Page 54 of Chaos

Mikhail stands behind his desk, his large hands spread over the oak surface. “This is the third club where they have harassed the owners and demanded payment. They have pushed us too far. It is time to shove the Reapers back into their hole.” His fist slams hard enough the papers drift away.

“Which club?” Alexei pipes up from the far corner.

I can’t see Mikhail’s mouth beneath his balaclava, but his eyes narrow without turning. “El Coño.”

Shit. It’s one of the biggest dance bars in the city.

He raises his muscular arms towards the ceiling. “Don’t kill. We don’t have a cleanup team big enough for that place. But, boys—” He drops his gaze to where it feels like it’s burning into me. “—fight like your father is watching.”

Abruptly, Mikhail turns on his heel and disappears through a side door.

Nikolai steps forward and begins pairing us up.

Alexei is my beat-up bro tonight.

“Aw, looks like we’re a couple. Hotty and Toddy. What do you think?” He loops his lanky arm over my shoulder and grins. He points his thumb towards his chest. “I’m the hotty. That makes you a stiff drink. What do you Americans call it, a Shirley Temple?”

“What? That’s a virgin drink, man. No alcohol.” My curls fall in my eyes as I shake my head.

I never know when Alexei is being serious or fucking with me.

“Ah, yes. Virgin. Like you?” His silver tooth flashes as he ducks my half-hearted punch.

“Like your asshole before I throw you to the Reapers?” I chase him down the hall and we both jump into his Maserati.

Our mood grows more serious as the cars gather in the dark parking lot.

“This place is packed.” There’s a line out the door of people looking to gain entrance.

One of the bouncers touches my shoulder as we push past the line. “They’re tearing hell, man. I’m glad you and your boys are here.”

Alexei and I exchange a look before stepping into the dark room filled with dancing bodies and pounding music.

It’s hard to see anything wrong through the gyrating crowds and the fog machines expelling mist in a thick layer.

A tiny waitress wearing a g string and silver stickers over her nipples pushes closer to us. “They’re in the back. They have Roscoe trapped until his brother gets back with the payment.” Her eyes are nearly black in the dim light.

The large shape of Nikolai and several more of our guys appear around us. We push our way through mostly naked women dancing against hordes of college aged guys who have no idea they’re being hustled.

Two Reapers stand outside of the office. Their foreheads glisten with sweat.

It isn’t overly warm in here. The air conditioning is keeping up.

Watching their eyes and their twitchy hands, I think I know what’s going on.

“They’re high as fuck,” Alexei yells over the deep bass of the music.

“So we can hit them twice as hard.” I ball my fists, and we both launch together.

I land four solid blows before the tank even realizes that he’s been hit.

Alexei launches himself to kick his guard squarely in the head.

They both drop, but Alexei bounces up and stomps the fallen guy’s face.

We leave the two unconscious men and push through into an expansive room.

That’s completely trashed.

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