Page 94 of Memphis

Shep leaned forward and answered, “Every Thursday night, rain or shine, the Sparrows go to Malcomb’s bar. They drink, eat, and gamble the night away. It’s their thing. They’ve been doing it since they banded together.”

“And tonight, we are going to crash their little party and have a little chat. Simple as that,” Dad clipped. “Now, let’s get this shit done.”

With that, he stood, and all the brothers followed him out to the parking lot. Grim took a minute to make sure each of the brothers was packing and had plenty of ammo. Once he was certain we were ready for anything, he gave the nod, signaling that we were good to load up. Seconds later, we were pulling out of the gate like a fucking brigade.

We rode in formation—Dad and Creed at the front and Seven and Grim in the back. We were a united force of brotherhoodand steel, and we were a sight to behold. There were over thirty of us, and the mere rumble of our engines was enough to turn heads. Add in the mysterious Satan’s Fury leather and brawn, and you have a force to be reckoned with.

When we got to Malcomb’s, we parked right up front for all to see as we dismounted and started for the door. We weren’t going in quiet. We wanted them to know we were coming. Dad was the first to start for the door, and as soon as he stepped inside, heads turned, and eyes grew wide.

Every single person in that bar watched as we made our way inside. Dad led the way, and as always, his presence was commanding and resolute as he made his way to the center of the room. Grim and Seven scanned the bar, watching for any potential threats, and one by one, the rest of us surrounded the Sparrows.

Sensing the imminent confrontation, the other customers and the staff bolted, leaving us alone with the Sparrows. They were seated at the bar, and it was clear they were rattled as they exchanged wary glances.

Dad walked straight up to their leader—a stout, older man with thick, dark eyebrows and an angry scar running down his cheek, and when he was just inches away from him, he asked, “You Bolder?”

“I don’t want no trouble, man.”

“I asked you a fucking question.”

“Now, just hold on a minute.” We closed in tighter, making sure Bolder and every member of the Sparrows understood the gravity of the situation. “We got no qualms with you. What happened wasn’t about you and your club, man.”

“You made it about me when you came on our turf and killed our prospect.”

“Nah... it wasn’t... It wasn’t like that.”

He was scared shitless.

And he had every right to be.

One look at my father surrounded by his brothers and any man would be shaking in his fucking boots. It was even worse because he knew he’d fucked up, and he’d fucked up bad. He knew damn well that he shouldn’t have let his boys handle things with Nix like they did, and now, there were consequences to be had.

“I’m telling ya. You got this wrong. I don’t want no trouble.”

“Well, trouble is what you got.”

Bolder stood and started to back away. He didn’t get far before Grim and I grabbed him. The blood drained from his face when I tucked his arm behind his back, restraining him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Knowing he was fucked, the asshole started to completely freak out, and he used every ounce of strength he had to try and break free from our grasp. But it was no use.

He was no match for us.

Grim slammed his fist into his side, and Bolder crumpled like a tin can. I wrenched his arm up higher, and in a matter of seconds, Bolder’s face was smashed against the hard, concrete floor. Grim leaned down next to him and growled, “Only a fucking coward would order a drive-by on a kid like Nix. He deserved better than that, and you know it.”

“It was his brother’s idea. It was him.” Bolder started to beg, “Just let me go, and I give you my word that you won’t have no more trouble out of us.”

“Your word doesn’t mean shit to me.” Dad crossed his arms, causing his muscles to bulge as they rippled down from his shoulder to his forearm. His fierce appearance was intimidating as he looked at him with disgust. With a shake of his head, Dad looked to Grim and said, “Pull him up.”

Grim gave Bolder a quick tug, and once he was up on his feet, Dad stepped forward and looked him dead in the eye, “You’re gonna step down as leader of the Sparrows.”

Suddenly, panic crossed his face. “I can’t just step down.”

“You can and you will,” Dad demanded. “And if you don’t, you’re as good as dead.”

Hoping that he could persuade Dad to give him a break, Bolder immediately said, “Nix was our legacy. He grew up with us. We looked out for him and his family, and then, he turned his back on us and his brother. He knew what was expected of him, and he bailed. That shit’s on him. We gave him a chance to make it right, and...”

“I’m not here to argue with you. It’s not worth my fucking breath. I’ve told you how it’s gonna be, and either you do it or face the consequences.”

Bolder looked around at his crew, and they all had bowed heads and looks of repulsion. There was no respect there. His days were done with or without Dad’s order. Knowing he had no other choice, he succumbed to his fate and said, “Fine. I’ll step down.”

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