by J. C. Allen
“Do I really need to repeat myself?” Falcon said. “You will join us. We will leave the city. No further lives are lost, and we get to operate separately. You can even bring your girl if you like.”
“And she won’t be harmed,” I insisted, playing along the role of naive, unassuming negotiator.
“Of course,” Falcon said, which I felt sure was the most blatant of lies. “However, I need you to come alone when you see me tonight. 10 p.m. At the corner where you used to grab that whore of yours.”
I felt my hand tightening around the phone as he spoke, growing frustrated at his insults at Eve. I knew when I replayed this for the club, she’d have to hear his insults broadcasted to the entire Saviors, something I wasn’t keen on doing.
But if this was the small price we paid for finally getting Falcon out in the open, then it was something that we just had to do.
“I will come alone as well. This will be a gentleman’s agreement. Once you meet me, I will take you to meet the rest of the Black Falcons. We will pack up tomorrow and drive to the nearest city, which last I saw was at least four hours away. What say you, Derek Knight? Do you want to continue this pointless bloodshed at the cost of many lives? Or do you want to end this once and for all with a deal that eliminates all loss of life, allows you to remain in the world of ours, and keeps your girl safe?”
I had to make it look like I thought the deal was stupid. Though I was, of course, going to accept it at this point—only for the purposes of dragging Falcon out for a fight, of course—if I made it too obvious I was going to accept, that just seemed downright insane. That seemed like a good way to tip him off, have him cut off the deal, and then have us have to go down this rabbit hole of chasing him for another couple of years.
“Let me make a couple of things clear really quick, Frank,” I snarled, hoping it would get to him a bit having used his real name. “If I find out that Eve gets hurt in any of this, I will shoot you myself. If I find that anyone in the Saviors is so much as scratched by a fingernail from one of your men, I will shoot you myself. And if I find out that this was a trap, you know this will spell the end of your life.”
“I do not engage in such silly tactics as traps, Derek Knight,” Falcon said, though I noticed his voice was a little bit more agitated than before. “I am above that. I thought that you would have known better.”
“You would have,” I said.
I let silence hang for a few seconds. There was no actual drama in my head, though I would have killed to know what Falcon must have been thinking in that moment. Finally, I let out a long sigh.
“10 p.m. at the corner where Eve worked?”
“Sharp,” Falcon said, as if needing to get the final word.
“Very well,” I said. “I will see you there and I will be alone.”
“Good,” Falcon said, hanging up immediately after.
I put the phone down and looked at my men, all of them staring at me with a mixture of morbid and intense curiosity. I looked at them and gave a confident smile.
“In case there were any questions about my sanity,” I said. “I will not be going alone.”
Immediate laughter filled the room, followed by some raucous cheers, some bellows of triumph, and about everything in between. It looked like the locker room of a team that had just advanced to the title game, not quite totally loose, but celebrating and confident in their chances of victory in the road ahead.
I let this go on for some time as I handed my phone and the recorder on it to one of our more tech-savvy men, nicknamed FM. FM took it, put it into a computer, and seconds later had the files uploaded and ready for playing.
Finally, and only then, did I ask for silence.
“Understand,” I said. “I will need to give the appearance of going alone. But it should be obvious that we are not going to let me go on my own. I’ve been yelled at by enough of you assholes to not be so stupid.”
More laughter came, the room more relaxed than I ever could have imagined it less than forty eight hours after our original building got destroyed.
“But more importantly than that, I realize what you all mean to me. You’re not just Saviors. You’re brothers. And what kind of an asshole leaves his brothers behind on the biggest fight of his life?”
I loved how enthusiastically the club responded. It was such a stark contrast from the earlier days, when everyone looked dreary and hated coming in. I had been a terrible leader then, but no more.
“Before we go further, we’re going to replay the conversation for all to hear, both in the interest of transparency and evaluation.”
And so, FM played it, the call blaring on the speakers. There was about a half second where I hated the sound of my voice, but realizing that I couldn’t get caught up in that, I moved on quickly, instead focusing on the content of the call.
There wasn’t really anything to pick up from the call that I hadn’t noticed from before. Falcon, as usual, was lying through his teeth and couldn’t be trusted in the slightest. And even if he was telling the truth, even if he was coming alone, there was no chance in hell that I was going to give him the honor of fighting him solo.
As usual, Falcon was also mocking me and pretending to be above the fray when in fact he had started the fray in the first place. He had an arrogance to him that, upon being identified, was easy to toy with and mock, but I had chosen to go the route of appearing to be flustered, the better so Falcon would not suspect anything.
Of course, given that I was now finally agreeing to terms, I’m sure that Falcon had his own suspicions. There would be twists in the outcome tonight that I could not foresee, even if I was a magician and had the power of clairvoyance. Simply put, a man as unpredictable and as dangerous as Falcon could not only plan danger well in advance, he could also do it on the spot.
I watched my men as they listened to the call. A few of them shuddered at Falcon’s voice, a few of them swore under their breath, a few of them called themselves with intense breathing, but all of them listened with complete focus. There was little doubt that we would win this fight, seeing how together we all were.
Hell, even Eve and Tara in the back were listening fully. I tried not to pay too much attention to them, fearful looking at Eve so much would make me look like a distracted leader, but I did notice in spurts that she swung through a wide variety of emotions. She looked everything from as determined and excited as the boys to looking like she was on the verge of an emotional breakdown.
Something was bothering her, or at least on her mind, but now wasn’t the time to think about it.
And in any case, this was not a mission Eve would be joining me on.
When the call ended, I immediately spoke up.
“This is an area that Eve and Tara used to work off of, so I know it well,” I said, choosing to not beat around the bush for what it was. “The plan, obviously, is to have you all hiding, some of you in plain sight, some of you in the various windows. There are a couple of businesses, such as a sports bar, nearby. You will need to wear masks and other cover-ups, perhaps even dressing like employees. Roost and Eagle will help coordinate that, as I have already spoken with them about this. However, because this is the Black Falcons and Falcon, I am not taking any chances.”
I knew no one was going to object, but I also knew what I was asking of them was like asking a bunch of hungry wolves to go to one place and to sit there while their rabbits and other prey just moved slowly, oblivious to the wolves. They’d want to strike… but I wouldn’t let them until the appropriate time came.
“Shortly, when I finish, you all will go to Roost and Eagle. You will all need to move out now to the arranged destination. We get there too late, and the Black Falcons are going to know we’re up to something. It’s 11 a.m. now. I know that it’s going to suck waiting nearly ten hours by the time I meet Falcon, but this is what we have to do.”
No one groaned, no one objected, and no one seemed fazed in the slightest by my request. Some of the fatties w
ould grow hungry, but let’s just say I was willing to purchase an entire pizza store, not just some pizzas, to reward them if we came out fully victorious on the other side.
“I have nothing more to say other than that I love all of you. You all have supported me while I was learning to become a man—a bit later than expected, but better late than never—and a leader. Many of you could have left with the others for the Black Falcons as the ship sank, seeming to have a gaping hole that no one was even bothering to repair. But you stayed, and for that, I thanked you.”
They started to applaud, but I quickly put a quash on that, raising my hand.
“Let’s move, gentlemen! Go see Roost and Eagle and let’s make plans!”
One more fighting “yeah!” roar erupted from the Saviors before they began making their way over to the two senior leaders of the club, finding out their assignment. We’d have men in the windows of every nearby apartment, men dressed as waiters, men dressed as store employees, and even some a couple of blocks away. When the sound of gunfire erupted, they would all know what to do.
I had thought about putting some on the roof, but we decided that that was too easily noticed. We had to assume Falcon had drones or something to that effect—better to remain hidden in the various apartments and stores than sitting on the roof where our plan would be reduced to nothing.
While I felt quite good about our odds, it was foolish to assume it would work for certain. There were too many variables, and it wasn’t like we hadn’t tried to kill Falcon before. We had never mobilized a unit so large, that much was true, but even then, there was always the unpredictable element of chance.
But I had an ace up my sleeve that only Roost knew about.
I headed over to him and briefly pulled him aside.
“Hey,” I said. “You ever hear back from our friends couple hundred miles away?”
“The Black Reapers, ya mean?” he said. “Of course. Ol’ man Roger been good friends with me for years. He’s gettin’ up there, but he has a force. He’ll send ‘em down around seven. Should get here about twenty minutes into battle.”
“Excellent,” I said. “If that’s not enough to defeat the Falcons, I suppose we don’t deserve to defeat the Falcons.”
“Nonsense,” Roost said with a chuckle. “Have ya seen the boys of the Black Reapers? I ain’t wanna fuck with ‘em.”
I gave a hearty laugh and patted Roost on the back.
All that was left to do, now, was to take Eve home for perhaps—but hopefully not—one last afternoon session.
12
Eve
I had never felt so certain in the future of our family as when Derek spoke before the Savage Saviors.
Here was not a man who was broken, weak, and in need of a pick-me-up. Here was not a man who needed the love and support of someone like me. Here was just, simply, a man.
A man, my father had taught me before he died, just got shit done. He didn’t editorialize it, he didn’t announce it, he didn’t dramatize it, he just did it. Obviously, Derek had to do all three of those, but it was within the context of getting shit done. And boy, were we going to get shit done.
I smiled at Tara as the boys got rowdy, thinking that we were definitely going to win now. I saw him head over to Matty for a moment and turned to my closest friend.
“Are you joining him?” I asked.
“Girl, you out of your mind if you think I’m not going out there!”
“That seems… dangerous, no?”
“What?” Tara said, sounding offended.
“You’re a bit brash, you know. I’m just not sure if you going into a battle like this is most intelligent thing. What if you blow your cover?”
I hadn’t meant to be so blunt, but at least Tara saw it for what it was—emotional high of the moment—and just laughed.
“Fag boy over there has special plans for me,” she said. “Think I’mma ride with him into battle. Not sure what’ll happen, exactly, but the plan ain’t for me to just sit at the Walmart nearby. You kiddin’ me? I’d lose my damn mind, I’d be so bored! I’d probably start offering my services to the employees there!”
What else could I do but laugh? Tara was Tara, and it seemed the moments of excitement were the ones to most likely bring it out. She continued on and on, but I knew by now she was just talking for the sake of talking.
I thought of her in that moment as a potential aunt of sorts for my kid. What would that look like? How would Derek feel about it? Although Tara could have a bit of a foul mouth and she could have a tendency to dive into topics that were perhaps not quite as family friendly as some might like, she always had unwavering loyalty to those she believed in, a fiery spirit to defend those she cared about, and true passion for what she did.
Even if, well, what she did was what I would never hope a potential daughter would do or a potential son would solicit.
But fortunately, I was saved from my thoughts as Derek came over.
“That was awesome,” I said.
“Thanks,” he said. “Let’s head home for some rest?’
“Some rest, eh?”
I actually did think we’d get some rest.
But I knew we’d get something else first.
And let’s just say the news of today had only enhanced and refined my sex drive.
I took his hand without a word, ignoring Tara’s call about lovebirds, and followed him out. I asked if he wanted us to take our own vehicles, but he told me to ride with him. I found that a tad strange, but, then again, maybe he just wanted me to be with him as much as possible until ten o’clock.
Riding with Derek, as it always was, was like the pregame to the the actual event. The intense vibrations of the bike, his muscular body, and the wind brushing against my face were all sensations that just got me revved up as much as the engine between my legs. And then throw in everything else about today?
It was a small wonder I didn’t just explode right then and there at all of the traffic lights. It was a miracle I didn’t beg for him to just fuck me right there on the bike itself. It was a major turn that I kept my hands mostly—mostly—to myself.
Although I could feel Derek’s stiffness as we rode, when he parked at the complex, he didn’t hop off like an eager kid about to get his long-promised candy. Instead, he got off slowly and deliberately, then took a deep breath.
“Before we go any further, Eve,” he said. “I need to make one thing clear. This is one mission I’m not going to let you come on.”
I wasn’t particularly upset by that. Not with the child in me, not with how many Saviors were going to go out. I nodded, but was curious as to why, if for no other reason than the sake of my own knowledge.
“How come?”
“Falcon’s greatest strength is his unpredictability and his lack of moral code,” he said as he led me forward, putting his hand on the small of my back, producing a shiver. “If he sees you, I don’t doubt that he’s going to do everything he can to kidnap you. He’s going to hold you hostage, demand to renegotiate a new deal, and then probably kill you anyways. There’s no real limit to the lengths he will go to torture his enemies, and, so, yeah.”
“I get it,” I said, but then a darker thought crossed my mind. “What if someone comes to your place? Like Tyler did?”
“Well, for one, I gave Clarence a gun, so no one’s getting past him,” Derek said, although he sounded a little too confident in the skills of someone who wasn’t a trained member. “And even if so… well, look, I can’t account for everything. Unfortunately, Eve, we’re at the point where we have to play the odds. The odds of something happening to you in battle are much higher than they are here. You saw what happened at the church. I don’t want that again. Do I really need another Knight hurt?”
Another Knight?
I’m not… that…
Unless he’s planning…
“I’ll make sure you have a knife and gun so you can defend yourself if need be. Hopefully, if a force does come, it’ll only
be one person or a couple. But more likely than not? No one will come here, you’ll be safe, and I’ll come home and we’ll have some great sex.”
“Straight to the point, huh?” I said with a chuckle and a gentle patting of his chest. “Yeah, that will work.”
“Huh,” he said, amused. “Didn’t think it would be that easy.”
Don’t say anything. Just let the thought hang. You say something, it’ll make him inquire more.
I just leaned my head into his chest, knowing physical touch had a way of quieting even the most excited and aroused men.
At least, verbally so. It had the opposite effect physically.
Which, let’s be honest, was exactly what I was going for. And with things now settled, with the plans in place and nothing to do but wait, I realized I suddenly needed him, needed his touch, needed his naked body.
“Derek,” I began, causing him to pull me tighter against him.
I didn’t need to say anything more. Nor did I need to do anything more.
“I need you so bad, Eve!” he growled as he kissed me.
I tried to murmur something, but I got so swept up in the kiss that I lost all sense of thought and just got swept up in the moment.
I shivered as he carried me towards the bed. I wiggled out of his grip long enough to slide my clothes off. I moved back to the bed and looked up at him, begging him to touch me. He didn’t seem to need any more convincing as he began to kiss down my chin, moving towards my heaving breasts. I arched up even more, begging for him to touch me.
He began to paw at one of my breasts as his mouth came down on the other, suckling my nipple in deeply. I shivered, loving the feel as his hand squeezed and pulled at my other nipple.
Fuck! This feels so good! Oh my God, oh my God, oh… my…
“Oh! You feel so good, Derek!” I said as I moaned at another squeeze from him.
“Mm! You taste amazing,” he said as he groaned. “Just you wait for the real good stuff.”
