Hell's Viper (Hell's March MC Book 1), page 14
“Girl, it could be for any one of us,” Genni reassures her. “We all have people who want us to disappear. Unfortunately for them, we’re pretty good at protecting ourselves.”
“What’s the plan?” Loralee asks as she pretends to look into a shop’s window, the lingerie on the mannequins giving me an idea.
“Let’s head in here,” I suggest as I open the door.
We get inside and Genni heads straight for the girl at the counter. “Are you the only one in here right now?” The girl stares at her with wide eyes, no doubt scared of the cut she has hanging from her shoulders.
“Yes,” she murmurs as her eyes find me next, the fear only growing.
“Here.” Genni throws down a wad of hundred-dollar bills on the counter. “We’re gonna need your store for the next few hours. This should cover your wages, right?” The girl nods and swallows thickly. “Good. Any damages we incur, the Steel Dragons will cover. Do you understand?” When the girl nods again, Genni grabs her by the arm and leads her to the back. “Give me your keys. I’ll lock up and leave them behind the dumpster out back, okay?”
Just as she’s ushering the girl outside, the bell over the door rings, alerting us to a pair of customers. Only they’re not looking for a lacy bra set. Loralee glances to the doorway, then drops her head back down to the G-strings folded on the table as I spin a rack of bras.
Movement from my right grabs my attention as I grab a hanger with a black bra. Genni moves slowly from the back of the store, staying out of view as she slips behind a rack of robes.
“Does anyone work here?”
I turn and come face-to-face with two men. Both of them are tall, with shaved heads and every inch of exposed skin covered in tattoos. Even their fucking skulls. It’s clear we’re not dealing with any brothers we know of around here, and they don’t look like cartel men.
The switch happens smoothly, like silk moving in a gentle breeze. My emotions shut down and the room opens up like a maze of exits and possible nooks for torture.
“How can I help you, gentlemen?” The words pour from my mouth as if wrapped in velvet and I let the hanger hang from my forefinger in front of me. “Which one of you is looking for assless chaps?”
A snort from the back reaches me, telling me Loralee is finding this humorous instead of being a scared girl. That’s reassuring because it’s about to get messy in here.
“I’m looking for a little mouse,” one of the men answers as he steps further into the store. “She likes to sneak around places she shouldn’t be in.”
“Lucky for you, I’m known as a snake around here. If it’s a mouse you’re hunting, I can sniff her out.” I smile widely at him as his partner curses.
“She’s The Viper.”
“Ding-ding!” I flick open my trench to reveal my guns and knives.
“Listen.” One holds up his hands as the other inches closer to where Genni is concealed behind a rack of lingerie. “We don’t want trouble. We’re just looking for a chick.”
“What does she look like?” I don’t dare look behind me toward Loralee because taking my eyes off these two would be a stupid move.
“Brown hair, brown eyes. Tall with a rocking body.” They think they’re being smart by splitting up, but they’re the stupidest pair of henchmen I have ever encountered. It would be harder to take on the both of them together, but apart wouldn’t even be a challenge.
“She sounds plain,” I remark as a whispered bitch sounds from the back of the store. Clearly, they’ve never seen a picture of Loralee or they would’ve recognized her while they were following us.
Genni finds her perfect moment and jumps from behind the rack to wrap a G-string around the guy’s neck as he attempts to fight, then drags him behind the racking with her.
“Hey!” the other bellows as he darts for them, only pausing when he hears the cocking of my gun.
“Let’s have a discussion,” I calmly say as I approach him, noticing the way his leather jacket tents at his sides. He’s packing heat. “Why did you follow us?”
“We were told to watch your car and follow it.” Interesting. They didn’t know who any of us were, but they had a tail on my car. Smells like The Beast. “Bring my brother back out here.” His hands form fists as I come up behind him and press the barrel of my gun to his head, making him freeze on the spot. He knows I’ll shoot without thought if he moves.
“Let’s take a walk and see what they’re up to, hmm? I can bring the matching bra to those panties that were wrapped around his delectable neck.” He growls but follows my instruction and steps forward. “Loralee! Come take this pretty guy’s guns off him.”
She runs up from the back of the store and stands in front of us before flipping open his jacket and pulling out two guns. “I’m the one you’re looking for, cunt.”
“Ooh, little mousy has a big squeak,” I croon as I tap the barrel of my gun to the back of his skull. “Walk.”
“They’re DeRucci,” she mutters as we walk by her. “Be careful.”
We get behind the rack and find two changing rooms, one currently occupied with Genni and her bound captive. “Are those robe sashes?” I point to the straps holding him in the chair and the silk stuffed in his mouth. “Fucking genius.”
She bends at the waist, giving me a bow, then picks up the guns she took off the guy squirming in the chair. “Sit!” she demands and points to the only other chair. “Or I’ll pump you full of holes. Make you look like a slice of Swiss cheese.”
“Oh, I love Swiss cheese!” I gush to Loralee as she nods.
“Have you ever had chicken cordon bleu?” she asks me as the guy sits in the chair and I keep my gun trained on him.
“No,” I reply as she grunts.
“You need to try it.”
Genni begins tying him to the chair, then stuffs the G-string she had wrapped around the other’s neck into his mouth. “They’re looking a lot like a pair of cordon bleus to me.” She snickers as Loralee snorts.
“Pull the gag out of the first one,” I tell Genni as she moves behind him. “I want to ask him a few questions.”
She pulls out the gag as his cheeks turn red, no doubt embarrassed to have been bested by a group of females. “Have you ever had cordon bleu?”
Loralee chokes then laughs as Genni bends to look him in the eyes. “You answer her.”
“No.” He shakes his head as his eyes flare with rage.
“Would you like to dress in a maid’s outfit and dust our racks?” This time Loralee loses it as her cackle fills the store, making the second guy flex against the ties. “Simmer down, Herc, I’m coming for you next.”
“I’ll kill all three of you the second I get the chance.”
“Well, shit. That wasn’t the answer I was looking for.” I pout as I swing my arm and shoot him between the eyes.
The other guy starts screaming around the G-string stuffed in his mouth and tips over the chair as Loralee gasps. “Shit,” she hisses as Genni points her gun and shoots out the asshole’s kneecap.
He bellows in pain around the gag as we leave him on his side, still tied to the chair, on the floor. “Take his gag out,” I instruct Loralee. “Maybe now he’s ready to give us some answers.”
She slowly approaches him and quickly rips the gag out of his mouth, throwing the G-string to the floor with a disgusted sound. Then she bends and slaps him hard on the face, making me whistle. “That’s for calling me a mouse,” she snaps before taking a step back.
“Are you a part of the DeRucci Family?” I ask as his eyes roll with pain and blood seeps from his knee.
“Yes,” he answers like a good boy in immense pain.
“Does the name Gionni DeRucci or The Beast mean anything to you?” I press him as his eyes widen for a fraction, then the motherfucker begins to laugh.
“If The Beast has his eyes set on you, you’re never going to be free. Not until he’s rotting in the ground.” His eyes shine with mirth as he grins maniacally, making me straighten as I expel a breath.
“That’s a shame.” I tsk as I look from Genni to Loralee. “He doesn’t know anything worthwhile.”
Then I aim my gun and shoot him in the head, giving him and his brother matching death shots.
I chickened out.
I had every intention of speaking to Delia two days ago about what happened between her and Cruz and just our relationship in general, but I couldn’t fucking do it. Waking up to her in my bed the next morning made my heart shatter. Just looking at her sleeping peacefully and content made me realize that I barely had a grasp on her. I’m so afraid of losing her, and instead of wanting to set boundaries and tell her the things I’ll need in this relationship, I just want to give in to everything she wants. I’ll do it though if that’s what it takes to keep her.
Then everything started to pile up. Jaeger had me running some missions, and by the time I’d crawl into bed, she’d already be asleep. Sure, I could’ve woken her up, I have in the past many times, but like I said, I’m too fucking chicken to face what may or may not be happening between us. That’s why when my phone lit up early this morning with her name on the screen, I nearly dropped it out of my hands. I thought I was about to be called out, that she would run me through the ringer for being a pussy because that’s Delia’s way, but I was so far off the mark.
It seems her new friend and Genni have gotten themselves into a little bit of a situation, and I can tell this is probably just the beginning of what this new girl friendship is going to entail. Delia was sweet on the phone, sounding every bit like my girl, but that was because she was asking me to take care of a cleanup situation. Now I’m on a mission to find a partner to help me get rid of two bodies in a lingerie store because I can never say no to her.
I send off a text message to Diego, asking if he’s free since it’s his damn sister and his girlfriend who caused the problem, but when I don’t get an answer after a few minutes, I decide I’m going to have to take someone from the March. Stepping out of Medical and into the main room, I find the place quiet. The majority of the brothers have started getting used to and liking heading over to the Dragons’ compound to hang out, and even though that’s the type of camaraderie we’ve been wanting, it’s sad to see our club so empty.
But it’s not completely empty.
I zero in on the bar, finding Rockz looking particularly pleasant with a smile on his face as he talks to Cruz. He’s enjoying a bottle of beer, his arms waving around animatedly as he describes something to Rockz. Two prospects stand at the pool table, both engaged in a leisure game of pool and have had no knowledge of this club’s actual duties, so I could ask them to help. It would be a good lesson, but I’m in no mood to teach a couple of guys how to dispose of bodies. It looks like Cruz is my best bet.
I head to the bar as Rockz turns his head to look at me, surprising me with a rare smile. It feels like my world has been tipped upside down just from the curve of his lips alone. Has hell fucking frozen over? “Hey, Doc,” Rockz calls out as he grabs a glass, but I wave it off and shake my head.
“Don't have time for a drink right now,” I say as I come to stand across from him and beside Cruz who has yet to look at me. We talked briefly yesterday, but it was only about his injury and how well it was healing. Nothing else. I don’t like this awkward tension between us. We’re brothers, and yes, he may be interested in the love of my life, he may have fucked her as I suspect, but we’re still brothers. It’s just hard to bring it up to talk about it when I’ve never been in this position before.
“Cruz.” His shoulders stiffen when I say his name, the pulse beating rapidly under the thin skin of his throat as he slowly turns his head to look at me, his eyebrows raised expectantly. “I got called in for a cleanup. Do you think you’re up for coming to help me out?”
“Sure, he is,” Rockz cuts in as he wipes down the bar. “I’ve had enough of his yapping today.”
Cruz rolls his eyes and tips his head to the side as he relaxes. “A cleanup? It’s been a while since I’ve done that. What are we cleaning?”
“Looks like Delia, Genni, and their friend enjoyed some extracurricular activities earlier today and stuck me with the aftermath,” I explain as I scratch the scruff on my cheek. “If you’re busy, it’s all good. I can find someone else.”
“Nah. It’s fine. I got you.” He gets up from the stool and adjusts his cut, revealing his gun strapped to his waist. “Am I going to need more weapons?”
“I don’t think so, but we’ll have to fill up the van with some supplies.” I move around the bar to the storage room as Rockz follows me.
“How many bodies?” Rockz asks as he begins pulling down garbage bags, gloves, masks, and hazmat suits. “You’re going to need some bleach.”
“Apparently it’s two bodies, but knowing those girls, we could be in for a surprise,” I huff as I grab a container of bleach and a bag of rags.
“Where are we dumping them?” Cruz leans on the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest.
“We’ll probably hit up Benny at the dump. It’s been a while since we’ve dropped anything off there,” I tell him as I hand him the supplies. “Let’s pack up the van and go find out what the fuck we’re dealing with.”
His eyes light up with excitement at the prospect of dead bodies, probably stiffening his dick. Then the imagery of said dick being near my girlfriend has me clenching my teeth. “Hopefully it’s not as messy as that warehouse we pulled her out of in Nevada,” he states.
“If that’s the case, we’re going to need a few more pairs of hands,” I mumble as I brush by him and Rockz, my hands filled with garbage bags and hazmat suits. I’m trying to remain civil, to not think about the details of him and Delia together, but it’s proving to be difficult.
Once we have the van packed, we head into town, both of us looking out of our windows for the lingerie shop name that Delia told me. Once we find it, we park on the street out front and get out. I look up and down the front of the store, searching for anyone or any vehicle that looks out of place as Cruz darts down the alley toward the back. “She said the keys are behind the dumpster!” I call out to him and get a grunt in response.
I try the door, just in case they kept it unlocked, and when it doesn’t budge I place my hands above my eyes and lean against the window to look inside. Nothing looks out of place though. There are no bras or panties lying on the floor, no tipped-over racks, it just looks as if the owner closed down for the day. Not at all like I’m about to walk in on a murder scene. A few moments later, Cruz comes back, swinging a ring of keys on his finger.
“Nothing else out back,” he says as he looks up and down the street. “Are we at the right place?”
“I was just wondering the same thing.” I take the keys from his hand and begin fitting each one into the lock. “Inside of the store looks pristine.” Cruz looks through the window as I finally slip the right key into the lock and open the door.
We both step inside and Cruz locks the door behind us. I find a single hanger on the floor to my left and head that way as Cruz walks toward the back, touching a few bras along the way. “You know, we should probably have a conversation!” he calls out as I pass by a table of folded panties.
My heart begins to pound at his words and I suck in a deep breath before replying, “About what?”
“Brother…” He comes down the next aisle toward me as he begins to pull his hair back into a ponytail. “I’m all up for pretending what happened between me and Delia was a dream, but we both know it wouldn’t do us any good.”
I stop in my tracks and stare at him as he pauses a few feet away from me, his hands dropping from his hair. “I haven’t completely worked through what I’m feeling yet,” I confess to him. “I’m not angry at you, and I’m not really angry with her either. I don’t feel betrayed, but I’ll be honest with you, I’m worried about where she and I stand.” The moment I’m finished speaking, it’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
He visibly swallows, his throat working as his eyes flick to the floor and he begins to chew on the inside of his cheek. Maybe he was expecting me to be angry, to lash out at him, but that’s not going to happen. “I was worried it would come between us,” he admits as he scrubs a hand down his face, then looks back up at me. “I didn’t mean to come between you two. That wasn’t my intention. It was just the heat of the moment. I don’t think you have anything to be afraid of,” he assures me as he takes a few steps closer. “I don’t see it happening again.”
“Honestly, it’s not any of my business what happens between you two. What is my business is what happens between her and I.” I reach out my fist and he looks at it before tapping his against mine. “We’re good,” I promise him, “and thanks for talking to me about it.”
We drop our fists as he rubs his hands together, turning his head to peer into the darkened space beyond a rack of robes. “I have a feeling that’s where we need to look.”
“Let’s check it out.” Turning away from him, I walk in that direction and reach my hand out toward the wall on my right hand side, my fingers brushing the light switch. As soon as I flick it on, we both stand there, shocked at what’s displayed in front of us.
Two very dead men are strapped to chairs, each of them wearing a matching bra and panty set. Both of us turn to look at each other at the same time, his face looking as shocked as I feel, and then his features crumble. We both begin to laugh, the sound bouncing off the walls of the empty shop.
I waited for my sister to finish her meeting with Prez, just to ensure I wouldn’t be called a coward, but the meeting went on for a long time. When she finally emerged from Hell, she looked tired and a little pissed off. Still, I was sitting at the bar with Rockz, and when she approached, he made himself scarce. When she asked if she could speak to me another time, I readily agreed and was immediately relieved. Maybe I am a coward.
Slipping my hand into my cut pocket, I touch the letter for the thousandth time. I have yet to leave my room today and it’s already well past noon. There’s nothing pressing that needs to be done and today is one of those days where pretending everything is normal will be harder than usual.
