing down our entertainment for the night. Bull and Freak were sitting across from Skull’s men saying nothing, just watching. I had Irish, Frog and Striker watching over my woman. I was still hesitant about Striker, but he seemed to be innocent of this shit. I couldn’t go around blindly accusing my own. With three of them surely Nicole would be safe, that’s all I could do for now and it’s the only way I would agree to come here tonight.
Twist had been tied up on a meat hook now for two days. His face was swollen, his ribs bruised and I could tell Freak had been working on him with his razors. There were fine little lines with blood trailing along them all over Twist’s naked body. The lines were cut just deep enough to separate the layers of skin, and in perfect vertical form, straight as an arrow, except for the word Rapist that was written across Twists stomach. Freak was an artist with a knife or razor. Scary fuck, but handy to have on your side for damn sure.
“Let’s get this damn meeting started.” I said, as I sat down at the meeting table across from Skull.
“Damn Dragon, I was hoping the lovely Nicole had improved your mood.”
“She did, that’s why I want to be done with this shit and get back to her.”
Skull was wise enough not to say anything back. Good call.
“My boys explain shit to you?”
“Si, though I am sure you know by calling this meeting, I am not so stupid as to leave a clear trail pointing back to me or my compadres,” Skull answered.
“I do, which means we both have an enemy we need to find before this shit escalates.”
And fuck me, this shit always had a way of escalating, it hadn’t bothered me before. Now, I had Nicole to worry about. I still wasn’t sure how the hell that had happened.
“Freak, you about ready to start?”
“Plastic is all rolled out just waiting on you Boss man.” He said as if he was bored.
I look at Skull. “You warned me about this mother fucker before. Do you have any more intel you willing to share?”
“Sorry mi amigo, I wish I did, but I have nothing I wish to speak of to you or your compatriots”
Fuck! That meant he knew something more, though nothing he was willing to tell me. Why can’t shit ever be simple?
I rake my hand over my head. I dread what’s coming next. I can handle beating down and torturing mother fuckers, they bought their ticket and in my world you had to prove you were strong. You had to be someone others could not fuck with.
Still, the fact that tonight I would be doing that shit to one of my own was bitter in my gut. I keep my mind on Jess. It replays the beat down Twist gave her and how he laughed with each kick of his steel toe boot. It pictures how he raped the poor unconscious girl afterwards. Jess was a sweet girl, she even reminded me a little of Nicole to look at her. I kept that thought up front as I got up from the table. I make my way over to Twist and remind myself that this fucker destroyed an innocent woman and betrayed his brothers. Gunner turns off the hose.
“Untie him and put him in the tub. You got the shit on?” I ask because there’s not a doubt in my mind how this is going to go down.
“Yeah, Danny has the stuff going now.”
I nod and stand against the wall watching as Freak and Gunner lower Twist into the cast iron tub. His eyes are swollen together so he can’t see, but he has to know what’s happening. He’s seen what we do to those who betray us and try and cross us. There’s a reason we’re the Savage MC. I grab the pliers and knife off a makeshift table and walk towards him.
Truth be told, I don’t have a stomach for this shit. This was only done when information was needed. I’d much rather shoot a fuck between the eyes than go through this. I know the men felt the same. Freak took care of the crap job, because it had to be done and done right, to protect the club. I knew he didn’t truly like it either. Fuck, if he did I’m not sure I’d want him on my side.