Page 46 of Dragon Strife
Slamming the helmet on my head, I start up the bike and rev the engine. My hands shake around the handlebars as I pull out and nod to the prospect at the gate. This anxiety inside of me isn’t just about Genni being in danger, it’s also about truly betraying my best friend. I’ve toed the line these past few months, but I haven’t all-out defied him.
He will see this as betrayal and I may find myself exiled with my uncle, wherever he is.
Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling into a parking lot and spotting three other Harleys parked in front of a small deli. My heart hammers in my chest as I pull off my helmet and head toward the entrance. I have never wanted a drink more in my entire life. The bell rings above the door, announcing my arrival to an elderly couple sitting at a small, round table in front of a booth stuffed with bikers. Not conspicuous at all. Laith seems to relax the moment he sees me, but his eyes are clouded with worry.
My boots thud against the tile as I pass the counter and head toward them. Seeing Malik and Laith sitting in proximity is eerie. Their features are identical, save for the scars I know are nearly hidden under Laith’s beard, but their eyes are very different. I slip into the booth across from them and sit beside Diego, noticing Laith is inside against the wall, seemingly blocked in by Malik.
“Did you speak to Jaeger?” Laith asks as he leans forward, only to be shoved back in his seat by Malik. “Is Genni there?”
“I haven’t seen either of them, but he’s been in the basement,” I whisper as I settle into the seat.
“Fuck,” Diego groans. “She’s in another basement.”
With the mention of a basement, I can’t help but ask, “What happened to her when she was with you?” My hands curl into fists in my lap.
“The unthinkable, Chino,” Malik answers, moving his body over the table with a smug look directed at his brother. “Jaeger sold her to the fucking devil, and I delivered her, but you?” His top lip lifts in a sneer. “You fucking watched like a pussy bitch.”
I push up to lean over the table when Diego grabs the back of my cut, holding me back. “Fuck you!” I scream. “You were supposed to dump her outside of Arizona, scare her enough that she never wanted to come back. You’re the pussy bitch for not holding up your end of the bargain!”
Atsksounds from the old couple in front of us as I fall back to my seat, reminding me to keep my voice down. Malik chuckles, but his eyes shine with murderous intent, the sound so conflicting with the look he’s giving me. “I was following orders, something you and your little bitch best friend should’ve been doing. Instead, you thought you could play Mommy and Daddy in the big bad biker club. So when Daddy bent you over, you took it like a good Mommy.”
“That’s enough,” Diego snaps. “I’m here to get Genevieve out of that compound, and I am willing to do what it takes. You need to as well, Charles.” Malik rolls his eyes but tosses me a grin, knowing he’s already said what he wanted to. Chino glares in his direction before looking back at me. “Chino, are you able to get to Genevieve?”
“The room she’s being held in is locked, and Jaeger currently has both keys.” Unable to help myself, I slam a fist into the table in frustration. “I feel fucking useless.”
“We need to get that key,” Laith growls out, his gritted teeth flashing from behind his lips as he crosses his arms over his chest. Diego lifts a brow as he runs his fingers along the scruff on his chin.
“No.” Malik smiles sadistically at me and slowly shakes his head. “We need to kill your President, then take his keys. It’ll be a lesson in sharing is caring.”
“Kill Jaeger?” I ask, my voice betraying the shock I’m feeling as my eyes skip to Laith. “You’re plotting to kill him?” Nausea tears through my stomach at the thought.
“I don’t want that to happen.” His lips flatten into a thin line as his eyes stay locked on mine. “But if it’s a choice between them, I know what mine would be.” I can feel the shame pouring off of him in thick waves and it’s reflected in his eyes. He’s feeling just as sick as I am.
“I won’t kill my best friend. I know he needs to learn a few lessons and he has to face the music for his actions, but I don’t want to kill him.” I speak slowly and surely as I clench my teeth and cross my arms over my chest. Malik growls at me, his teeth snapping in my direction like a rabid dog.
“If he’s hurt my slayer, I will tie him up and rip out his balls to play ping-pong with them.” His fist hits the table, much like mine did, and I close my eyes. I don’t know how we’ll be able to play nice. We’ve been rival clubs forever and no matter what’s at stake, my loyalty is to the Dragons. “If you stand in my way, Chino, I’ll kill you too.”
I decide to speak to the love he clearly has for Genni, hoping he’ll see reason. With a calm voice and even features, I begin, “Genni will never forgive you if you kill her brother—”
“You’re right,” Malik agrees with a nod. “Because she wants to do it herself. Trust me, I know how to torture someone, and I have Diego here to keep them alive for days or weeks.”
“It’s true,” Laith adds with a shrug. “He’s always loved shit like that as a kid.”
“Will you help us get into the compound?” Diego leans forward to look at me and Laith, his eyes filled with pleading. “If you agree to that, I’ll only bring Malik with me and it won’t be a war. We won’t leave your already-broken club a bloodbath.”
“Jaeger doesn’t die,” I grit out. I’m the closest thing to family Jaeger has left, and if Laith won’t fight for our President, then I will. Everyone is deserving of forgiveness.
“I would suggest you get that key then and you get him off the compound because I will kill that motherfucker if he keeps me from my girl.” Malik’s eyes are filled with promise and there’s little room for empathy in their depths. It’s painfully obvious how much healsoloves Genni.
“You love her,” I state, then flick my eyes to Diego. “So do you.”
“Don’t worry about that.” Malik scoffs, my eyes following him as he stands. “I need a corned beef on rye.” He walks toward the counter as I turn to look at Laith.
“Are you agreeing to these terms?” My tone brokers no room for argument and I refuse to back down to a fucking March member. I absently touch my fingers to the newly sewn Vice badge on my cut.
“Yes, Chino. Jaeger needs a bit of humbling and Genni needs our help.”
Jaeger has his two most important people here sitting at a table and conversing with his enemy and all I can think of is, he did it before too. When he felt he had nowhere to turn when Vic was undermining the position he promised his adopted son. So maybe he’ll understand in the end.
