Page 50 of Enforce This
“Eric,” Tiffany cleared her throat. “Eric, I’m sorry but we really need to ask you a few questions.”
Boots sounded against the pavement, and I looked up to see Montana approaching with Mak’s cellphone in his hand.
“You’ll want to take this, Brother,” Montana quietly intoned.
Our eyes met, and my heart lurched.
“Take her,” I jostled Daisy and Montana was there in a flash. He passed me the cellphone and protectively took Daisy into his arms.
She would probably slap the shit out of me if she ever came out of her shock and realized a Steel Disciple was comforting her, and in public no less.
I gripped the phone and made it a half a step before Tiffany raised her voice in a piss-poor attempt at authority “Eric, I said—”
“And I said go play in traffic. There’s enough of it for you and all your deputies. Get this shit cleaned up. Go scrape up whatever is left of my brother and let me be. I’ll speak with you when I’ve composed myself.”
She backed away from me with both hands extended before her in a show of surrender. Sheriff Philpot grabbed her by the upper arm and swung her toward the wreckage like they had pressing matters to discuss.
I took a deep breath, planted the phone against my ear, and calmly told Demetri Valentino, “I’m going to rearrange everything you thought you knew about life. Do you hear me, Mother Fucker? You’re dead!”
He laughed like a child had told him the cutest joke in history, “Ah, Eric. I’m pleased that we’re talking like big boys now. It was rather dull using all those euphemisms, and I’m not one to tolerate boredom for long. Did you lie with the biker princess?”
I froze, not believing my ears. This son of a bitch heard me say I was going to end him, and he wanted to bring Feloni and fuck talk into things…
“I’m going to kill you in the slowest, most creative way that I can manage… but only after I’ve ruined everything you loved.” I promised him as I started to draw inspiration from the many things, I’d seen during my time overseas.
“That good, was she?” He sounded impressed and sucked his teeth, “Hm… You’re a Steel Disciple. You probably run through what…. Four– five girls a week? I’d say with a name like Easy you’ve sampled enough women to know when one is worth visiting a second time… How long do you think Feloni can keep me entertained?”
My mouth dropped and I probably gasped like a damn schoolgirl.
“She’s alive?” My voice cracked.
He made a thoughtful sound, “Because you see, Eric… once she ceases to amuse me and she becomes boring, I’ll have to get rid of her. I know you Disciples are cocaine cowboys, but that’s not really my market. You see in my kingdom, in the world of flesh and gun, buyers are arranged in advance. It will take me time to fly in my elite friends for a proper auction.”
Everything in me shook with a level of rage that I’d never felt before. I didn’t know where to direct it, I wasn’t sure how long I could contain it and for several long moments… I couldn’t fucking speak.
I was so terrified of fucking it up worse than it already was, and yet, remaining quiet wasn’t an option.
“Be reasonable…”
“Oh, I don’t know. I was reasonable once. It cost me a sister.”
“In exchange for one sister, you’ve taken a mother of three, four club members- two of which were blood brothers to sitting table occupants, you’ve kidnapped a wife and daughter, and left a founding member unable to ride.”
“Our totals differ, love.”
I flinched at his term of endearment.
“So far, we’ve witnessed Michael’s wife being eliminated.” Demetri acknowledged before calmly reciting, “There were two patches caught in the crossfire at the compound if I recall correctly. Big Vick was taken out at the funeral and my former brother-in-law was put in his place. Who am I missing?”
“My brother–”
“I didn’t touch Anthony. He got into a rather heated exchange with my men when they tried to pay their respects at the funeral home. The police intervened and then I was made aware of a loud boom…”
I clenched my jaw, ready to make his whole world go boom.
“He’s dead all the same.” I ground out.
“Your brother is gone… Mine is, too. What a coincidence. Oh well, such is life.” He sighed, “Perhaps you’re wondering where that leaves us now, hm, Eric?”