“That is true.”

“Any idea who is behind this?” Sharp asked after a few minutes.

“Yes. Retaliation will be swift,” Romeo said calmly.

“I can hear sirens,” Sharp announced.

“That is a problem for you. Perhaps you would like to wait in here until they leave?” Romeo offered.

“You know I’ve got a record,” Sharp stated. He hadn’t, but Anderson had given him one.

“Yes. A rather admirable one. You killed the man who slaughtered your mom and sister. I’m surprised they didn’t give you a medal instead of five years,” Romeo replied. “You’ll wait in here. After you risked your life to save mine, it’s the least I can do.”

“Thanks, boss.”

“When the police have gone, you and I shall talk. I am in need of new bodyguards,” Romeo announced.

Sharp nodded as he watched cop cars come through the gates and officers scramble out.

“It is time. I shall let you out when they’ve left,” Romeo said, and they swapped places.

“Don’t lock me in until they bang on the office door,” Sharp ordered.

Romeo offered him a faint smile. “I understand, Mr Sharp.”

Sharp - four years later - 2013

“Surely we have got enough to bring both father and son down?” Sharp demanded. Anderson glanced at him and rubbed a hand over his face.

“We have, but we haven’t got Manticore yet.”

“Wrong. I’m accompanying Romeo to Florida next week. To the main Venomous Fangs compound in Butler Beach. Romeo’s informed me he has some business to take care of. I believe he is making moves to secure his place, and Romeo’s going to make a move on Miguel.”

“You think Romeo plans to kill his father?” Anderson asked.

“Yeah. He’s cold, you’ve not met anyone like him. Family does not mean anything to him. Romeo doesn’t care if anything happens to his wife and kids, it doesn’t matter. He can simply marry another and father more,” Sharp stated.

“Shit.”

“Romeo is a psychopath and a sociopath. All he cares about is power, and he loves playing games.”

“Is your cover in danger?” Anderson demanded.

“No. I’ve saved that asshole’s life three times now and taken two bullets for it. We’re finally getting the break we need. Let me see what happens in Butler Beach—and if I can identify anyone. Then we’ll look at me getting out. This was supposed to be a two-year thing, brother, it’s been fuckin’ six. I don’t think I’ll ever get clean again,” Sharp replied.

“It wasn’t meant to be this hard,” Anderson agreed.

“The only reason I’m still in is because Manticore is growing the Venomous Fangs. They run Butler Beach, and they are spreading throughout Florida. They’re even taking over clubs hostilely.”

“Just watch your back, Sharp. You need to stay alive,” Anderson said.

Sharp nodded and then rode out on his bike. It wasn’t as good as his Harley, but it would do.

Sharp - four weeks later

Sharp, Dickens, Seabrooke, and Harper watched their backs in the Venomous Fangs’ Butler Beach clubhouse. It was much what Sharp had expected. Smokey atmosphere, stench of weed and booze, and open sex. The other three guards didn’t seem impressed, and neither did Sharp.

The women looked like drugged-out whores, and half had track marks on their arms. Sharp couldn’t blame them when he witnessed how the Fangs treatedthem.