Page 18 of The Players

SY

Sy entered Kristoff’s headquarters, or “the War room” as they had dubbed the place, at the wharf. From the outside, it looked like a simple brownstone, not exactly a hideout of San Francisco’s kingpin, the biggest arms dealer in the west.

The inner circle of the Bloody Ones—Kristoff, Viking, and the twins—were already inside. His brother had told him how the four had met. Over the years, their story had taken myth-like proportions. One thing Sy had remembered though was that there had to flow blood before a new, unlikely alliance could form. The four had bled for each other, taken an oath, and had been together in the business ever since. Their life was a hard one at times. What people forgot was that anyone with enough determination could conquer a throne. The hardest part was keeping it. Every day was a fight. And no one fought harder or more vicious than the Bloody Ones.

Damon pushed a chair toward him and handed him a beer.

“You came.”

Sy shrugged. Of course he came. Where else would he be on this day?

He greeted his brother sitting across from him. Judging by Viking’s mean look, he was already halfway to being shit-faced. In the background, Etta James’ “All I could do was Cry” played. Sy knew the song was on repeat and would stay that way until his brother passed out.

“What do you boys know about love?” Viking slurred.

Here we go.Sy sighed, uncapped his beer bottle, and took a pull.

Once a year, Viking put on this song, the music of pain, and got wasted. His normally highly controlled brother, lost it on the first of November. And all over a woman: his childhood sweetheart, Elena Morelli. The woman who had betrayed him sixteen years ago. Ever since, on Elena’s wedding day, they gathered together.

“You guys know nothing,” Viking lisped. “You ever saw your woman walk around town with another man? Heard her promise him ‘till death do us part’? Held a gun pointed at her treacherous heart when leaving the church dressed in white? Wanted to pull that trigger with every fiber of your being? Then stopped because you’ve promised a punk ass kid that you wouldn’t end up in jail.”

The last part was new to Sy.

“I think he means you,” Angel mock whispered to Kristoff, saluting him with his whisky.

Their fearless leader had his eyes narrowed on his brother. He didn’t speak a word though.

Viking slammed his empty glass on the table. “I should’ve ended them right there and then. Should’ve thrown bullets over their heads instead of rice.”

“Women. What can you do?” Angel chimed in. “We’ve got one who’s fled us after losing a bet. Fickle, wicked creatures.”

“Fucking fickle,” Damon added.

Sy had heard of the twins’ trouble with some hacker who’d promised to spend the night with them if they helped her out. Of course, like all women, she’d broken her promise and fled before they could get their hands on her. Lord have mercy on her when they did, ’cause they sure wouldn’t.

“You two know fucking shit,” Viking growled. “Every time I see her, I die a little more. Every fucking year, I hate her more and more. It’s endless. An endless hate. I dream about it,” he whispered. “Riding to that fucker’s house, killin’ everyone, going out with a bang.” He made an exploding sound.

Sy knew Viking wouldn’t remember a word of this the next day. For some reason, that made him even more sad for his brother.

“I hate her,” Viking continued. “I hate her so fucking much.”

Damon refilled his glass. “If only that were true, big guy.”

“I hate you, Elena. I hate you!” Viking threw his glass against the wall.

“And there goes glass number three,” Angel said with a sigh.

This went on for another hour. And another one. And another. It was close to midnight when Angel’s phone went off.

“Well, look at that,” he said as he watched the screen. “Looks like we got a visitor. The lovely Carmen Caruso.”

Hell. Just hearing her name made him want to do filthy things to her. He knew what Vince had proposed to her. He also knew she’d shoved it right back at his face, as expected.

Angel got up, sporting a big ass smile. “Come pretty, little fly, right into my…”

Sy shook his head. “Not happening. She’s here for me.”

This had all eyes turn to him. Angel cocked a bow. “You’re claiming her?”

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