Page 18 of Nitro

“That Giles motherfucker is family to someone who fucked Ink up. Roth too.”

“Well, they are getting shit up and running again.” I shrug.

“What about the Vavra family? What is Rooster doing with them?” Shepard asks.

“Rooster was doing whatever Ilia fucking asked him to do. Except now he thought he would branch out on his own and ended up stepping on Yemen’s toes. Now we have to run two auctions a month.” I tell him and look over my shoulder at the woman who had brought me in here. She is sitting in the corner playing with her nails, not paying us any mind.

“Auctions? He really got them set up?”

“Yeah, and his first batch of women came from Bull and his Drift Demons, they from New Orleans.” I tell him waiting to drop the bomb on him.

“Should that mean something to me?”

“Maybe a little since one of the girls is Shyne’s cousin. The same one that they’ve been searching for this whole fucking time.”

“Mother fucker! Is she alright? Fuck can you get her out?” Suddenly he is more than just a little bit interested.

“No, not without the rest of the Purged catching on. He moved us to a more secure facility on fucking acres not far from here. The security is out of this fucking world and there are underground tunnels everywhere.”

“We can’t worry about that now, tell me about Rooster. You think his allies are going to avenge him?”

“I doubt it. Honestly, he may have his hands in a lot of different pies. Rooster is nothing more than just a glorified dog. The rest of the Purged may be a problem only because there’s going to be no one around to keep them in some sort of line.”

“Sweeties, they going to start looking for me in a second. Wrap this the fuck up.” The woman behind us says.

“Shit, alright. Nitro, it’s time we end this. You do what you have to do. I wanted to keep this just to the Spawns, but know that you have other allies, I’d only involve them at the last possible second if you have too.”

I nod my head knowing what he’s saying, but not seeing how it’s possible. “How the hell am I supposed to reach any of those guys, they as far away as you.”

“Not all of them, Wire and his nomads have a clubhouse not far from here. If there is anyone that is going to be able to help you when I can’t, I trust him to do it.” Shepard claps my shoulder. “Now get the hell out of here. My bad for earlier. I should have known that you’d never turn your back on your brothers.” Shepard nods once and I nod back.

Never. I’d never turn my back on them. I just hope the same goes for them.

* * *

When I come back to the main area of the strip club Gunny and Cyrus are still being entertained by the women there. It’s like they didn’t even miss me. I convinced four out of the seven strippers that were working to come back to the clubhouse with us. It's going to be the first party of the clubhouse and I’m hoping Rooster would calm down, because of it. An on-edge Rooster is a murderous Rooster.

We pull in with the women following behind us in one of their cars. Someone has a simple boombox playing in the corner of the room and the stripper poles are lit up ready for the girls. This is the second time that I’ve left and come back to the clubhouse only to see more members. I don’t know if he is bringing them all in from the underground clubhouse or if he is just hauling in more people off the street, but it’s becoming exactly like what we'd just left.

I look over to where Rooster is sitting on his fucking throne and see that he’s laughing.

“Nitro! Brother, where the hell have you vato’s been! I was about to go downstairs and get started with the girls we saving for our clients.”

A small twinge of fear settles at the base of my spine. Fuck I didn’t even think about what they would do to Tink while I was out trying to find other women to whet their appetite.

“I hope you didn’t. You know we need them in good shape.” I say trying to keep the anger out of my voice.

The smile that was just on his face drops off and he stares at me like he’s disgusted. “Who the fuck are you to tell me what the fuck I need to be doing Nitro? I don’t fucking report to you or have you forgotten that shit?” He barks at me and I can hear him over the music clearly. A small movement catches my eye and I see someone walking out from behind Rooster’s chair, Rage.

“You got him in your ear now? Is that what’s going on? You going off some wannabe rider that just wants to be with the big boys, instead of your VP?” I stare Rage down and it does the trick.

“You piece of shit! I’ll fucking kill you where you fucking stand!” Rage lunges for me, but I’m ready for it. I punch him hard twice in his face. I enjoy the hard snap of his head as it whips back. He stumbles, but doesn’t fall. He tries to square his feet and get ready to swing back, but before he does, I pull my gun out and press it to his head.

“You need to remember your fucking place Rage. I have no fucking problem letting this hot lead slice through your fucking body. You mean shit to me. This patch is the only thing I care about. Right now, I don’t think you deserve to wear it. I don’t think you have the fucking balls to be called Purged. I think you were better fucking suited to be with the Wings of Diablo, and those pussy motherfuckers.” I press my gun harder against his head hoping that he gets the fucking picture. I have no problem killing him if it means that I get to stay alive a little bit longer.

“You won’t do it. You with them.” He laughs. I lift my gun ready to hit him again, but I don’t have too. Rooster is doing it for me.

Rooster hoots and laughs as he picks up a metal rod that looked like it's just laying against his chair and begins to beat Rage down. I flinch as a splatter of the man’s blood hits my face. I don’t feel sorry for him. There’s no reason for me to feel sorry for a man that shot a little kid in cold blood. Him getting beat to death by Rooster seems like retribution in my book.

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