Chapter Thirty-One

Vladmir

That same night at the Sons of Hell clubhouse,

“They ain’t takin’ my boy, King!”

“No one is taking Banks,” King groaned, trying to untie the multitude of knots the kid used to secure his ass to King’s chair. “And for your information, Banks is mine. He’s not yours, yet.”

Standing against the wall, shaking my head, I watched while King, Reaper, and Maxim squared off with a very angry and insolent child. Any other time and I would have thought it funny that a smart-mouthed seven-year-old bested three major players in the underworld, but I was in no mood for theatrics. Someone out there wanted my wife and her daughter, and until they were safe, I refused to stand down.

“Then why are they here? And for your information, I’m not talking about the Knuckle Dragger. I’m talking about my boy Kai!” the kid snarled, glaring at Maxim, who had a grin on his face like he was enjoying the situation.

Reaper, who sat off to the side with his feet on the table, laughed. “The kid has a point, King.”

King growled, frustrated, working on another knot. “He’s a pain in the ass, and when I get him untied, I’m going to whip his ass.”

“Oh, come on, King,” Gunner spoke up. “Carnage is only trying to protect Banks. You can’t punish him for that.”

“No, but I can beat someone’s ass for getting him involved!” the President of the Sons of Hell snarked angrily. “Who the hell told him about this shit? You know how he gets.”

Gunner shrugged his shoulders. “You know the kid. He’s always got his nose to the ground. He could have heard that shit anywhere. Besides, with Carnage on Banks’ side, no one is gonna make him go where he doesn’t want to go.”

“If I can’t get him untied, I’m going to hand him over to Maxim instead!” King retorted.

“Enough of this.” I groaned, reaching into my pocket and removing my knife. Walking over to the kid, I kneeled before him and started cutting through the rope.

“I understand you only want to protect Nikoli, but you are just a child. This matter has nothing to do with you.”

Several men groaned.

“Uh,” Frank piped up. “I wouldn’t call my little buddy that. He doesn’t like it.”

“Seriously, dude,” Enigma quickly added. “Are you trying to get yourself killed!”

Gunner chuckled. “Now you’ve done it.”

Even King took a step back and muttered, “Maxim, how fond are you of Vladmir?”

“Very fond. Why?” my boss said while I continued to cut the rope.

“Then you better put a protection detail on him because Cameron is the master at subterfuge. I’m talking full-on mayhem.”

Reaper threw his head back, roaring with laughter.

“King’s right, Fedorov. This menace to society bested his whole damn club. They are still recovering.”

“But he’s just a kid,” Maxim countered, frowning while he took a better look at the tyrant, who had said nothing more when I cut him loose. However, when I looked at him, I could see the wheels of retribution spinning in his wild, crazy eyes.

“There,” I declared, standing. “Now, can we get down to business?”

The kid slowly stood and walked right over to me.

Unafraid and with balls of steel, the kid simply said, “Sleep with one eye open, Russian. Your day is coming.”

With that, the little shit marched his ass out of the office.

To be continued in Vladmir.