Page 72 of The Enforcer

Captain Matthews came by the clubhouse about a month after I killed Kirk, asking if we’d done something to him. Of course, everyone was tight-lipped about what happened, even going so far as to express shock that he couldn’t find Kirk.

It didn’t matter. The police captain found out the truth later. Before the week was out, we had him bound and tossed in the back of our cargo van.

He was not happy when Prez stepped forward, kneeling in front of him. “Wanna know where Kirk is?” he asked, voice low and full of menace. “He’s in some plot of land in the Georgia woods, feeding the fucking worms from his remains.”

The police captain roared, trying to get to Prez, even though his hands were tied behind his back. “Fuck you, you Cuban piece of shit!” he screamed.

Most, if not all of us stepped forward to deck him in the mouth for his disrespect, but Prez held up his hand, indicating for us to stand down.

He smiled at Captain Matthews, standing to his full height. “Why are you after us, huh?” The police captain clamped his mouth shut. “You’re still mad I fucked your daughter?” Captain Matthews’s head snapped up and he snarled. “It wasn’t that memorable, so you shouldn’t be upset. I’m the wronged party here.”

“Fuck you! I’ll have the whole force down on your ass!” he threatened us, but we only laughed.

He might have been a police captain, but he wasn’t untouchable. We found out he planned to leave town, since the judge he lied to and the DEA were coming down on him hard. It was only a matter of time before they caught up with him, but they’d never find him, not where we planned to drop his body. We took it upon ourselves to leave a suicide note behind, telling his daughter that he was sorry and not to mourn him, apologizing for disappointing people, sorry for disgracing the badge. The standard fare.

To make Prez happy, we had the police captain run the gauntlet, beating his ass to within an inch of his life, then when he got to the end, Prez put a bullet between his eyes.

Good memories.

After putting the code into the door that leads to the back of the club, I push it open, seeing the long, vacant hallway in front of me. I take the first door to the right, which leads up to the office. One design plan we decided to keep from the old club was how the office has a window that overlooks the dance floor. It’s a really nice touch, allowing us to look down over the clubgoers, ensuring none of them do any stupid shit or start problems.

When I push open the office door, Prez has his back to me, staring out of the office window down to the dance floor. “What’s up boss?” I joke.

Not turning from the window, Prez says, “I told you, one day, I’m going to punch you in your smart-ass mouth. I’m thinking today might be the day I cash in if you call me boss one more fucking time.”

I know he hates that shit, but I like fucking with Prez. It’s hilarious. “Shane won’t like it if I come home with swollen lips, Prez. Chill.”

Still not taking his eyes off my dance floor, he shakes his head. “See that guy right there?” He points down to the mezzanine floor. I step close to him to see who he means and he points to a shorter, chubby light skinned Black man with short, curly hair and a smooth baby face. He’s cute. Is Prez checking him out? He sure ain’t mentioning him for me, as Shane and I are practically married.

“I see him. What’s up?”

“Bring him to me. He’s come to the club the past three weeks, selling pills.”

I whistle low. Yeah, this guy fucked up. Pills aren’t our main stream of income, but he’s selling in our territory without permission.

No one steps on our territory. In the past year and a half, we’ve gotten rid of all of our competition, starting with the Spiders, and ending with the low-level dealers. This town is ours.

“You want me to bring him now?” I don’t usually do that kind of work to someone that looks so … soft, but it’s my job.

“Yeah, but I’ll see him after I conduct my business with everyone assembled.” He turns to me with a gleam in his eyes and I’m not sure if he’s angry or wants to play with the guy’s emotions. It’s hard to tell when Prez has that permanent scowl etched on his face. “Déjalo sudar.” I know enough Spanish to know Prez wants to make him sweat.

“Too easy. Give me a minute and I’ll have him up here, then I’ll join you all.”

“We’ll wait.” Prez turns back to the window and I exit the office, trotting down the stairs and back into the club proper.

Again, those strobe lights flash in my eyes and I scowl. Yeah, those fucking lights have to go. It’s not the first time I’ve asked Prez to change something up after we opened. He still gives me say so on how it looks and what makes the clubgoers keep coming back. Not much changes, but when it does, it’s for the better.

Making my way through the crowd, I spot the man sliding his hand into his pocket, bringing out a small plastic baggie with three pills inside. Before he can deliver the goods, I grab the pills, crushing them in his hand as I grip it tightly. The two college kids turn to me with a scowl that quickly evaporates when they spy my cut. Both back away quickly, fading among the dancing bodies, probably short about one hundred bucks.

The man looks up at me, fear clouding his eyes. Smiling at him in a way I know unnerves people, I bend to his ear. “My boss wants a word.” He tries to wretch his hand from mine. “Don’t make a scene or I will fucking put you down, do you understand?” Shoulders drooping in defeat, he nods.

I keep his hand in mine just in case he tries to make a break for it. His hand trembles, but I don’t give a fuck. He’s selling in our territory when he should know better. Everyone knows Devil’s Mayhem don’t fuck around when it comes to our money.

“Please,” the man beside me begs, eyes pleading. “I’ll leave right now. I won’t do it again, I promise. I just … I needed money and?—”

“Save it, kid,” I yell over the din of the music. “Begging won’t help.”

The door is thrown open and I have the baby-faced man upstairs and in Prez’s office. I push him down into a chair and peg him with hard eyes. “Be fucking still. If you try to run, we’ll find you and we’ll beat your ass before tossing you in the river. Got it?”

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