by K. J. Dahlen
Stone grabbed Matthias’s shirt. “You don’t have anything. We’ll be the ones to take this bastard out. Are we clear on that? You couldn’t find him, we did and we’ll take him out.”
Matthias nodded. “Then do it,” he said quietly. “You take this bastard out. If you do, I’ll sleep a little better tonight.”
Dewey gave him a short nod in acknowledgment of the silent command and they all watched as Stone went over to the box Dewey had taken the microphone out of earlier.
Then he checked the knife sheath at his hip and another at the small of his back. He reached out for a third knife and slid it into his boot. Then he rotated his neck and everyone in the room heard the bones in his neck snap.
Stone slowly reached for the collar of his t-shirt and pulled it over his head. Leaving his chest and arms bare, he began to paint his face and chest with black paint. The same black paint they used in wartime for camouflage. When he finished, he glanced at the map on the table again, then without a word walked to the door.
“Where the hell does he think he’s going?” Matthias asked.
“He’s going to meet Hades,” Dewey replied. “Lord help him.”
They all knew how fitting that answer was. Their leader was going to meet hell. They all saw the fire in his eyes and they knew he’d been well aware of the true hell awaiting him.
“Amen to that,” Sam whispered.
Everyone moved over to the monitor set up on the bar. They tracked Stone walking through the woods. His footsteps were silent as he made his way through the wooded area behind the clubhouse. These cameras had the ability to pick up sound as well as pictures but they heard no sounds as he made his way to the small clearing and they all watched as Stone sat down to wait for Hades to arrive.
Twenty minutes later, they saw Stone’s head turn as he listened. Then he was on his feet as he turned his back to the cameras.
Dewey moved the camera slightly.
The man they called Hades came into view.
He looked at least twenty years younger than Stone. With his long stringy hair pulled back into a ponytail at the base of his neck. His eyes told everyone watching he was using something. Probably meth to keep himself awake. His skin was tinged yellow.
Stone had to wonder when he last ate. He didn’t wonder too long or hard. His body looked painfully thin.
Hades removed his long heavy coat as he walked closer to Stone. “Well old man, are you ready to die today?” he jeered. Throwing his jacket down on the ground out of the way, he carefully removed his knife from the sheath at his waist.
Stone pulled the one from his sheath and they began circling each other. Stone hadn’t responded to Hades’ taunt.
They circled each other again. “Well Pappy, I can’t say the years we’ve been apart have been all that good to you. You’ve gotten old.”
“Can’t say they’ve been very good for you either Hades,” Stone taunted. “You look like shit and smell worse.”
Hades grinned. “It’s a new look, I call it the homeless look.”
“I’ve met homeless men and women and they look nothing like you. At least they bathe as often as they can find a place to wash the stink off them. They at least have some self-pride left.”
Hades narrowed his eyes and glared at Stone. “Fuck you, Pappy.”
“No thanks, I have no idea where your cock has been.’ Stone shrugged. “Besides, I don’t swing that way.”
“Yeah, I know you don’t.” Hades growled. Then he narrowed his eyes and admitted, “I was there you know.”
“Stone frowned. “Where would there be?”
“At the bar last night. I was sitting in the corner.” Hades growled. “I was there watching McKenna when you walked in the place.”
Stone raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t known the other man was there. Curious indeed. Hades had made out that he never knew Stone had been with McKenna. “And?”
“And she never even noticed me but she sure saw you.” Hades growled. “She couldn’t take her eyes off of you.”
“Maybe take a shower once a week and wash your hair. Clean clothes would help too.” Stone grinned.
Hades’ rage got the best of him and he charged at Stone. With the knife held firmly in his hand, screaming as he rushed forward.
Stone waited almost too long before he moved out of the way. His own knife raked across Hades back as he rushed past Stone.
Hades screamed in his rage, hardly feeling the pain. The wound he opened bled freely as Hades turned toward Stone again. His face frozen in rage as he faced his enemy. “You think you’re so smart don’t you Pappy?” Spit dribbled from his mouth. “But you aren’t as smart as you think. No one could find me for ten years, not you, not the military hell, not even the civilian authorities. I’ve been walking around free as a bird. Free to hunt down my prey and kill them, just like the red hawk.”
“Yeah, so you say.” Stone ribbed him. “Being free to me doesn’t mean watching everyone you come across or looking over your shoulder twenty four seven waiting for a cop to come for you.” He stared at Hades in disgust. “Or do you enjoy not bathing or having a home to go to or a bed to lay down in? I know you haven’t had a woman in years, if fucking ever. Who the fuck would want to sleep with you? Or do you just take them without their consent?” Stone laughed out loud. “Yeah, that sounds like something you would do. Take a woman without her consent. You’re coward enough to do that.”
Hades growled. “I am not a fucking coward. I proved that in the sandbox.”
Stone shook his head. “No you didn’t prove anything over there. You proved you could get into wherever we needed to go, but that’s all you proved. You also proved you enjoy clearing the way by killing anyone you came across. That doesn’t take a skill, that’s just sick.”
“I did everything you ordered me to do!” Hades growled. “I took your fucking orders until I couldn’t take them anymore.”
Stone nodded. “Then you ambushed me one night in the dark. You tried to gut me from behind like the coward you are. You didn’t even have the guts to face me like a man. A real man doesn’t hit you from behind, he meets you face to face.”
Hades chuckled. “Yeah, I did. At that point, I figured it was you or me. Only problem is I didn’t get to finish the job. We both survived to fight and die another day.”
Stone snorted. “Yeah like the yellow bellied slime you are, you chose to run away. Have you ever stood your ground and taken responsibility for your actions?”
“I’ve never been caught, if that’s what you’re asking,” Hades claimed as they began circling each other again.
“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Stone wondered out loud.
Chapter Nine
Hades lunged at him. His knife piercing Stone’s shoulder. He twisted the blade as he dug in deep. Stone staggered back and swung his own knife. Hades screamed again, as Stone’s sharp blade ripped open his chest. Blood poured from the wound and both men staggered away from each other.
They didn’t go far though. They began circling each other again. “So Pappy, you got my girl?”
“She isn’t your girl.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s safe,” Stone assured him.
“She won’t ever be safe.” Hades sneered. “I’ll track her down and when I do, I will kill her. I’ll enjoy making her suffer. I’ll tell her you died in her place here today though. I’ll tell her you died cursing her name.”
“You won’t tell her anything bastard. It won’t be me who dies today.” Stone growled.
“You think you can kill me Pappy?” Hades laughed. “I’m younger, and stronger and smarter than you are. You’re nothing but a useless old man.”
Stone smiled. “That’s not what McKenna was saying earlier today.”
“So you did sleep with her.” Hades nodded. “Did she enjoy sleeping with a man old enough to be her father? Or maybe even her grandfather? Tell me something Pappy, did you make her come before you finished?”
> “You are a sick fucker you know that?” Stone asked. He was feeling the blood loss from the wound Hades had given him but he also noted Hades wasn’t faring well either. He saw the other man stagger.
“Tell me something Pappy,” Hades mocked. “Did you end your military career on a high note or did it end because you were too fucking old?”
Stone’s eye narrowed as he stared at the other man. “What would you know about finishing anything, asshole?”
Hades grinned evilly. He switched the hands he held the knife in and motioned for Stone to come at him. “I’m gonna finish you old man. Come on you bastard let’s dance.”
Stone’s body tightened and his mind went into fight mode. He took a step off and began circling Hades. The grip on his knife became sharper and his brain went into protection mode. Hades lunged first but Stone jumped back in order to miss the blade in his hand. He parried with a strike of his own.
Hades grunted as the blade opened a new wound on his shoulder.
The two men squared off again and again. Hades swept the ground and tried to trip Stone but he avoided the trap. He tried it again and Stone stumbled but didn’t fall. He lunged at Stone but didn’t come close to the other man.
Stone could see Hades was tiring. He was running on adrenaline but he knew it wouldn’t last forever. He knew he had to make his move soon or lose the chance. Stone lunged to the right then turned and twisted to the left. His knife plunged into Hades shoulder and he heard the other man scream in pain. He twisted the knife and Hades screamed again. When Stone pulled the bloody knife out of Hades shoulder, he noted the other man couldn’t move his arm. Stone knew he’d hit a nerve and put Hades’ arm out of commission, at least for a little while.
Fresh blood gushed from the wound and Hades eyes were blank.
Stone turned and moved away. He didn’t see Hades search the ground or pick up the branch laying in the dirt at his feet. He missed seeing the other man’s wild look as he swung the branch at his head. Stone felt the explosion of pain when the branch slammed into the back of his head. He dropped to the ground and as his body hit he was unconscious.
Hades grabbed his shoulder and grimaced as he felt the blood run down his arm. He wanted to finish Stone off but knew he had to get away. He wasn’t sure Stone didn’t have men nearby. He’d seen him in the bar the other night with three other men. Hades picked up his knife and wiped the blood off on his pants. He stumbled over to his long jacket and grabbed it. He staggered away and slowly made his way out of the woods. He’d left his vehicle beside the road. When he got to his car, he had to wait until his energy came back to him. Hades wouldn’t admit it to anyone but Stone had come close to beating him and for the first time in years, he felt weary. Weary and afraid like he hadn’t been since he was a kid.
A few moments later, he drove off. He knew he needed medical attention but for now, he would go back to where he’d been staying. He needed to recover if he were going up against Pappy again. Time was growing short now. He needed to strike and soon, but he needed the strength to do that.
Stone groaned as he felt hands turning him over. Fighting to open his eyes, he saw Dewey beside him. Stone raised his hand to his head. “What the fuck hit me?”
Dewey shook his head. “Hades cheated and smacked you with a branch. I thought for a moment he was gonna slit your throat before he left.”
Stone groaned. “That fucker.”
“Well, you showed him what an old man could do.” Sam moved into his line of vision.
Stone glared at the other man. “The hell I did. He came close to ending me today. That fucker is still as good as he once was.”
“Yeah, but you’re better.” Sam nodded. “You handled him well enough.”
Stone sat up and felt his head explode in pain. Moaning, he raised his hands up to try and keep his head from coming apart. “Not good enough.” He groaned. “He was still able to walk away.”
Sam nodded. “But he was hurt pretty bad. We were watching the whole thing. You hurt him.”
Dewey grabbed him under one arm and helped him to his feet.
Stone swayed briefly before he steadied.
“Let’s get you back to the compound and get you patched up.” Dewey wrapped one arm around his waist and led him away from the clearing.
Stone didn’t think he could walk the whole way back to the compound and felt relieved to see the 4x4 sitting not so far away.
Dewey helped him in the front seat while Sam sat down in the back seat. Dewey got behind the wheel and drove off.
Stone peered down at the raw wound on his shoulder. The broken skin looked and felt sore but the bleeding had stopped. The edges of the wound were black with dry blood. His shoulder was throbbing but Stone could ignore it. He glanced over at Dewey. “So how bad was he when he left?”
Dewey glanced at Stone before turning his attention back to the path they were on. “You fucked his arm up good. He couldn’t even lift it. His other wounds were still bleeding pretty good too. He may have walked away but he’s been hobbled for sure.”
Stone nodded. “He may be out of action for now but if I know him, he won’t be down long. He’ll be back. He may be using something to help him get back. I think he was on something today.”
“Damn,” Dewey grumbled. “If he’s high, he maybe won’t stop. He’ll keep coming and coming and be almost unstoppable.”
“Yeah, I kind of got that vibe from him. It took all I had to try and stop him this time.”
When they drove up to the clubhouse, Deke and several others came out to see how bad Stone was wounded. “Come on, let’s get you to Raine, he’s our medic.” Deke ushered him inside.
When he was seated at a table, McKenna rushed over and laid her hand on his shoulder. “Are you all right?” she asked softly.
Stone looked up at her and saw the fear and uncertainty in her eyes. He raised his hand to cover hers. “This isn’t your fault. This goes back ten years to when Hades was under my command.”
McKenna shrugged. “Yeah, but you and he wouldn’t have come in contact without me dragging you into it.”
Stone shook his head. “Baby, this was gonna happen anyway. This just moved up the timeline. Hades would have tracked me down at some point. At least this way, I have the head’s up I need to win.”
Raine pushed his way through the group of men standing around and made his way to Stone. Sitting beside him, he began probing the wound. He washed away the dried blood and examined the slice. “It doesn’t look too bad. Might hold you up a few days but you should be okay. You won’t get much use out of that arm but you’ll do. I can stitch it up you here.” Raine looked at the other man. “You look like you lost a lot of blood though. You should push the fluids and try to get some rest.”
“Until we get this guy off the damn streets, no one will get any rest.” Stone growled. “He’ll keep coming and coming until he gets what he wants, that would be McKenna and I both dead. Then he’ll disappear and come up for air somewhere entirely new, with a new name and a new mission in life.” He paused then nodded at Raine. “Do whatever you have to do to close the wound.”
Raine turned and got his supplies. When he turned back, he wore rubber gloves and began sewing up Stone’s knife wound.
“Not if we can stop him here and now,” Deke spoke up. “We watched the fight. Is there anything we need to know?”
Stone nodded as he ignored the pain in his shoulder. “Yeah, Hades was on something. He couldn’t even feel the pain I knew he was in. He just kept coming no matter what I did.”
Deke tilted his head. “Are you sure he was on something then? Maybe it was his adrenaline ramping up.”
Stone shook his head. “I read his eyes. He was higher than a kite. His eyes were dilated and he was jittery. I cut him bad and it didn’t seem to bother him a bit. It was only after I took out his arm that he cheated and brought me down with a branch to the head.” He hissed when Raine put in the final stitch. That one had gone in deep. Closing his eyes,
he could feel the bandage Raine place over his wound.
“He always was a fuckin coward.” Reaper scoffed.
Stone flexed his arm and got to his feet. Going over to where Amos was leaning against the wall he asked, “Can your men get eyes only on Hades? I don’t want any heroes, just eyes on.”
Amos nodded. “Already done. Dagger called ten minutes ago. He told me Hades went back to the warehouse.”
Stone nodded.
“There’s something else I need to tell you.” Amos straightened up and away from the wall. “My men searched the warehouse and put eyes in the room he seemed to be living in. They called it in and your man Recon was able to patch in the cameras. He’s got a visual on your man.”
Stone’s eyes snapped open wide as he stared at the other man. “We have eyes on Hades?”
Amos gave a short nod.
Stone marched over to the monitors and watched the three cameras showing different angles of the hovel Hades was staying in. This wasn’t the warehouse they originally thought he was in but the one Calico discovered. They all watched in silence as Hades sat at a table cleaning off his own bloody shoulder. They could see him screaming even if they couldn’t hear him.
Hades screamed as he took off his shirt. He had to literally pull to separate the cloth from his skin. The dried blood stuck the two together like glue. When he pulled the cloth away from his skin the wound fresh blood poured down his chest.
Hades’ hands shook as he held a cloth to his wound in an effort to stem the bleeding. His whole shoulder was messed up.
Stone hadn’t realized the wound he’d given Hades was as bad as it was. He wasn’t sorry he’d wounded the other man.
They all watched as Hades reached for a small red pill on the table. Swallowing it dry, he tipped his head back and closed his eyes.
“You were right about one thing.” Amos shook his head. “The man was high this morning.”
“How do you know that?” Deke wanted to know.
Amos pointed to the red pills on the table. “Those pills are a form of ecstasy coming into Troy. We’ve been keeping an eye on the distribution but we know the dealer and we know the pills.”
