Chapter Eight

Malice

"You sure about this, man?" my childhood friend Jimmy asked as he leered salaciously at my bike. I knew the slimy fucker wanted it, but I wasn't just gonna give it away to him for free. Fucker had been hard up for my bike for years. "That's one sweet ride. How much you want for it?"

Countering, I asked, "How much are you offering?"

The fucker sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "You sure none of your buddies will come for me? ‘Cause I ain't got time to fuck around with your lot. I got deliveries that need to be made."

"Bike is mine. How much?"

"Well, I can go twelve large."

I growled at the motherfucker.

"A joke!" the slimy bastard quickly said, backing up, his hand high. "How about twenty-five?"

"Thirty in cash."

"Sold."

Grabbing the fucker by his silky seventies patterned yellow shirt, I slapped the title on his back and signed my name at the bottom. When I was done, I pushed him away and waved the thing in his face.

"Money. Now."

Jimmy groaned, walking toward his office in the underground chop shop he ran. His employees all stopped what they were doing to watch the exchange. "You gotta relax, man. This is a solid business deal."

"Money. Now."

Sitting behind his nasty desk, Jimmy opened the bottom drawer, taking out stacks of money. "Gotta say, Malice. Never thought you'd sell me your bike. Wanna tell me why you suddenly changed your mind?"

"No," I growled, watching while he kept placing stacks, one on top of the other.

"Word on the street is you're a hunted man. Gotta say, man. Not gonna ask what you did to piss off the Sinners. If I were you, I'd take this cash and get the fuck out of this city as fast as you can."

Saying nothing, I watched as he pushed thirty thousand dollars toward me. Reaching for the money, Jimmy slapped his hand over the cash, stopping me.

"Known you for years, Malice. You need anything. Call."

Nodding, Jimmy removed his hand, allowing me to gather up the stacks of cash. Placing them in the many pockets of my jacket, I looked at my old friend and said, "Give me two hours before you call them."

Standing, Jimmy extended his hand.

Taking it, he said, "Good luck, brother."

"Where can I find Sin?"

"Brother, no," Jimmy groaned, plopping back down into his seat. "Sin's a changed man. He ain't the brother you remember."

"Where?"

Jimmy shook his head and muttered, "Just bought a house on the upper east side. Bought the whole fucking block. Can't miss it. Just look for the area with all the fucking goons dressed in black milling around."

Heading for the door, I uttered my thanks.

"Malice," Jimmy called out. "Be careful. Sin's gone dark, like really fucking dark. After Thena died, brother hasn't been the same."

Like I gave a fuck.

Sin owed me a debt, and I planned on collecting.

Not even an hour later, I got out of a cab and looked around me.

Shaking my head, I should have known.

Motherfucker would not make it easy to get to him.

"Stop right there." A big black man in a dark suit held up his hand. "This street is off-limits. Go back the way you came."

"Need to speak with Sin."

"Do you have an appointment?"

Glaring at the man, I turned to the side, and reached for the collar of my shirt, pulling it down, showing him the scar on my right shoulder blade. "Get him. Now."

The man frowned, holding up his hand to his ear.

"Got a scary-looking motherfucker wanting to speak with the boss. Yeah, I told him. He's got the mark, man. What the fuck do you want me to do? Yeah. Alright."

The big man looked at me, stepping to the side.

"Boss will meet you at the door."

Saying nothing more, I walked past the guy and several others. I glared seeing the front doors open and the man himself step out to greet me. Motherfucker hadn't changed one damn bit.

The man standing on his stoop smirked.

Taunting me.

Standing close to six foot eight, Sin was everything his name implied. With broad muscular shoulders, he exuded a power unlike anything I'd ever seen. His dominant stature stood firm, demanding obedience. His deceptive devil-blue eyes sparkled with mischief as he slowly and methodically let his gaze roam from the top of my head to the tip of my dirty boots. Dressed in a beautifully tailored three-piece suit, the dark expensive cloth did nothing to disguise the devil that lurked beneath.

"You look awful, brother."

Growling, I stopped. "And you still look like a fucking pussy bitch."

Narrowing his eyes, Sin replied, "Language. What do you want?"

"Inside. Not talking out in the open."

Sin threw his head back and laughed. "Oh, Gideon. Haven't you learned by now? It's always my way or the highway."

I fucking hated this piece of shit.

If anyone else could give me what I needed, I would go to them instead. Growling, I took a step forward, which caused the bevvy of men surrounding him to reach for their guns and point them at me.

Cocking my head to the side, I challenged him.

"You want it this way, brother?"

Sin shrugged. "You haven't answered my question, Gideon."

Knowing the fucker wouldn't let it go until I gave him something, I said the only thing that would ensure me entrance into his home.

"I hurt her, brother."

Sin walked down the steps, stopping before me.

"Arianwen?"

I nodded.

Looking everywhere but at me, he asked, "Sinners know?"

I nodded again.

"Shit," he cursed, which was an oddity, because Sin hated foul language. Turning to the man directly beside him, he informed, "Got company coming. Inside. Now."

Following him inside, I readied myself for what was to come.

Standing in his office, I stared at the picture frame displayed proudly on the small table next to his desk. To the naked eye, it was nothing more than a simple picture. Just five friends joking around with smiles on their faces.

None of them were older than seventeen.

Four boys stood protectively around a girl who looked adoringly up at the boy beside her. From left to right stood Rowen Shay, Crispin Sinclair, Thena Hartley, me, then Silas Sharp.

Picking up the photo, I stared at Thena's beautiful face.

All of us made it out, but only four of us survived now.

Hearing the door shut behind me, I asked, "Where are Rowen and Silas?"

"Flying in. They will be here tonight."

"Saw Jimmy today."

"I know. He called and warned me you were headed my way. Though he didn't tell me why."

"He's dead. She can rest in peace now," I said, refusing to talk about my visit to Jimmy as I placed the picture frame back exactly where I found it. Sin was many things and anal-retentive was one of them. Fucker hated disorder. Turning to face him, I added, "I'm collecting the debt you owe me."

Sin said nothing as he took a seat behind his large, expensive desk.

"That so?"

Sitting in one of the vacant chairs in front of his desk, I nodded. "I need to leave, but before I do, I want your word that you will keep an eye out and protect Arianwen if she ever has need."

"You are more than capable of doing that yourself, brother. Why me?"

"Because you owe me."

Smirking, Sin shook his head. "You said you hurt her. Explain?"

"I branded her, then claimed her. I was too rough with her."

"She consent?"

I nodded.

"Then you did nothing wrong."

Clenching my fist, I growled. "She can barely talk."

Sin said nothing.

"She's black and blue."

Still nothing.

"She's scared of me, Sin!" I yelled. "When she saw me, she scurried away like a frightened mouse. I scared her."

"Still waiting for the truth, Gideon."

"I fucking hate you, you know that!"

"The sooner you say it, the faster I will know how to help."

"Fuck you!"

Sin leaned back in his chair and waited.

"Fine!" I roared, jumping to my feet. "You want to know the truth, I'll tell you. I can't breathe around her. She consumes me, haunts my dreams. I tried to stay away. I knew I wasn't what she needed, but she changed the rules on me. She went out. She left the fucking clubhouse. She danced with someone else. I wanted to kill the motherfucker. I lost it. I didn't think. I showed up and just took what rightfully belonged to me, and I fucking loved every minute of it. I wanted to bind her to me in every way, and I did. Now, my club brothers know, and Montana is going to fucking kill me."

"Sounds to me like you love her, brother."

"That's all you've got?" I shouted. "I'm over here drowning and you're describing the fucking water!"

"The sooner you admit the truth, the easier it will be to help you. Until you do, my hands are tied, brother."

"I'm evil, Sin. I'm just like him."

Sin growled. "The hell you are."

"I wanted to beat her black and blue. I wanted to whip her ass until she bled. I wanted to punish her so badly, and for what? For going out and having fun? Please, Sin. You've got to help me."

"You already know what I'm going to say, Gideon."

Sighing, I sat back down and hung my head. "I can't do that. I go back there, and I risk losing everything."

"If you don't go back, I can assure you, you will. It's time to face your fear, Gideon. The fact of the matter is, you've held on so tightly to where you came from, you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel. You are nothing like him. Never will be."

"I look just like him."

"We all look like someone. So what?"

Saying nothing, I sat there in silence when Sin added, "Brother, you've been in love with Arianwen since Vegas. You stayed away because she was a minor. Your genetic material wouldn't have done that. Over the years, you've kept your distance to punish yourself because you desired something pure and let's face it, regardless of her past, Arianwen is pure as the driven snow."

"She's too good for me."

Sin chuckled, leaning forward. "Now, that's the truth. Look, Gideon. You don't need my help with this. What you need is a swift kick in the ass and I'm more than happy to oblige, but I think it's best if you go back to your clubhouse and face what awaits you. But I know you, and I know you won't. So, go do what you need to do to get your head on straight. I will take care of things here."

Changing the subject, I narrowed my eyes.

"Got an email. You want my club?"

Sin nodded.

"Why?"

Shrugging, he replied. "What's life without whimsy?"

"I hate you."

"You'll sell it to me, anyway."

Getting to my feet, I muttered, "Don't count on it."

"Before I forget. Jimmy said you can pick up your bike before you head back to the clubhouse at a thirty percent increase."

Groaning, I cursed, "Fucking slimy bastard."

Sin laughed, reaching into his desk, before throwing me a few grand. "Consider it a down payment. I expect to see the contracts for the sale of the Playground by the end of the week. Oh, and, Gideon, don't stay gone too long because if I have to come find you, you will not like me at all."

Pocketing the cash, I nodded, then left.

Out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Fuck.

I hated my life.