Page 66 of Joker's Ghost
“I thought your traditions wouldn’t allow you to take care of your own.”
“Sometimes drastic measures are needed to drain out the bad blood.”
“Well, you got a fuckin’ cesspool that needs to be drained.” I flash Warrior an evil smirk. “We’ll give you seventy-two hours to take care of your business.” I look to Cobra, and he nods. “Then I want proof it’s been taken care of—and when I say proof, I don’t mean a picture, I mean something solid that holds up.”
Warrior’s original strength seeps out of him. “I have already met with the other Nomads who follow my lead. Faithful men dedicated to the old ways and traditions. We are committed to weeding out the renegades and bringing our club back to its original glory.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “Fancy words, old man, but we’ll need more.”
Cobra crushes his cigarette in the dented metal ashtray on the table. “Here’s the deal. From this day forward, the Nomads will stay in northern Nevada and whatever other states you reside in up north. Any sightings of a Nomad within a one-hundred-mile radius of Vegas will be considereda violation and act of aggression, and will be dealt with accordingly.”
Python scrapes back his chair and faces Warrior. “In other words, if we see a Nomad cut in our territory, the fuckers will be shot on sight.”
Silence surrounds the table, then Warrior nods. “I understand.”
“There’ll be no questions asked, just action.” Cobra makes eye contact with all of us, then stands, signaling the meet is over.
The other brothers file out, and Warrior turns to Cobra and me. “For so many years, our clubs co-existed peacefully. It is with great shame that this situation has changed.”
I debate my next words, but figure I have nothing to lose. “All that shit you said about me having a violent death last week was just you trying to fuck with me, right?”
“Absolutely not.” Warrior’s eyes lock with mine. “I did see a violent aura around you. My words weren’t meant to frighten you, just to make you aware of the evil surrounding you.”
“Did you . . .” I look over my shoulder, then back at Warrior. “Put some kind of a curse on me?” Boa’s words about Warrior being a shaman ring in my head. “‘Cause a lot of strange shit happened after our first meeting.”
“Just the opposite. Those things were my spiritual way of making you mindful.”
“So you already knew Blade and Arrow were gonna cause trouble for us?” Cobra asked.
“I had no idea what they were planning.” Warrior turns his gaze on me. “But I sensed danger around you, and maybe because of those things happening, you were more aware.” He spreads his arms wide. “This building holds many spirits. I sense their presence. Some good, some evil.”
“We found a bricked-up room in the basement.” Cobrashoots me a side-eye, but I have to know if what I experienced was real, or if I’m going crazy.
Warrior slowly nods. “That was used as a speakeasy back in the day, run by Bugsy Siegel way before he even thought about building the Flamingo.”
My heart beat hard against my ribs, but I push on. “Anything else?”
“A stabbing took place in that room when one of Bugsy’s enemies drew a knife on him. Unfortunately, an innocent woman got in the way and was fatally wounded. She was rumored to be tied to Bugsy and carrying his baby at the time, but it was never proven.”
“I was dressed as Bugsy for a Halloween party last week, and this weird vibration in the basement knocked me off the stairs. I passed out and entered some alternate universe.”
“You unknowingly channeled his spirit, but I believe your experience was a manifestation of your own fears.”
Cobra rolls his eyes. “That is some crazy shit you’re spitting out.”
Warrior shrugs. “Either you believe or you don’t.”
Two weeks ago, I would’ve laughed my ass off if one of the brothers said this, but shit, I couldn’t deny what happened any more than I could deny being a Serpent.
“I believe in my club and my brothers.” Cobra faces Warrior. “And you should believe in the limits I set out, ‘cause no spirits are gonna help any of you if the Nomads are seen in or around Vegas.”
Warrior lowers his head then turns toward the door and pauses. “You can believe in my word and reliable proof of our agreement.” Then he silently exits.
Cobra cocks his head.“You’re not buying into that channelling spirits shit, are you?”
“I don’t know what to think anymore.”
We step out into the hall, and Cobra nods to the prospect at the back door. “Did he leave?”
