Page 42 of Dragon Strife
“Yeah, we all deserve a reset now and then,” I retort as he comes back around to sit on the stool.
“When we were young ones like you,”—here we go—“we lived and breathed this place. There was no recharging the batteries in our time because we kept each other’s batteries full. Nowadays, you kids need mental health checks and depression pills, but back then? We just fought a rival club to release that negativity.”
“Right.” I nod and roll my eyes as I face straight ahead.Makes fucking sense.
“There’s no sense of family anymore,” he continues as he drinks his whiskey, too engrossed in his preaching to notice my lack of attention. “We’re all out for ourselves and scheming ways to outdo a brother. We used to climb the ranks the proper way, through hard work and dedication. Your father died a martyr for this club and its President. There’s no bigger honor than that.”
“You think that’s the way we should go? Shot in the chest for a club?” My words are laced with skepticism. I take a sip of my bottled water as I watch Cash gulp the fiery liquid in his glass. My mouth waters at the sight as my body thrums with craving. I curve my hand into a fist to stop myself from squirming.
“I think we would all be so lucky to have that kind of loyalty. Jaeger is on the right track with ensuring club rules are met and respect is maintained.” Cash sucks his teeth as he pours more whiskey. “I loved Vic too, but he grew too soft in his old age.” Cash has never been this vocal before and I eye the glass he’s topping off, wondering if his inebriation is getting the best of him.
“Oh?” My throat works to swallow as I watch Cash closely. There’s something hidden in those words. He’s playing a bigger part than just a quiet medic.
“I know your Uncle Tazo was a little too passionate about his beliefs, but he was also one of the most loyal men I knew.”Passionate?I stare at Cash with wide eyes, worrying about the state of his mind.
“He shot Dad while trying to kill the President,” I say, astounded.
“Because he didn’t like where the club was headed and he made a stand. That bullet was never meant for your father. He loved him.” Cash has a nostalgic look on his face as he shakes his head at the memory.
“Dad and Uncle Tazo fought constantly. Uncle Tazo never agreed with what Dad wanted,” I argue, unable to hear whatever fantastical illusion Cash has painted inside of his mind. My body fills with tension at the delusions Cash is spouting.
“You were a kid. You wouldn’t understand the fights they were having. It was nothing personal or about their family bond. It was for the betterment of the club.” He chuckles as he drinks a bit more, seemingly unconcerned about upturning my life. “I think if Tazo was made President of the Steel Dragons, we would have no rivals today.”
“Vic was an amazing President,” I growl out as I stare at the side of his face, my heart beating wildly with anger. “Don’t talk ill of the dead.”
“He was until he planned for his daughter to take over this club,” he says, lifting his eyes from his glass and turning his glare onto me. “Can you imagine what would happen if we, as a club, became soft and womanly?”
“He did it because she needed to be protected from his rivals. You saw what happened to Claire.” My hands curl into fists as he leisurely drinks the rest of his glass, his eyes once again staring off to the side.
“We could’ve done that well enough without her being President. No, it was more about the Varga blood. Vic was always saying how important a Varga was in the President’s seat, and we all thought he meant Jaeger, but no, he meant his blood.” I can begin to hear the blatant disdain in Cash’s words and I hope his disrespect is stemming from the drink he’s refilling. “But I know Jaeger will bring us back to greatness. He’s already started. Vic wanted his daughter protected, and that’s exactly what Jaeger’s doing after he’s done flushing Hell’s March out of her mind.”
“Yeah, well, he’d have to find her first,” I sneer, happy for once that Genni isn’t around to bear witness to the destruction of Vic’s club.
“Already done, Chino.” He tosses me an exaggerated wink, ignoring my tone. “Who do you think brought her back?” He sounds smug and I want to slap the arrogance from his mouth.
“You found Genni?” I begin to rise as he gives me the same smug look he had when he first walked in here. My heart beats wildly, the pounding reverberating through my ears. It’s difficult to suck in a full breath as Cash’s brows crinkle with confusion at my reaction. “Where is she?”
“I would imagine getting reacquainted with her brother.” He shrugs but his eyes keep watching me with slight suspicion.
“At their house?” Once I’m standing to my full height, I clench my fists, my body trembling with barely restrained rage. If Jaeger has Genni in his grasp, then there’s no telling the abuse she’s enduring, and this fucker left her there. Jaeger admitted to us all that he set up his sister’s kidnapping when he showed us Vic’s video recording, so Cash knows the danger of handing her over to him.
“No, brother.” Cash lets out a loud belch and then rubs his stomach. Each second he drags this out is like a nail driven into my heart. “I dropped her off here.”
I do a quick spin as I scan the room, knowing I won’t find her here, but unable to think logically. “Where?”
“Where he takes all our enemies for interrogation—”
Before he can finish his sentence, I’m running for the corridor which leads to the basement of the club. The large, industrial door looms ahead, its steel surface marred by ash and fire. It withstood the fire and I can’t help but to think it was more because it resembled Hell than anything else. No fire can ever destroy it, not when it’s constructed with brimstone itself.
Just the thought of what happens in that Slaughter Room has me struggling to key in the code only the President or Vice ever have. It takes three fucking times before I get the right one, and the door swings open, the hinges squeaking eerily. The basement is bright, the fluorescents on, and I instantly know that Cash wasn’t lying. I hurry down the wooden steps and hook a quick left, peering down the narrow corridor that still holds the scent of char.
I strain my ears to hear any sound, but I know it’ll be fruitless. If he indeed has her inside the Slaughter Room, then no sound will permeate out here. My stomach coils with nausea as I force myself to continue forward, my steps slow as each one becomes heavier than the last. Genni has somehow brought out the coward in me, and every time I’m faced with having to help her, I can’t seem to find the bravery, but this time I swear, I will shoot Jaeger in the fucking head if he’s hurt her.
Ammonia hits my nostrils a few seconds before I feel the warmth of liquid on the sides of my head, running down my neck to gather along the crook of my shoulders. I struggle against her hold around my head, but she’s so fucking strong. The press of her thighs suctions onto my ears, causing them to pop painfully when she suddenly releases me.
I kneel over and retch as her piss coats my hair, the saturated strands clinging to my cheeks. Anger swarms me as I push up and turn with a growl, preparing to attack her when her boot connects with my chin, forcing my head back and my tooth to pierce the flesh of my bottom lip. Pain explodes along my jaw as I stagger backward, my shoulders hitting the steel wall with a dullthud.Her piss slips down over my forehead, the thin rivulets hitting my eyebrows as I squeeze my eyes shut.
I swear to god I’ll kill her if piss gets in my eyes.
