Chapter Twenty-Four

Atlas

"T his guy is really starting to fucking piss me off," I growl.

Rage nods, sipping his beer as we look around at the other party goers. "He has been pushing it for a while now. The only reason we haven't done anything about it yet is because we've been doing jobs for Alaric."

"I think it's time we fixed that," I smirk.

To be honest, I could do with a good fucking fight, and this fucker has just presented me with the perfect fucking opportunity. I'm not going to kill him; that would be a slight overreaction, but I'm going to let him know that I can.

I push away from the wall, ignoring the people that I think were talking to me. I wasn't listening anyway so it's no loss to me. Walking over to where Lewis is spouting his mouth off, and trying to make out that he has any sort of hold over me, the crowd parts. Lewis gulps as he sees me approaching but stands with a smile.

"Atlas, I didn't realize you were back?" He says, the nerves clear in his tone.

I hold back my laughter. I bet he didn't, or he would have been more careful about telling everyone that we're best friends and that he has inside information about me. He's also been telling people all sorts of shit that just isn't true. He's been earning money off of our supposed link as well and frightening people into doing things for him because otherwise, he'd get me involved.

Rage and I have been told all about it. We know everything, and I won't stand for it. Especially, because of some of the things that this guy is getting people to do for him, he's using them like servants, he even got one guy to lick his feet or I would deal with him.

It's sick, and I won't stand for it.

"So, you've been telling people we're tight, is that right?" I say, with an edge to my voice.

Rage chuckles from where he's standing behind my shoulder.

Lewis's eyes move to him nervously as a mumble starts in the crowd that's surrounding us, and they realize that he's been spouting absolute shit.

"I haven't said anything like that," he tries to lie, the nerves making his voice shake.

The voices of the crowd get louder as they all dispute what he's saying. I hold up my hand, and they immediately fall silent.

"Oh, I already know the truth, you dumb fuck, I know everything, and I can't let it slide; I especially can't let people here think that I would associate myself with someone like you."

He's got two options right now. He could either try and run, which would provide amusement for me, but with the crowd already creating a circle around us, he's most likely just going to get himself pushed back into the makeshift ring and make himself look like a pussy for trying to run away in the first place. Blackbreak is all about connections, and no one wants to do business with a pussy.

His second option is to stay in the ring with me and hope I don't beat him to death, it would look better for the crowd and he may still have one or two people willing to do business with him, but he could die, he has no idea what my plan is, but he knows as well as anyone here what I'm capable of.

I'm not surprised, but I am disappointed when he turns and runs, or at least tries to; as I predicted, he doesn't get far and instead gets violently pushed back toward me. I pull back my fist and punch him hard, knocking him down. He's got no choice but to get back up and fight.

That's another thing about Blackbreak, we're all trained to fight and that means that he at least can stand his own for a short while. I get bored pretty quickly, though, he's not really worth the workout, but I do need to make an example of him; I owe the people he used that, at least. So, I beat him until he's begging and then I beat him a little bit more.

When I finally let up, he's bloodied, bruised, broken and unconscious, but alive. The crowd roars, none of them shy away from violence, what would be the point this whole school practically runs on it. They all quickly move out of my way; as I head back to Rage, he hands me a beer, and we head back around to the front of the house and my car.

I think we're done. I'm fucking starving.

"Feel better?" Rage grins as we drive the short way back to our house.

I grin, "Infinitely."

Rage looks down at his phone and smirks, "He'll be gone by morning. Apparently, someone sent information and proof about all of his recent activity and the things that he's been getting the guys to do to the principal. Blackbreak may run on some shady rules, but he won't put up with shit like that. Whoever sent the info knew enough to realize that you weren't actually involved in any of it, and so you are kept out of it."

I nod, "Nah he won't. That's the third or fourth time that we've heard of a problem and then information has been sent to Ryan, isn't it?"

Rage frowns, "Yeah, you're right. Someone is incredibly good at getting the right information to the right people and not getting found out in the process. It's pretty fucking impressive."

"It is." I agree as we finally get back to our place.

Rage is walking back into the front room with our pizzas when the alarm on one of my laptops goes off.

"Fuck," Rage mutters, "is that the one you said up for the cabin in Serendipity?"

I nod, already on the way to get my laptop, the pizza forgotten, as I reply tensely, "Hopefully, it's just the guys trying to get my attention again."

I miss the fuckers, and if it is them just trying to communicate with me, then I'm in two minds whether I send them a message. I know I shouldn't, but I kind of want to.

"Is everything okay?" Rage asks me, concern in his tone. I've told him enough about the guys that he feels like he knows them, and I would really like to introduce them one day when it's safe.

"I'm just waiting for the cameras to load," I say with a frown, "the inside ones aren't working. Fuck."

I finally manage to get one of the cameras that is pointed toward the house working and the whole place has gone up in flames, there is no way that this was an accident.

My phone is in my hand and I'm dialling Alaric before I've even consciously thought to do so.

"Are the guys safe? Did the fuckers who burnt down the cabin stick around?" I fire questions at him without even bothering to say hello.

"They're safe," Alaric replies, "I was literally just about to call you and tell you not to worry, and certainly don't go back there, it's not safe for you."

I ignore that warning because unless he can convince me that they are okay, I will be heading back there, and I know for a fact that Rage will be coming with me.

"How are they safe?" I ask, "Explain it to me."

Alaric sighs, "Obviously, it was set on purpose, but some of my people got there in time and managed to chase them out of the town before they could do any snooping. I don't think they intended to anyway."

I sigh; if Alaric's people chased the fuckers out, then the guys are safe. Well, they're safe from my problems and as safe as they always are, which, come to think of it, isn't that safe, thanks to the jobs that they do and their rivalry with Tomlinson.

"Are you keeping a presence in town?" Rage asks, worry in his tone even though he's never met any of them before.

He knows that they mean a lot to me, and that's enough for him. Which says a lot about the kind of person that he is and why we've been friends for as long as we have.

Alaric hums, "Yes, we are, only for a few days since we don't want to raise any suspicions about why we're there."

"Do we know who is behind it?" I ask.

"As far as we can tell, it was Blake, well not him personally since he can't be bothered to do much himself these days, but some of the people that we know work closely with him."

I curse again, "Great, he's getting less predictable."

"I know, we're working on it." Alaric reassures me, "Stay put."

"Got it," I reply, and he hangs up.

We're both silent for a moment as I try to bring my adrenaline levels back down; I was ready to head back there as fast as I fucking could.

"Well, I fucking need a beer after that; I was getting ready to head out of the door," Rage comments as he stands up.

That right there is why he's one of my best friends.

"Get me one or five," I call after him.