No mate on the back of my Yamaha. No fucking hand jobs for me.
Her other mates were lucky bastards.
What I wouldn’t give to have my mate with me, arms curled around my waist, holding me tight, no curse to come between us. My back to her chest. Together. Inseparable. Pipe dreams that weren’t happening any time soon with the fucking curse cock blocking us.
After all the strife that fucking prick caused the club, I was certain he was behind the curse between my mates and me. Anubis behind the overarching curse between Isis and the four gods. Before we got involved with Colton, Liz and I never had a goddamn problem being close. Anubis’ fiend stole our inseparability from us, killed my mate, and deprived me of time with Aaliyah that I’d never get back.
In retrospect, the whole job to deliver cocaine for the Egyptian mafia seemed a ruse for Colton to get close to us, plant dark magick spells on us, and broaden Anubis’ revenge on our gods. If we confirmed this as truth, God help Anubis, standing up to five very pissed off gods seeking vengeance.
When we caught his sniveling, fucking coward of an avatar, I would make that bastard suffer for setting the curse on me and my mates. Kill him. Revive him. Torture him. Repeat until I had no more damn magick left in my body.
For years I blamed myself for Liz’s death until Aaliyah unshackled the chains binding my heart, freed, and healed me. Made me see the death was out of my control and rested in Raine’s hands. My mind settled easier at night, my dreams not plagued with Liz’s face or her last words to me replaying in my mind.
Rest in peace, my former mate.
I steered my bike into a ratty old parking lot squashed between two high rises. Nothing much to look at. Potholes everywhere and pavement in need of replacement. Torn chain link fence with litter caught on the wire. What gave it away were the array of cars parked there. A mixture of luxury brands and average family models, down to beat up old cars on their last legs. Yep, definitely the right place. Not that I doubted Castor’s data collection skills.
Perfect location for an underground and illegal casino. One of many in the network Colton and his family ran. An empire that his competitors surrounded like sharks to swipe from underneath him. Never did a more deserving asshole warrant his fate.
My Yamaha grumbled as I cut the engine, removed the key, and shoved it inside my cut.
Slade rolled in beside me as I dismounted, tearing off his helmet, riding gloves, and jacket with the ferocity of someone eager for a fight. “Ready to stir some chaos?”
I was ready to capture Colton Raine and brutalize his body repeatedly, and I wasn’t letting Slade destroy that for me. “No lethal blows. Don’t kill him here.”
“Yes, Grandpa.” Asshole adopted the nickname since we went shopping yesterday to give me shit about keeping them on track for our shopping tasks.
Excuse me if I didn’t want my baby girl to stress while we were away from her. I had firsthand knowledge of what it did to Dylan, and Mia wasn’t going to suffer like that.
I made a point of shifting my cock in my pants. “Just as long as you take care of this grandpa dick.”
Slade smirked, pleased I took his bait for once, when I ignored him for months. The bond warmed like the first sun after a long winter, this small interaction giving him hope we could resurrect the dead friendship.
Over the last few months, I missed the asshole’s company. When he was in a good mood, he was gold. Over the years, he was a good confidant. Loyal. Reliable. I longed to have that back. I considered Aaliyah my best friend, but there were some things I didn’t take to her, and that was where Slade came in. Since I damaged our friendship, it was up to me to pay the price and earn back his trust and respect.
“Fuck. I know you’ve got an eternity, god of Death, but I don’t.” Slade gestured for me to take the front.
Right. Enforcer. Protect my president. Fuck. I was getting nostalgic and lost in my thoughts. Actions that could get me killed. Best to leave those thoughts for the drive back home... if we made it out alive.
This was probably the best time to get something off my chest when I might not get another chance. Who knew what waited for me inside the illegal casino?
“In case we die in there, I want to let you know, it’s been a wild ride.” I wanted to sayriding and serving beside you, but the rest of the words choked off.
Slade’s hand thumped on my shoulder. “I’m proud to call you my brother. My VP. Still am.”
Only I wasn’t his VP. Brix saw to that. Heat flushed into my veins. Something I would correct. “Should we hug and shit?”
Slade threw his arms around me, palms clapping on my back. “Love you, brother.”
Now was the time to speak my piece, leave nothing unsaid, not go to the Underworld regretting it. An eternal punishment. “Love you too. I know I disappointed you—”
The rest got cut off with a squeeze so tight it cut off my air. “Fuck that shit. Don’t be sorry. Those cunts deserved it.” Slade’s motto: never regret a thing or apologize for any action. “It all worked out in the end.”
Slade held onto me another few seconds as if he feared parting might be the end for us.
Worked out in the end. My demotion. My continued employment with the club despite my disgrace. My brothers. My woman and daughter alive. For now, that was good enough and all I deserved.
My president’s grip slowly relaxed and we parted with a grunt.
