5. King

Chapter 5

King

"Feel better now, King?" Eyeball jokes as we walk out of the abandoned bingo parlor.

I'm not sure how long this place has been out of business, but the building itself has seen better days. It looks as if the roof could crash in at any time. My gut is churning. We need to get Nicole and Gabby out of here, and soon. T will never forgive me if I let something happen to his mother.

"I'd rather you had Dragon in there. I'm not one to use women to even a score," I tell him, and at least I'm being honest with the motherfucker for once.

"And this is why you are a solider and not a leader, King," he laughs, so full of himself that it's probably leaking out of his dick. The bastard really thinks he's going to be breathing fresh air when all of this is said and done. How one asshole could be such an idiot is beyond me. "We use Dragon's weaknesses to get him exactly where we want him. He'll walk in here and turn himself over to save his woman. I have no doubt about that."

"I know this motherfucker pretty good, Eyeball. He'll have gunpower behind him. If you piss him off too soon, he'll stop reacting quickly, and instead call in every marker he has."

"I, too, have thought of that," he says. I nearly roll my eyes at the way he tries to sound like he's royalty or something, speaking way too proper for a greasy, pockmarked biker.

"You send him video of his wife, and that motherfucker will rain hellfire down on us."

"Your suggestion?"

"He has no idea where you're at. I say you play with him. Send him pictures of their bruises, etc. Call it a proof of life. Make him crawl to you. He'll know that once he can't find you in your clubhouse in Salyersville, he'll begin looking at your other chapters. He'll never find this hole in the wall."

"I'm liking the way you think, King."

"That's because you hate Dragon almost as must as I do. Although you've yet to tell me why."

"That's a secret that goes back years. I can't give it away just yet. Let's just say that I have something up my sleeve that will cause Dragon even more pain."

"I don't get to know what that is? Fuck, that's one of the main reasons I'm here, man."

"In due time, my friend. In due time. For now, you get the girls something to eat. We wouldn't want them to be weak from hunger and interrupt our fun with them."

"I know you said you get Dragon's old lady first, but I want her."

"You? Have a thing for older women?"

"I just want to be able to taunt the asshole that she liked taking it from his bastard son. It will make it hurt more. You know that."

He stares at me. I keep my facial expression the same. I need him to go my way with this—at least until Dragon and Ford get here with their allies. Eyeball must see what he wants on my face, because he throws his head back and laughs.

"Very well. How about you warm her up tonight? We'll send it to the asshole afterward from a burner phone."

"So be it," I respond with a grin.

I'm worrying in my head how I'm going to come up with this proof without showing my hand. It's going to take some convincing from Nicole. I have to try—even if it gets me killed by Dragon. If it's not me, it will be Eyeball and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I listen to Eyeball and Squaller doing more of their shit talking. I need to break away to get a call though to Ford or T. We have a limited window here and I need to do it in a way that doesn't end with me dead, and Nicole and Gabby wishing they were.

"What do I get them to eat?" I ask. There's not much in this tiny town. I think I saw a Dairy Queen and a Dollar General Store.

"There's a Kwik Stop not far from here. Get a couple of those sandwiches they have. I think it's egg or tuna salad. Grab them one and some water. Don't want to treat them too nicely. They need to know we're in control."

I nod. "I'll do it." Getting on my bike, I quickly start it, more than ready to get out of here so I can get a message through.

"Hold up, King. Squaller here will go with you."

I cock an eyebrow up and don't bother to hide my annoyance. "I need a babysitter now? I'm thinking this wasn't our deal. You came to me, Eyeball, not the other way around."

"Let's just call it taking precautions. You might not be a prospect, but you still are in a trial period. I can't just allow you to run unchecked until you prove your loyalty."

"Whatever. I will warn you now, if he gets on my nerves, I won't give one fuck that he's part of FKMC. I'll kill him. Got it?"

"Like you could," Squaller argues, but I level him with a look. We both know I could kill him before he knows what's happening.

"Play nice boys," Eyeball warns—and it is a warning. I just don't think that Squaller is smart enough to recognize it.

I have a bigger problem, however. I'm going to have to figure out a way to get a message to Ford or T without the dipshit that is currently climbing on his bike finding out. I just have no idea how I'm going to accomplish it.

I find myself praying that Squaller is even stupider than I give him credit for …