Page 2 of Ruthless Malice

Snatch ain’t looking so excited anymore. That smug look has changed into one of terror, and I can only guess it’s because there’s something in that duffel bag that shouldn’t be there.

Sheriff Hunter chucks the duffel bag onto the ground and rifles through it.

Wallet.

Keys.

A blue hoodie.

A pair of old jeans.

And a fucking Sig Sauer nine-millimeter gun.

Sheriff Hunter takes the gun and swings it on the end of his finger. “Would you look-a here, is this a registered gun, boy? You got your paperwork on you? In Serenity, we can take you in for this.”

Sheriff Hunter’s won the jackpot. He confirms what I’ve known all along.Snatch is a dumb fuck.Snatch is silent, his arms crossed, with the blonde bimbo standing by his side. Despite the situation, I can’t ignore that stirring in my chest at the sight of them. Deep inside, and I meandeepdown, I’m jealous. I had that once and boy, wasn’t she a beauty.

Merrie used to do the same thing as Lara did. She would have stood by me in any storm, any fire, no matter what the cost.My Merrie.We didn’t have nearly enough time in this world together, but love doesn’t fucking love me any fucking way. It’s fucked me two ways from Sunday, so now I’m the savage. I’m the one screwing women and leaving them sour. Such is life.

I let go of the trigger and concentrate.

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about. You can’t take me in for that.”

Sheriff Hunter clicks his fingers at one of his minions. “Run a gun check, Dave.”

Minutes later, Dave comes back with a single word that changes Snatch’s fate.

“Unregistered. Your name is not on the gun as having bought it.”

“How the fuck do you know my motherfucking name? I didn’t tell you shit, snitch,” Snatch yells.

“Double J, right? Jackson Jansen, that’d be you,” Sheriff Hunter replies quickly. “I’m a Sheriff in Serenity and I know every outlaw in this town, including you. Don’t fool yourself.”

“I bet you do,” Sledge jumps in sarcastically, stepping up to the van.

Sheriff Hunter pays him no mind. “Aye, looks like I don’t have to take a warehouse tour. I caught myself a fish today. How about that, boys! Now all you gotta do is turn around and I’m gonna slap these cuffs on you. If you struggle, it’s gonna be worse, so let’s go nice and easy,” Sheriff Hunter says condescendingly.

Snatch struggles but the Sheriff jacks his elbow up, shoving his face against the van. Slash puffs up but I put a hand in front of him, clothes hanging on him to stay back. “Don’t do it. It’s not worth it. You wanna end up on a charge, too?” I hiss under my breath. Slash grits his teeth but holds ground.

Sheriff Hunter clicks the cuffs on Snatch, who’s smart enough to quit wriggling around. He has enough time to turn around and address me. “Smart move, Bull. Keep it up and I might just let up on you.”

I give Sheriff Hunter’s my bestwe aren’t friendslook. It is too fucking bad. Snatch should have thought that shit through.

I watch the cop cars drive off with Snatch in the backseat and Lara shaking her head and jumping up and down. She doesn’t look right in the eyes, something haunting there, but I don’t say anything. I could care less about the bitch. I didn’t trust her anyway. Any link to Breaks Lennox is a flight risk.

“We gotta go right down there in the morning and bail him out. They can’t keep him. That gun license bullshit won’t hold up. It’s not a fucking crime. They can’t arrest him for that. All they can do is confiscate the gun. Fuckers!” Slash spits.

We walk back into the warehouse with the crew muttering and talking.

“Nah, let him sweat it out a bit, keep the heat off us. It’s a good minor distraction and one that will give the club leverage in the long run.” Nothing wrong with Snatch taking a timeout in my mind. Leaving a gun in plain sight is a clear sign he’s not the prized thief he thinks he is. That’s the major problem with Snatch. He’s too busy chasing pussy to keep his eye on the bigger prize.

“Bull!We can’t leave Snatch in there. He’s the reason we got the coke back. Are you out of your mind?” Slash is salivating at the mouth, but to me it’s a win-win for the club. We can formulate a new plan while he sits in the can. Slash is too immature to get it. If he was in a war like I’d been in, he would’ve been shot on the first day.

“You’re not thinking straight, Slash. You’re a pussy and working from your emotions. We’re gonna get him out. He could do with some character building on the inside. Same way you did,” I remind him gruffly. “Besides, if you go running at it, the Sheriff is gonna come right back here and search this fucking warehouse where the drugsreallyare.” I tap my temple with my fingers. “Think, bitch.”

Chapter Two : War Stories

Lily

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