“No, but I know it for a fact, and I don’t trust him, and I don’t wanna work with him.”
“And there’s no possible way you can be dissuaded?”
Scratch shook his head. “Nah, no fuckin’ way.”
“Scratch, are you packin’?”
“Yeah, Warlock, always.”
Warlock nodded. “Good. I want you to shoot Roscoe in the face.”
“Wh…What?” he breathed out on a nervous laugh.
Warlock waved at Roscoe as if giving him the same offer and before Scratch could draw, Roscoe shot him right between the eyes.
“Ah, there you go,” Warlock said, clapping his hands. “But before I conclude this matter, Roscoe, is what Scratch said about you withholding money on a previous job true? And be warned, I’ll know if you’re lying.”
“Yeah, boss, I kept a little more than my share,” Roscoe fessed up.
“Thank you for your honesty, Roscoe,” Warlock said. “And know that if you ever withhold from me, being dead will be the least of your worries, you understand me?”
“Yes, boss.”
“Good, now go get a fuckin’ mop and clean this shit up.”
If Warlock’s intent for me witnessing this exchange was to better understand what kind of man he was, then he succeeded. He was a calculating psychopath who was not going to be told what to do on any level. The way he spoke made it clear, he believed he was the smartest man in the room and if I was going to get myself out of this shit, I was going to have to make him believe I believed it, too.
“So, young Cash.” Warlock turned to focus on me again. “By now, you may be wondering why I’ve invited you here tonight.”
“Is that what you call kidnapping?” I retorted. “An invitation?”
“You’ll have to forgive me, my original intent was to request the presence of one of Hatch’s children, but they’ve all seemed to go underground, so I had to make my move on the next best thing.”
I let out a deep, dramatic sigh. One that Teagan would be proud of. “It’s always so disappointing to know you weren’t the first choice for the dance.”
“Oh, don’t worry, I’m sure the son of a VP knows all the latest steps.”
“I know the one where my crew dances on your face when they find me,” I said, realizing suddenly that Teagan had my tracker.
Fuck, shit, fuck.
Warlock laughed. “Not in a million years. After the ambush at the O.K. Corral that was our previous clubhouse… an ambush that I believe your club was involved with if I’m not mistaken… Oh, anyway, that’s all just blood under the bridge now. Anyway, after our clubhouse was surrounded, shot to hell, and our members slaughtered, I thought it wise to procure a new base of operations. It’s a highly secured and well-hidden facility that neither your club nor law-enforcement will ever find.”
“I don’t know, chief, the world’s a small place and it’s gettin’ smaller,” I said. “It’s gettin’ harder and harder for roaches like you to find dark places to run to and hide.”
“Oh no, you misunderstand me. I’m not running or hiding. As a matter of fact, I’m just getting started. The Spiders will not only reclaim the throne they once sat on, but we’re gonna follow Wolf’s expansion plans. However, you’ll find me much smarter than my predecessor. Wolf was an impulsive hot head and men like that are never good for business. I, on the other hand, can torture and murder a man without the threat of a single emotion getting in the way of completing my directive.”
“ThatI have no problem believing,” I muttered.
“You shouldn’t,” he snapped, dropping his pleasantries. “I can make your stay here with us comfortable ornot.”
“What’s your plan here, Warlock?” I asked. “What’s the point in holding me at all?”
“First of all, I took you to show Hatch I can get to any of his guys any time I want.” He puffed out his chest. “Secondly, I need him to sever his ties with those Colorado assholes and turn his grow over to me. You’re here to ensure your president does as he’s told.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then I’ll be digging two graves,” motioning to the corpse, previously known as Scratch.
