1
FANGS
The concrete edge of the stairs dug into my skin as a couple of strong-armed goons tossed me down a dark flight of steps. Grunts and growls escaped me, filling the dark silence with the anger coursing its way through my veins. And as I stopped tumbling, finding myself face down in a muddy puddle of stale water, I picked myself up and shook off the musty water like a fucking dog.
Before I looked up the staircase and found Bullet looming over me with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“You’re not going to get away with any of this,” I growled.
Bullet chuckled. “Says who?”
“Says me,” I said as I took a step forward. “My men are more capable than you’ll ever realize. That’s your downfall, you know. Underestimating us.”
“Funny,” he said as he reached for the door, “I could’ve said the same thing about you guys.”
I snarled. “They’re coming, you know. Not just for you, but for me.”
“I really hope so,” he said with a lingering dreamy sort of nature in his voice. “It’s been a while since a formidable enemy has stepped up to my plate.”
He slammed the door closed and I drew in a deep breath. Pitch blackness settled all around me as the sound of dripping water echoed off the caverns of my empty ears. The lone, trickling sound infiltrated my mind and threatened to make me go crazy.
Until something shufflled around in the darkness.
“Who is it?” I asked as I whipped around. “Who the hell is down here with me?”
The shuffling stopped, but the breathing didn’t.
“Trust me,” I said with a shake of my head, “I don’t need a gun to take someone out. So, think twice before coming at me.”
A light clicked on, temporarily blinding me as it swung overhead. It casted all sorts of shadows around the room, showing exactly how vast and deep back it went. There were throngs of bare metal shelves. A couple of dull shovels in a back corner. There were wood splinters clinging to the mold along the cement brick walls, but the light didn’t catch any sort of human figure.
Until a soft giggle tugged at my attention, causing me to turn toward the feminine outline deep in the recesses of the shadows.
“Men and their audacity,” she said as she stepped into the swinging light. “It really is astounding some days.”
The young woman couldn’t have been any older than her early twenties. Her wavy blonde hair fell all the way down to her waist, and that was with the damn stuff pulled into a ponytail at the crown of her head. Her bright blue eyes were rounded and big, holding all sorts of secrets her mouth refused to utter.
She was pretty, I’d give her that. But for all I knew, she was a plant.
Just like Harley had been.
“Who are you?” I asked.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m someone trying to track down my sister.”
“Uh huh.”
She stayed silent for a while before her hands moved to her hips. “Seriously?”
I tilted my head. “Seriously… what?”
She threw her hands into the air. “Are you going to tell me who you are now? Who are you, exactly?”
I furrowed my brow. “Why would I give you my information if you won’t give me yours?”
She shrugged. “I’ve given you what’s important. Now, you do the same. Why are you down here? What’s so important to you?”
I didn’t hesitate. “My men.”
