Call My Bluff: A Las Vegas Themed Anthology

by Elizabeth Knox

  “Hey, Pres.” Dad chuckles. “You don’t have any clue how fucking proud I am to say that to you, Beau.”

  I scowl. “Dad, call me Viper. You know that.”

  Mom smiles. “He’s just letting you know that you’ve come a long way, is all.”

  Tensing, I understand what she’s referring to. “Mom, I don’t want to talk about that.”

  Dad sits forward. “Pres, your time in the Army taught you how to be strong. You shouldn’t disregard it so easily.”

  I cock my head. “Yeah, well, the Army is history now. I have bigger fish to fry at the moment. That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.” I grab a seat opposite them and plonk my ass down.

  Dad shrugs. “You can always talk to me, kid. You know that.”

  I let out a groan. “I don’t think you’re gonna wanna hear this.”

  Dad sits taller. “What did you do?”

  Rubbing my face, I let out a huff. “Vex did something…” I grimace, “… stupid.”

  “Still taking after his father, I see.” Mom snickers.

  Dad pulls his lips into a thin line, but I continue, “It’s to do with Nio Andretti.”

  Dad’s face falls, turning red with obvious anger. “Nio isn’t like his mother, Viper. I don’t have control over the Andrettis now like I used to. What. The. Fuck. Has. Vex. Done?”

  I rub the back of my neck to ease the tension. It doesn’t help. “You know how Nio was kind of seeing that girl, Isabella?” Dad nods. I exhale. “Vex is in love with her. Apparently, they’ve been dating each other behind Nio’s back and… he’s fuming.”

  Dad slumps with a groan. “So, you’re telling me that after all this damn time, a new reign comes over the Defiance MC, and now the Andrettis and us are going back to war… over a fucking female?”

  I roll my shoulders. “I don’t want it to come to that, Dad. That’s why I’m coming to you.”

  Dad glances at Mom, the worried expression telling me everything. “Nio’s a loose cannon. He’s ruthless. Conniving. He lost his father and had no one to guide him.” Dad sighs. “I don’t know if I speak with Bianca that we can fix this, kid.”

  Bianca is the matriarch of the Andretti Mafiosos. She ran the entire famiglia when her husband met his untimely end. She raised Nio and his sister on her own while being in charge of the most powerful mafia in Chicago. Bianca stepped aside when Nio came of age and took his rightful place as Capo Di Tutti Capi.

  I dip my chin as a sense of courage fills my chest.

  I can do this.

  I can find a way.

  I’m the motherfucking president of the Chicago Defiance MC.

  We’ve been at war with the Andrettis.

  We’ve been at peace with the Andrettis.

  There’s no way we can’t make it through this again.

  Through the decades this club has fought battles.

  In love.

  In war.

  In life.

  In death.

  And we’ve come out swinging after all of them.

  I might be new at the head of this club, but it doesn’t mean I won’t stand up. It doesn’t mean I don’t know this club inside and out.

  This club—this club is a tightknit unit.

  We’re family, and we work well together.

  We bond together.

  Anything that happens to any of us happens to all of us.

  I take a deep breath, cracking my neck to the side. “Then, if the old generation can’t settle this brewing war, I guess it’s up to us. The next generation. Nio might be a loose cannon, but so is Vex. Having them both fighting over the same woman is like a fucking disaster waiting to happen. Leave it to me. I’ll think of something.”

  “I know you will, kid, that’s why you’re the president. These shoes are yours to fill, Viper.”

  I grip Dad’s shoulder, dipping my chin. “Thanks. Now I need to see my VP.”

  Mom reaches her hand out, gripping my forearm. “Go easy on Vex. He might act all high and mighty, but deep down, he’s as soft as they come.”

  I let out a snort. “Vex? Soft? You’ve met the douche, right?”

  Dad smirks. “He takes after your Uncle Trax when he was the same age. Hot-headed. Damn moods all over the place. But deep down, he has a heart of gold. He just doesn’t want anyone to see it.”

  “And you have?”

  Mom’s lips turn up. “Aunts know these things.”

  “Mm-hmm. I gotta go. I’ll keep you updated.”

  “Please do. And kid…” I raise an eyebrow. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

  I snort out a laugh, hightailing it to find Vex. I know exactly where he’ll be and make my way to the armory, my heavy boots stomping as I walk. Upon entering, the lights are bright in the stairwell for the Chamber. I was right. I take the steps two at a time heading down into the dank, musty room. It always smells like rotten mold whenever I come down here. I push on the heavy steel door which creaks with the heaviness of its weight, and I step into the dimly lit underground room.

  This is the men’s room.

  This is where shit gets done.

  This is where men lose their minds to the madness of their demons, and their devils take hold.

  This is the Chamber, and this is carnage. This place holds within its walls the beast inside us, and we let it rage, we let it ravage. In the Chamber, all bets are off, and you don’t want to be the man sitting in the silver fucking torture chair.

  As my foot slides from the bottom step into the dimly-lit room, a drop of water hits the top of my head. The walls are solid stone, so no sound can escape. Moss grows through the hairline cracks, and the smell is not describable. The space is like an underground bunker. This is the place where Vex takes out all his frustrations, all his pent-up emotion, on whichever poor unwilling soul is his target.

  But not today.

  Today his target is the boxing bag as he pounds into it relentlessly in the corner of the darkened room. His cut and shirt off, his torso is glistening in sweat as it rolls off him. Vex is in the zone. He’s aware this war is brewing because of him. I don’t need to lay on any sort of guilt trip. Vex is temperamental, we all know that, but he also has a hereditary form of bipolar disorder passed onto him from his mother, Sparx. He’s medicated, and most of the time under control, but he’s always on edge. We just need to find a way to fix this latest shitstorm.

  I walk past the silver torture chair and keep going. He knows I’m here, but he doesn’t stop his assault on the beaten-up, ratty old punching bag.

  “We should kill him… that would solve every fucking thing,” he mumbles, then lands a right hook making the bag swing even harder with the brute force of his hands.

  I fold my arms over my chest. “Sure, let’s do that. Then his underboss will come after us with the entire Andretti Mafia! And not only that, but we’ll have the one Andretti who is on our side turn on us, too.”

  Vex stops punching, letting out a loud huff. “His mother, Bianca? She’s on his side anyway. As if she’s going to see this from our point of view.”

  “Goddam, Vex! You’re sleeping with Nio’s woman. It’s a big fucking deal. If a Mafioso is promised a woman, then…” I scrape my fingers through my hair, “… she’s his.”

  Vex stands taller glaring right at me, the pure venom in his eyes could kill me if it were lethal. “She’s not his. She’ll never be fucking his!”

  I throw my hands in the air. “Then honestly, what the fuck are we gonna do about it? You won’t give her up. Nio won’t give her up. Unless polygamy is on the table, then I don’t see an option here, brother. You’re gonna have to let her go.”

  He curls up his lip, pulling the Velcro off his gloves with heavy tears. “Thing is, Viper, you might be a damn good president, but you’re an asshole at being family.” He drags off his gloves, throwing them directly at my chest with force. I let out a huff as I catch them.

  Vex picks up his shirt and cut, then heads for the stairs.
/>   “You know this is the right thing to do, Vex.”

  He flips me the bird before taking the stairs two at a time.

  I’m unsure if I got through to him, but he didn’t fight me like I thought he would.

  Maybe, just maybe, he’ll put the club first.

  But my gut is telling me this isn’t going to be that easy.

  Chapter Two

  VIPER

  We haven’t heard anything from the Andrettis regarding the situation with Vex and Isabella.

  Vex has been unusually quiet today, keeping to himself. Basically, he’s sulking in his room like a spoiled little brat. I get it, I guess. Being told you can’t have the woman you love, and that she’s being forced to spend her life with a man she despises, is not ideal, but we all have to make sacrifices to keep the peace. Some of us need to sacrifice more than others. Is it fair? Fuck no, but it is just the way of the damn world.

  He needs to step up, be the VP he was born to be. Otherwise, I might need to rethink his position at the table. Socket’s capable and nowhere near as emotionally unstable as Vex.

  I’m sitting at the ‘summer camp tables’ aptly named by Mom eating my dinner when Sparx comes rushing through the clubroom holding a piece of paper in her hand. She scurries up to Trax making me narrow my eyes at them. As parents of Vex and his twin, Grace, seeing my aunt worked up over something has me intrigued.

  They both make their way over to my dad to show him the note.

  Dad’s eyes immediately fall on me.

  And instantly, I know some shit’s going down.

  Fuck.

  I slide my plate away, stand, and walk over to the elders with a stern look on my face. “What is it?”

  Dad exhales, handing me the note. I hesitate for a moment aware whatever’s written on it I’m not going to like. I peer down to see Vex’s handwriting which instantly has my back up.

  Mom, Dad,

  I’ve gone to get Izzy, and we’re leaving for a few days. Viper can’t see any way out of this, but I can. If I stop Nio’s wedding to Izzy, then there’s no way they can be together. I need to take that leap with her first.

  I’d love it if you could be there to help us celebrate.

  Friday, 9:00 p.m.

  Chapel of Crystals

  Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino (North Tower)

  Izzy adores Grace and would love for her to be there. Honestly, she’s my twin. I can’t imagine getting married without her there either. I want all my family with us, but I understand if you can’t comprehend why I’m doing this.

  I love you all.

  Hopefully, Izzy and I will see you in Vegas.

  Vex

  I rub my forehead, glancing at Trax. “Do we think he’s gone manic, or have we misjudged how much he truly cares about Isabella?”

  Trax exhales. “I hope it’s the latter. I don’t know what time he left, but it must have been sometime today. He’s probably already on a flight to Vegas by now.”

  “We have three days to stop this wedding. Three days to get Isabella back to Nio before he detonates.”

  Dad rolls his shoulders. “I’ll have a quiet word with Bianca. Let me test the waters, see where it all sits at their end. We might be able to find some version of a happy medium where this doesn’t blow up in our damn faces.”

  “Do it! You work on it from this end. I need to hop on a plane and get my ass to Vegas. Make sure Vex is covered if any of the Andrettis decide to pay him a visit.”

  “Take some guys with you, Pres. If Nio catches on, you’re gonna need backup,” Dad warns.

  “Already have the guys in mind.”

  Dad reaches out gripping my arm. “Be careful. Understand your limits.”

  “Always.” I nod.

  With quick steps, I make my way over to Kampai, Socket, Atomic, and Highway. They’re at the bar playing some stupid drinking game with Kaden and Ash. Of course, the prospects are losing because the game’s rigged with the prospects always forced to drink more. I walk up and slap Kampai on the back. His short black hair a stark contrast to his father’s dreadlocks. “Boys, we’re goin’ on a road trip.”

  The prospects stop drinking, their eyes shifting up, shining full of hope. “Not you two, just patched brothers.”

  Highway snickers, throwing another ping pong ball in Ash’s cup. He groans, taking the plastic cup and downing it. “Where we riding to, Pres?” Highway asks.

  I tilt my head. “Not riding as such, we’ll need to fly where we’re going.”

  Kampai raises his brow. “International?”

  “Vegas.”

  Atomic rubs his hands together. “Fuck, yeah! I can finally put my card-counting skills to the test.”

  I roll my eyes. “We’ll be in a casino for a day before attending a wedding. But, in all honesty, we’re going to try and stop said wedding.”

  Socket narrows his eyes on me. “Where’s Vex?”

  His suspicions are warranted.

  I grit my teeth as the other guys observe the room. “Nooo! Fuck, he didn’t?” Socket blurts out. He’s so switched on, my blood brother.

  I rub the back of my neck, my stomach beginning to churn. “He damn well did. He took Isabella and shot through to Vegas to marry her on Friday night. His idea… they get married before her and Nio, and somehow that shit will end the brewing war.”

  “End it? A match lit under it more likely. This will be like a nuke detonating,” Kampai grumbles.

  “So, that’s why we’re going.”

  Socket shakes his head. “We have to stop him.”

  “Pack some shit. We’re leaving as soon as I can get Jada or Mish to book us a flight.”

  “Got it,” Atomic affirms, then throws one more ball in Kaden’s cup. The idiot downs the drink, and we all walk off leaving the two prospects too drunk to care about anything right now.

  I walk to the sleeping quarters, my stomach twisting in on itself as I head for my room to pack. My palms coat in a layer of sweat as fatigue hits me full force. My breathing is labored. I try to take in a deep breath, but I can’t catch it. I rush inside my room, shutting and locking my door behind me. My fingers tremble on the lock. My stomach rolls again, threatening to empty itself as I close my eyes trying to calm myself.

  This shit’s nothing new. I know this feeling. I’m used to it. I simply need to deal. Walking past the mirror, I’m pale and pasty, my skin shiny from the sweat gleaming across my skin.

  I felt the telltale signs—the need for my hit. When I get stressed, this can happen quicker. So I reach for the little black bag, and walk over to my bed, sitting down. I unzip it, grabbing the needle from inside and take in a long, deep breath. I don’t understand why I still hate the fact that I must do this. I shouldn’t be ashamed of it. But this stinking needle is the reason I was kicked out of the Army.

  My hand trembles as I lift my shirt looking down at my churning stomach seeing the marks from previous injection sites. Taking a deep inhale, I press the injection to my stomach, the needle pierces my skin quickly. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. Dropping the syringe to the mattress, I feel a little less like a man for having to do this shit. I shouldn’t need it like I do. But without it, it’s like I can’t function, like I will inevitably fail at being the president I’m born to be.

  Damned if you do. Damned if you don’t.

  I’m sluggish, but the hit is working its way through my system. I wish it worked faster, but it usually takes about thirty minutes for me to feel the full effects. But I can’t sit around waiting for it to take hold. I have shit to do.

  So I’ll force myself to do whatever I need to.

  Even though it’s like I’ve been hit by a fucking bus.

  First thing I need to pack are enough needles to get me by on this trip to Vegas.

  The Next Day

  Riding a bike always sets my mind at ease, no matter what shit I’m going through. The wind whipping at my face while riding in formation with my brothers at my back—yeah, there’s nothing
like it, even when I’m on a rented bike. Riding along the Vegas strip at night, I have to admit, there’s something about Sin City that instantly has my adrenaline pumping.

  We’re making our way through the crowded streets. For a Wednesday night, it surprises me how packed the nightlife is downtown. I guess that’s why Vegas is the city that never sleeps. Jada made a reservation for us at the same hotel Vex is supposed to be holding this stupid damn wedding.

  Just in case, his parents and sister have flown down as well. Because if by some miracle, this wedding does go ahead, they want to be here for it. They’re driving in a Cadillac behind the convoy of bikes. We let the Las Vegas Defiance Chapter know we’re in town, in case we need backup at any point, and of course, to be polite that we’re on their turf. Their president, Trick, knows he’s on call and has our back if we need him.

  We pull into the Westgate Resort & Casino, the high-rise is taller than I imagined, but then again, everything’s big in Vegas. The ‘I heart Westgate’ sign sits loud and proud at the front with visitors taking photographs in front of it like the tourists they are. We park our rides, handing the keys to the valet.

  Trax pulls in behind us, and we all move about pulling our luggage out of the Cadillac. Sparx and Grace’s eyes light up. Seems they’re starstruck with this magical city. I understand why, the lights, the atmosphere, there’s something about this place that everyone loves.

  “Okay, let’s check into our rooms. Then we can try to figure out where to find Vex,” I suggest.

  “What? No going to the casino and having a bet on the tables?” Atomic asks with a smirk.

  I narrow my eyes at his eagerness. “We find Vex. Then and only then will we have the night to unwind.”

  “Fuck, yes. Okay, let’s find the asshole.” Atomic turns, then heads inside making us all chuckle. He’s on a damn mission.

  As my uncle exhales, I walk beside him. “You think we’re going to convince Vex not to marry her?” he asks.