Changing Tides

by K A Sands

  What was surprising me was Charlie’s ‘head’ runner. Charlie’s thug.

  Shaun, or Gripp in his circles, was the guy I’d seen a time or two at Monty’s, the strip club. Both Lucca and I had known his big brother, Scotty, who’d been in the process of trying to untangle himself from the gangs, didn’t want his kid brother and sister to get dragged in the way his old man had him. We hadn’t been close, kept brief contact, but we had been friends. It was a sore day learning of his cold-blooded murder a few years ago. As far as I knew though, his siblings had been taken care of. Now, I found his little brother was one of Charlie’s boys.

  Neck deep in the shit his brother had tried to shield him from.

  I’d messed up big time. The man, Shaun, currently wandering around my club was nothing like his brother. Gripp was a drug pusher and a heavy-handed thug. No way was he coming into this club and peddling whatever shit Charlie told him to. No fucking way.

  Both him and the shady Albanian dude were in for a surprise. They’d not set foot in here again once I was finished with the pair of them. And if they did, it would be to drink, and dance, not push drugs. That shit was not going down in my club.

  Martin, the club manager had called Lucca, who was on his way. Seizing the opportunity since Ayden was getting off home with his mates, I was taking a huge risk doing it this way, but it was my only option to make my threats stick. The only language these pricks seemed to understand. It made a statement too, warned anyone else thinking about coming into this club to make trouble; I wasn’t taking it.

  I waited, Lucca was ten minutes away. My chance came when I saw Gripp walk into the men’s room behind Ayden. He had no beef with my nephew, I wasn’t overly concerned with them being in the john together. He’d be out before Lucca got here and it wouldn’t be long before I could nab him in the dim hallway. I heard the toilet door creak and I made my move, waiting out of sight.

  He left the bathroom, a haughty glint in his eye I’d soon be snuffing out. Following a few paces behind, I jumped at my chance when he walked past the store room. It was easy enough to push him through the slightly ajar door when I barged into his back, knocking him into the black, lightless room where Martin waited.

  Slamming the door shut, I reached for the light switch. Having swapped out the 100w bulb for a 40w earlier, the room had an eerie feeling to it, shadows fell across corners and lent an ominous atmosphere. Exactly what I was looking for.

  The second Gripp registered his predicament, his fight kicked in and he moved straight for me. When he saw I’d blocked the door, anger morphed on his face.

  “Fucking move, arsehole!” he shouted, stopping barely two inches from my face. I grinned at the fucker, he was mine now and was going to learn what it would be like to cross me if he dared.

  “Brave man...” I chuckled.

  Martin moved in behind Gripp and slid an arm around his neck, grabbing his hand with his other and yanking it around and up his back. He was quick, I’d give him that. The poor sod never knew what hit him, was too slow to react and couldn’t fight his way out, though he tried. Martin held him tight and flexed his arm to show he wasn’t messing around. He was muscle and knew how to use it, Gripp had no chance being taken from behind in surprise, no matter how much he fancied himself.

  I reached for the gun I’d left on the shelf. I hadn’t wanted anyone but me touching it, in case the threat I was dishing went tit’s up. Pointing the gun at his head, I said casually, “you got one hand free, turn out your pockets.” I didn’t ask, I was telling. If the gun fazed him I failed to notice a flicker of concern cross his face.

  “What the fuck, man? Bouncers did that when I came in. You got no right, dickhead.”

  He was one feisty little shit. “You know who I am?” I asked, pulling the gun from his head and standing full height in front of him. Having been at the gym earlier, my muscles were taut with tension, veiny. My mood unpleasant toward pricks like him. My patience wearing thin.

  “Do I look like I give a shit?” He tried again to shake himself from Martin’s hold, not getting much further than his windpipe being squeezed tighter. “You picked the wrong person to rob, mate!”

  Yeah, never gonna be friends.

  Laughing, I found his humour funny. “I’ll take it you’ve no idea, then? Okay, wise arse, let me clue you in.” I pointed to the door I’d barged him through. “That, out there, dude, is mine.” His blank expression gave nothing away, he genuinely didn’t give a shit. Not at all. I got straight to the point, having no need for theatrics, no point going any other way with the likes of him. “I won’t tolerate drugs in my club. You’re a dealer and I’m telling you, it’s not gonna happen. So, take your piss ant junkies and get the fuck out of here. Consider yourself warned and your welcome revoked. Tell Charlie he’s not getting my club.”

  I nodded to Martin to let him go, and the second he did, I pressed the barrel of the gun into his forehead as I backed him against the wall, Gripp shoving his hands in the air.

  “Woah! All right! I hear you. No need for the heavy-handed bullshit.” He returned his hands and shoved them in his pockets, turning them outwards, loose change scattering across the concrete. He flung his wallet and keys on the floor next, then held up his phone in his hand as he stretched upwards again. “I ain’t got no fucking drugs on me!”

  Martin moved in to check his pockets thoroughly, signalling they were clear and he was telling the truth. Lucca came in the room then and Gripp’s head swung around, eyes going wide when he clapped sight of him.

  “You know my bro?”

  “Nah,” he shifted, examining his feet. “Familiar face is all.” The fucker was lying, he knew Lucca all right. Question was, how?

  “What are you doing in my club? No bullshit, eh?”

  He stared up at Lucca, then quickly looked away again, taking great lengths not to make eye contact. “My sister’s here. I’m just keeping an eye out. People fuck with her because of me.”

  Yeah, I bet they did. How did I miss Sophie in my club? “She not a bit young to be clubbing?”

  “Twenty-one. I don’t like her out, but I can’t lock her up, I make sure she doesn’t get messed around with.” He cocked his head to the side, eyeing me up and down. Straightening himself up and pulling his hands tight to his sides, fisted, he took another glimpse around the room. “How’d you know me? How’d you know my sister’s name?”

  He was sizing up the door and I knew I’d lost his attention, he was calculating his exit. While I put two and two together, I remembered Ayden and Jake were out with a girl called Sophie. What were the chances the Sophie Ayden never stopped talking about was this drug dealer’s sister? I didn’t think it was a coincidence.

  “Who’s she out with?”

  “What the fuck is it to you, dude? Look, I ain’t got no drugs. I’m just having a beer with my boys and keeping an eye on her. It’s hardly illegal. You need to be hauling that fucking greasy Albanian in here and sticking a gun in his face. He’s your worry, not me.” Colour crawled up his neck and I could see his temper climbing, he did well to keep himself in check, realising there’d be consequences if he popped. He was out-numbered, and I had a weapon. How much of his composure was down to the gun I was still holding, who knew?

  “Last time, Gripp. You junkie runts are not welcome in my club. Not now, not ever. You get me?”

  He brushed a tattooed hand down his face, and it was only then I noticed how tired the kid looked, like bone tired, like life was the greatest burden he had to bear. His shoulders slumped as if he was giving in, deciding he’d had enough. I watched as he deflated right in front of me. He looked toward Lucca again and I knew there was something there. Lucca hadn’t opened his mouth since he’d come into the storeroom, but he was studying Shaun with a passive look on his face. Unemotionally.

  “I don’t use,” he informed us. “I only peddle to repeats. I wouldn’t come in here and try it, no matter what the old man wants. It’s not my style, all right?”

 
; “And you expect me to believe that?” I snorted at him and thought how disappointed his brother would be to see the situation he’d gotten himself in to. “I knew your brother.”

  He simply jerked his head up and down, sadness blanketing his features. “I figured.” He’d lost his bite, standing looking like he needed a life jacket to keep him afloat, like I’d just ruined his favourite film by letting him in on the plot twist before he’d figured it out for himself.

  “Your sister’s safe in this club, I give you my word. Everyone stays safe in my club if they follow the rules. You hear me?”

  “Yeah, I fucking hear you. No need for over the top dramatics.” He pointed to the gun. “That’s too far.”

  “Some of you pricks don’t listen.”

  Martin stood next to me and piped up for the first time. “I’ve seen a few of your gang sniffing around out back a time or two. Watching folks leaving, shit like that. You keep it the fuck away from the club, tell your boys.”

  He agreed with a nod of his head. “Can I go? I need to make sure my sister gets home.” He glanced uncomfortably at Lucca.

  Did he know Sophie was out with Lucca’s son? Was that what had him cagey with my best friend? I started wondering if he was being dodgy because he knew Ayden was openly gay. Shit, did he know Ayden? He’d gone into the bathroom after him, but I’d seen no need to follow him. That was a scenario that never needed to happen. Ayden was a good kid and didn’t need the likes of him sniffing around.

  Fuck...

  “No drugs.” I grabbed him by the collar of his coat and shoved him backward. “I catch you, I start breaking bones, I don’t give a shit who you are or who you work for. But a piece of advice, kid.” I got right up in his face, so he knew I wasn’t fucking around. “Charlie’s days are numbered. You might wanna start looking for another job. Better yet, get some education.”

  Martin opened the storeroom door when I let Gripp go and waved him out, the bloke picked up his keys from the floor then sauntered away without another word. Lucca could see I had questions but mouthed ‘not now’ as he left behind the punk arsed kid. Of course, he’d not want it in front of Martin.

  “Time to intimidate the Albanian,” I grumbled as I left the room too. He didn’t look half as smart as Gripp, should be easy and I’d bet the silly twat did bring drugs in.

  I wasn’t having a tainted club and the arrival of these two on the same night had my alarm bells ringing for all the wrong reasons. I wanted a fun, safe environment for folks, not a club full of junkies. It made sense Charlie was pushing his runners in my direction, desperately wanting the club, he couldn’t get me any other way. Two birds, one stone. Shaun had surprised me there, I admitted. He had me wondering exactly what his story was and just how loyal he was to his boss. Interesting conversation to be had with Lucca later.

  For now - one knuckle sandwich for the Albanian was coming right up.

  Shaun

  Christ all fucking mighty!

  I schooled my features and swaggered back to the table to finish my beer and get the fuck out of there. I glared over at where Sophie had been sat and noticed she was pulling her coat on, getting ready to leave. I still had my phone in my hand yet struggled to type out a text, asking what her plans were. Ayden had come back from the men’s room and when I caught his attention subtly, what happened in the store room fell away. It didn’t seem important when I locked eyes with him.

  “I’m out lads.” I drank down the dregs of warm beer and banged the bottle down on the table. Shorty looked over at me and I knew what he was gonna ask before the words even registered in his brain, he was just that predictable. And a goddamned idiot.

  “So tomorrow, yeah?” My stomach churned, the adrenalin that had pumped me up moments ago took a hike when Shorty opened his mouth.

  “Yip, all set.” I pointed my finger at him, “Don’t fuck it up again, Shorty.” The last time the prick ran this particular deal for me, I’d lost a fuck ton of money and a set deal. I wasn’t quite at the top of the pile yet, so the debt still needed paid and that came mostly from my own pocket. “Last time, Shorty.” I warned.

  Phone still clutched in my hand, the beep coming from it signalled an incoming text, I hoped for half a second that it was Ayden, wondering if the fucker was brave enough to start something. Who was I kidding? If I had any say in the matter the guy would be on his knees sucking my dick before the weekend was out. It’d been a long time since someone revved me up the way this guy did; he had me so fucking horny from just five goddamned minutes in the bathroom. Man, I’d bet his arse was an absolute joy to pound. And the fucker was hung too; I was getting me a piece of that for sure.

  Peeking over to where he was, taking no longer than a second in fear of giving myself away. He was looking this way and our eyes collided briefly before I dropped my scowl to my screen. Sophie. She was staying out, going home with Ayden, which I had no problem with knowing he wasn’t going to be making moves on her. The friend was still occupied with another woman, no worries there either. I shot a text back then shoved my phone away, smiling.

  “That Sophie, man?” Shorty asked with a smirk I really didn’t care for. Guy was getting a bit too cocky for his pants these last few weeks considering the trouble he’d been causing, and I wasn’t liking it one little bit.

  I didn’t acknowledge his comment, it was a waste of breath. “I got to get home.”

  Shorty laughed behind me. I spun around, glaring at him, daring him to laugh again.

  Go on, you fucker, I dare you....

  He shrugged, like disrespecting me was no big deal to him. “She ain’t even your woman and she’s got you on a short fucking leash, man!”

  He’d gone there. The silly twat laughed again. He laughed so loud he hadn’t even realised that the rest of the table had gone deathly silent and were staring daggers at him. They weren’t as stupid as Shorty, and most had respect for my sister. Shorty was a certifiable dick, with no respect for anyone.

  Shaking my head, thinking I must have heard him wrong and he wasn’t just dissing me a second ago, my anger finally exploded. See, no loyalty. Not even for family and it stuck like a razor blade in my throat. I let my anger surface; I was done keeping cool, and got right in his face, giving him the most venomous sneer I could muster. To say he’d rattled my cage at the wrong fucking time was an understatement.

  “Say what?” I spat through gritted teeth. He tried to flinch away, but I was much quicker than he was and before he knew what was going on, I had my hand wrapped around his thick neck, watching the alarm spread across his face as he realised the mistake he’d just made.

  Joke or not, I didn’t find it funny. I heard chairs scuffle around the bar and saw movement in my peripheral but paid no heed, I wasn’t worried. When it came to these dicks I was the man on top and they knew it. Which begged the question, what the fuck was Shorty thinking? Did he have a goddamned death wish?

  His mouth was moving up and down, probably trying to spew some bullshit apology I didn’t want to hear, but my hand tightened, and I kept watching as his face purpled under my grip. Batting at my arm in a pathetic attempt to loosen my hold, he frantically sought to gulp in some much-needed air at the same time. Now, he could have fought me back and not gotten himself into this position, Shorty was a heavy guy, but for whatever reason, he took it.

  The whole club had gone silent, waiting for my next move. I was betting someone was just dying to call the police but stopped short for fear of retribution from the rest of my boys. They knew who I was and what I was capable of, it would seem I hadn’t lost my touch. I almost smirked at their fear, but then, how arrogant was that?

  Catching movement to my left across the other side of the bar, a sick feeling erupted in my stomach. I knew exactly who it was, and silently begged that he stayed where he was. I didn’t need to be knocking him on his arse to prove a point, and I really wanted that something with him. I looked up and sure enough Ayden was standing tall, watching the action, hands stuffed in hi
s pockets. Disappointment marred his face; I couldn’t handle it right then, so I turned back to Shorty. Time to leave before I couldn’t reel myself in and lost my temper altogether. I was disgusted that he saw me this way in the first place, never mind making it worse.

  Slowly unravelling my fingers from around Shorty’s neck, I watched him sag into the table with, rubbing at his throat. Giving him a hard push, I leaned down whispering into his ear. “That’s my sister. Make a remark like that again and I’ll be seeing you on the other side, mate!”

  Shorty visibly paled, frantically nodding his head in agreement. I scooped up his beer and necked what was left of it as I tracked Ayden, Sophie and their friends leaving the club. I needed five minutes to pull my head together; I couldn’t leave right behind him.

  No fucking way, best he knew and understood exactly who I was before any shit started between us. Yeah, he was better off leaving. I doubted he could handle me or my tragic life. I sighed, feeling hopeless and hating my life just that bit more. Dropping back down on the seat across from Shorty, the rest of the guys did the same and the chattering started up. All was well with the world again it would seem. Shorty was staring at me as I glared back at him, shaking his head in apology.

  “Leave it, man.” I said, lifting my hand in a peaceful gesture. Point made. I had no energy left to fight with the prick and he got it.

  The phone in my pocket went off again, probably Sophie. I chuckled, feeling lighter at the thought of her, opening up the message icon.

  Unknown: I see why they call you Gripp - Ayden

  Shaking off the last dregs of anger, I grinned, I mean a real fucking huge grin and I didn’t hide it. Christ, I couldn’t hide it. This guy did indeed have some very large balls. I ran my finger over the triangle of stubble on my chin as I read the message again, wondering which way to take it. After all, I did have a pretty good hold on his dick not more than ten minutes ago. Rapping my knuckles on the table and getting up, I left the club feeling marginally better than I had a few minutes ago. Hell, I practically skipped out of there like a bloody ballerina!