Prelude—Re

Eleven years had passed since a big meeting was called. Unlike the last time, Pa was a member of the Dwellers and Wally Bart, Jr. was a full patch Scorpion. Roddie—Cleaner—was the top enforcer, Bash was the Vice-President, and Cee Cee remained Prez.

Unlike the last meeting, Cee Cee, Bash, Roddie, Joey, Big Joe, and K-P weren’t invited. It was just Sharper, Logan, Pa, and Wally Jr. The location was the same though, the big, isolated cabin in Whitehorse in the dead of winter.

Wally Jr. followed behind Pa into the warmth of the cabin, his arms filled with the wood he’d just helped lug from the firewood storehouse.

“Stoke the fire, Junior,” Pa instructed, pointing to the massive stone fireplace. The one Cee Cee had used to heat the poker and then wreaked havoc that last time. Wally Jr.’s shoulder still pained him from time-to-time ‘cause of the gunshot. He hadn’t done that motherfucker nothing, neither.

Scowling at the memories, he stomped to the fireplace.

“Hurry, boy,” Pa ordered. “We have to get to business so we can head out tomorrow.”

They’d flown in on Sharper’s private jet. Wally Jr. hated motherfucking planes. Fucking freaks of nature. How the fuck did tons of iron stay in the sky? He dropped the wood at his feet.

“Dumb fuck!” Pa yelled. “You just gave yourself more fucking work. Why didn’t you put them in the log holder?”

“Sorry, Pa.” Wally Jr. wasn’t big and strapping like Pa. He had a smaller stature. Ordinarily, it didn’t matter. In times like these, he felt tiny, but Pa loved him so that made it all better. “I was just thinking about those iron beasts.” Mumbling to himself, he stooped and began stacking the logs in the stand. “They’re sky cages,” he complained. “Death traps. No surviving a fall from the fucking sky.” He glanced over his shoulder, ignoring Sharper and Logan’s shocked faces. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you when it crashes in a fiery iron heap.”

“Airplanes aren’t made of iron!” Sharper barked.

Pa walked to him and laid his hands on Wally Jr.’s shoulders.

“Don’t worry, Junior. You won’t feel anything. You’ll be nice and medicated. By the time you wake up, we’ll be in California.”

Wally Jr. drew in a deep breath. “Fine, Pa.”

Smiling, Pa put an arm around Wally Jr.’s neck and dragged him to the long table made of shiny wood. “Sit. I’ll see to the fire so we can get started.”

Unlike Wally Jr., who wasn’t sure if he ever did anything right, Pa’s confidence bled through in every move he made. A job that would’ve taken Wally Jr. forty-five minutes to complete, Pa accomplished in twenty.

When he came back to the table, he rectified how the others overlooked Wally Jr. for a beer and got one for both of them.

Sharper drained his beer. “Any reports, Wally?”

Wally Jr. scrunched his brows together. “Well, uh—”

Pa slapped the side of Wally Jr.’s head. “I’m Wally. You’re Wally Jr.”

“It’s why we told you to always think of yourself as Wally Jr.,” Sharper said with a touch of impatience.

Swallowing, Wally Jr. nodded. “My friends don’t always call me that, so I forget sometimes. ‘Specially when I hear Wally,” he added, scratching his itchy scalp.

Heating in the cabin wasn’t the best, so he hadn’t washed his hair or showered once in the ten days they’d been there. But today was the last day, so they needed to get to business.

“Joe is just as enamored as ever by his little blonde cumsquirt.”

Though he nodded in agreement at Pa’s disgusted statement, Logan wasn’t pleased. He glowered and thrust his fingers through hair steadily whitening. His gray eyes were so mean and cold, Wally Jr. hoped never to get on his bad side.

“I’ve kept him busy at the club,” Logan said. “He hasn’t visited Seattle as much.”

Pa snapped his brows together. “Then Dinah hasn’t been, er…” His voice trailed off and he folded his arms, glancing away.

Drugging him…? Wally Jr. thought Pa was going to say that, but wasn’t sure. And he definitely wasn’t filling in the blanks, although Rev seemed to know what Pa meant because he nodded.

“Dinah lost her nerve six months ago,” Sharper said with displeasure.

The news perked Pa and he released a long breath. “Good. Good. Glad to hear it.” He scratched his scruffy jaw. “If he finds out there’s a target on that little slut’s back—”

“He won’t,” Sharper said with certainty.

Wally Jr. cleared his throat. “Ain’t Cee Cee paid for her and a bunch of people? He almost shot my ass off.”

For nothing, too. That stuck in Wally Jr.’s craw, though he liked Cee Cee well enough.

“Your ass isn’t in your shoulder,” Pa told him.

Wally pondered the rebuke.

“Once she turns eighteen, Cee Cee intends to stop paying the bounty,” Sharper revealed, his voice a little shaky.

“That’s ten years away,” Logan snapped. “Too long for Joe to possibly not run across the documents.”

Silence fell around the table, and they glanced at each other.

“Wouldn’t that violate Cee Cee’s terms?” Wally Jr. asked. He knew it would. He’d seen the documents. “Him and Big Joe are paying to keep her safe. Wouldn’t it just be easier to keep the papers legit?”

A pained expression crossed Logan’s face and he cleared his throat. “If something happens to Joe—” He pressed his lips together, snatched his bottle of beer, and took a deep swallow. “In the event of his premature death, having it in that bitch’s name makes it easier for us to keep control. He dies. She dies.”

Sharper’s lips thinned. “He’s determined to see Cee Cee’s son in his position someday.”

Heaving in a breath, Pa folded his arms. “If Christopher ever gets in command, we’d lose all control. But if Joey and me head the club, along with hand chosen lieutenants, then our status quo remains.”

Johnnie was no longer a contender. Months ago, Pa confided Logan’s exalted grandson was focusing on school and didn’t seem interested in the club.

Wally Jr. was trying to work everything out in his head. At twenty-nine, he wasn’t the smartest, but in his humble opinion the old dudes were unnecessarily complicating shit. “Wouldn’t it just be easier to kill Christopher and…what’s that little cunt’s name?”

“Meggie,” Pa supplied.

“Yeah, her,” Wally Jr. said with a decisive nod. “Big Joe is the one making the money.”

Boss’s life was the most valuable of everyone’s. Fucking with the man in any way—drugging him, stealing his kid, whatever—seemed counterproductive to their bank accounts.

“We have to figure out how to get Cee Cee out of the way,” Sharper admitted, ignoring Wally Jr. “Then, and only then, can we deal with Christopher and Meggie. And, if necessary, Joe.”

Suspicion rose in him. “So, how do I fit into the plans? I’m here for a reason.”

“We need you to keep watch on Cee Cee. Report his movements,” Logan volunteered.

“What…are you…” Wally turned accusing eyes to Pa. “I thought you loved me! Cee Cee would gut me…fuck, Bash…Cleaner…no, no, no.” Though he wasn’t sure which of those three was worse, he admired their brutality. He just didn’t want to be their victim. “I’m still not quite understanding, anyway. Just kill all of them. Get them to a meeting and blow the place up or…”

The pride in Pa’s eyes and Logan’s appreciative chuckles stopped Wally Jr.’s frantic thoughts.

“I commend you, Wally,” Sharper said. “You’ve raised a fine boy.”

Pa clapped Wally Jr. on the back and he puffed out his chest in pride at his father’s approval.

“Logan doesn’t want Joe dead, Junior. Neither do I. Not if we can help it.”

“Besides, as the years pass, the value of the assets Joe acquired grows exponentially,” Sharper explained. “By the time she’s eighteen, it will have grown into a massive fortune. She needs to die.”

“Joe has a head for numbers,” Logan said with clear fondness shining in his eyes. “He makes us money.”

Pa snorted. “Motherfucking Christopher makes the club money, too. I might like him if he wasn’t so fucking arrogant. Joe lets him run fucking wild. Anything that motherfucker wants, Joe approves.”

“So let me get this straight. You got all these documents that you put in…?” He couldn’t remember a bitch’s name just because. Once he finished with her, he promptly forgot her name. If he wasn’t fucking one of them, he didn’t have time for them.

Pa shifted in his seat and sipped beer. “Meggie,” he supplied.

“You put shit in her name without Big Joe’s knowledge. Instead of allowing Big Joe to divide however much between the five charter members, then continue paying out all future earnings 80/20 between the Dwellers and the Scorpions, you want it to stay in her name for ten years to make more money? When she turns eighteen, you intend to kill…?”

Sharper and Pa exchanged guilty looks.

“Christopher,” Logan answered, not noticing the funny faces on Pa and the minister.

Wally Jr. pursed his lips. How the fuck Christopher would be the one fucked up when it wasn’t even in his name? He should live, too. Money mattered more than arrogance.

Since Wally Jr. wasn’t getting none of the money, it didn’t matter. But his father’s safety did. “Call me a dumb motherfucker, but unless you fuck up Big Joe, too, having it in her name won’t do no good. Even with Christopher dead, Big Joe will still be in control.” He looked at Pa. “And can still retaliate.”

“But too heartbroken to lead,” Logan said.

“Or too dead,” Sharper said with a shrug.

“The same thing all of us will be if Cee Cee gets wind of this scheme,” Wally Jr. said sourly.

He didn’t know Christopher, so he didn’t give a fuck about him. He just didn’t want to get on Cee Cee’s bad side.

Sadness glinted in Logan’s too bright eyes. He scrubbed a hand over his face. “I…fuck…your boy’s right. Joe would have to…” Shaking his head, he got to his feet. “No, I can’t do this. Joe is the one person I refuse to sacrifice.”

Once again, Wally Jr. saw his father’s relief, though Sharper stiffened and glared at Logan.

“Is it because you still want to fuck him or because he saved your life?”

Logan bristled and his gray eyes hardened. “Fuck you,” he spat.

Sliding his chair back, Sharper stormed to his feet. “No, fuck you. The power you have is by my grace. My word is law, and I pity the man who ever tries to usurp me.”

Rage slid into Logan’s face.

“Fuck,” Pa whispered, blowing out a heavy breath.

“I don’t give a fuck, Sharper!” Logan roared. “You’re not killing my Joe! He saved me when you wouldn’t, motherfucker. He’s strong and beautiful and sensual.”

Turning Logan’s words over in his head, Wally Jr. cocked his head to the side. “Uh, Pa?”

“Yeah, Junior?”

“Logan…uh…the way he talks about Big Joe don’t seem real fatherly.”

“Yeah, Junior.” Smiling, Pa patted Wally Jr.’s head, then got to his feet. His piercing whistle silenced the two men. “Sharper, the only fucking reason you want Joe dead so fucking much is because you’re jealous. I don’t want Boss to die, neither.”

“He wants Christopher in charge!” Sharper yelled, his face contorted in rage. “I couldn’t control that motherfucker. I can’t control his father.”

“Fuck, you can’t control your sons,” Pa said with a snort. “Lucas is firmly under Christopher’s influence.”

“I should’ve killed them when I had the chance. It’s a pity he was in the church shitter when Vivian stormed off and crashed into the back of the truck.”

“I don’t like your boys,” Logan said with distaste.

“I don’t give a fuck.”

“Ruining my fucking club with their presence.” Revulsion sharpened the statement.

A thoughtful look crossed Sharper’s face, then he nodded as if he’d reached some diabolical conclusion that Wally Jr. didn’t want to know about. Clearing his throat, Sharper returned to his seat, letting go of the argument.

That shit was scariest of all. Sharper’s displeasure led to someone losing their head. It was his favorite method of execution.

“Wally Jr.’s right,” he decreed, waving his hand toward Pa. “Let’s kill them all now. We’ve made enough money. We were waiting until she’s eighteen in consideration of Joe, but I can fuck her now or later, then slit her throat. It makes no difference to me. Rack, I’m charging you with convincing Christopher and Joe to come to a meeting—”

“No!” Logan cried, rushing forward.

“Fuck off. Wally Jr.,” Sharper continued as if Logan wasn’t on the verge of losing his shit, “I want you to convince Cee Cee and Bash. It’ll happen in two weeks. I’ll call with the location.”

“What if…what if…” Wally Jr. swallowed. “What if one of ‘em gets away? I’m fucking dead, Sharper.”

“They won’t,” he said with certainty. “I’ll call Roddie and send him to get that little blonde cumrag.” Sharper smirked at Logan. “I’ll fuck her first, kill her, then shoot Joe before lopping his head off. I have special slugs and a very sharp machete reserved for him.”

Logan burst into tears.

“Not so high and mighty now, huh, motherfucker?”

Sharper’s mean look terrified Wally Jr. He trembled.

“My fucking sons disgrace my fucking club? Fuck you.”

Staggering to him, Logan dropped to his knees and sniffled, then bowed his head. “Please, Sharper,” he said. His sobs tugged at Wally Jr.’s heart. “Don’t take my Joe.”

Sharper shoved his seat back, got to his feet, and unbuckled his trousers. Pulling his cock out, he tapped it against Logan’s lips.

Hands flying to his mouth and his eyes bugging, Wally Jr. stared at the great Logan Donovan reduced to sucking off the holy Reverend Sharper Banks to save Big Joe’s life.

Pa shoved him. “Close your fucking mouth,” he said crossly, looking as if he wanted to be anywhere but there, listening to Sharper’s grunts and Logan’s gags.

“Junior?” Pa whispered.

“Pa?” Wally Jr. croaked, afraid to raise his voice. He didn’t want to be next. Cee Cee did a lot, but he’d never made a dude suck his dick.

“They want as much money as possible, it’s true, but the real reason they’re waiting is because they want to fuck her and sell her pussy to forty or fifty motherfuckers before killing her.”

Sharper squirted his cum in Logan’s face, then kicked him to the floor.

Wally Jr. put his hands on his head and stared. “She’s eight, Pa. That’s even too young for me. Eight.”

“Not for another nine months, but she’s still a distraction. If she were a boy, she’d be with Joe or one of us. Headed for club life. Bitches are disposable.”

Stepping over Logan, who was sobbing so hard his shoulders shook, Sharper tucked his cock away. His study of Wally Jr. frightened the fuck out of him. He wasn’t a cocksucker, but he wasn’t an idiot. If Sharper wanted it, he got it, or punishment was swift.

“The younger a bitch, the better,” he said, “but you are right. They must be at least thirteen. My aim is to stay my course until she’s eighteen. Dinah doesn’t want her out of her sight. She’ll still have a virgin pussy. I could get good money for her, but I intend to fuck her first.” He glared at Logan, then offered a thin smile. “Joe loves her so much.” Another glare in Logan’s direction. “Then I’ll auction her virgin ass and mouth off. Won’t get as much for her used pussy—”

“I still vote to have your attorney return everything to Joe’s name,” Pa said woefully. “Do this shit four or five months before that little slut turns eighteen. If Joe finds out the truth now—”

“Then we’ll have to kill him,” Sharper declared. He narrowed his eyes at Wally Jr. “Keep your fucking mouth shut about our plans for that split tail. Am I clear?”

Dropping his hands to his sides, he nodded vigorously.

“He won’t say anything, Sharper,” Pa swore, unease dampening his tone.

“Tell him everything.”

Pa swallowed. “Sharper, he’s not even a Dweller. I sent him to Richmond to be with Cee Cee. Get to know his cousins and his uncle—”

“Tell. Him.”

“N-n-n-no! I-I-I-I don’t want to know.” Full disclosure meant sure death if he double-crossed them, either by accident or on purpose.

“Junior—”

He clapped his hands over his ears. “Lalalalalalalalala,” he yelled, drowning out his father’s voice, until he saw the violence brewing in Sharper’s eyes. He burst into tears, much like Logan had. “If I liked sucking dick, I’d suck yours in exchange for never hearing everything. A man can’t never have too many cock sucks. But I just don’t—”

“Shut the fuck up,” Sharper ordered, grabbing a handful of his shirt. “We want her pussy. She’s the moneymaker. The deeds and titles will remain in her name in the event that Joe finds himself dead. That’s it!” he said wildly. “But if Cee Cee gets wind of this, we’re dead.”

If Big Joe discovered the plans, they would have been dead anyway. Luckily, the man was a bad judge of character, so Wally had aligned himself on the side of might instead of motherfuckers whose days were numbered.