Page 13

Sypher

August 21, 2023, motel on the waterfront.

“Where are the others?” I asked, looking around the harbor. As I watched the water ripple, a preternatural stillness hung in the air, broken only by the whispering wind and the chill that seemed to seep into my bones, a harbinger of the coming war’s icy grip. Initially, Reaper expressed some reservations when I first proposed my suggested course of action, but after some discussion, he eventually agreed. Despite the weight of the repercussions from his actions with Remi, and all he’d been through, I knew he would not deny me. It was a daring plan, a desperate gamble to free the Golden Skulls forever.

If we succeeded, it meant our freedom.

We failed and it would ensure our oblivion.

“Waiting inside,” Reaper stated, the match flaring briefly in the dim light before he lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. “The brothers you requested are here. Even your fucking brother Ace. You sure about him?”

“No, but I can’t do what I have to without him and his team.”

With a menacing look, Reaper declared, “If he double-crosses us, I’ll take his fucking soul,” as he exhaled a cloud of smoke. “You got a fucking problem with that?”

“No,” I firmly said. “He chose his side. I chose mine. Reaper, there is something else I need from you.”

“What is it?”

“Dante Sharp.”

“Montana’s prospect?”

I nodded. Taking a deep breath, I admitted, “He’s mine, Prez.”

Reaper’s brow furrowed, his eyes narrowed when he slowly turned to face me, a grim silence falling between us.

“I’m gay. Well, technically bisexual, but Dante’s mine. I claimed him. I need your word that if anything goes wrong, you and the club will protect him.”

A smirk played on Reaper’s lips while he eyed his burning cigarette. A small flick of his wrist sent ashes drifting into the air. “He the reason for all this?”

“Yes.”

“You love him?”

I nodded, the unspoken words a heavy weight in my throat. But that wasn’t good enough for Reaper. The next instant, I was face-to-face with him, his cold, dead eyes boring into mine as a chilling growl ripped through the air. “Answer the fucking question.”

Gulping, I clearly said, “I’d burn the fucking world to protect him.”

A slow smile, a genuine smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, spread across his face as he hugged me tight.

“You do realize there’s a chance you could still lose him.”

“I know, but like you, I can’t have that bitch haunting him anymore. I can’t, Reaper.”

“Then do what you need to do, brother. I will see to him personally.”

Hugging him back, I whispered, “Thank you.”

Releasing me, Reaper took another drag from his cigarette, the smoke curling around his face while he let out a long, weary sigh. “He fucking better be worth it, Sypher. Love you like blood.”

“He’s worth it.”

With a nod, Reaper inhaled deeply from his cigarette, the acrid smell of tobacco filling the air as he blew out a plume of smoke. “When this shit kicks off, she’s gonna reach out to you. Tell her everything for me, okay? Leave nothing out.”

“Everything?”

“Everything. Give her all the information. She won’t come back to me unless she knows the score. Not gonna lie to her anymore.”

“While I’m doing my thing, I’m gonna need help with Pop’s thumb drive.”

“Will get the others on it when the time is right. Before we can even think about that shit, we need to finish this fucked-up mess. You got everything ready?”

“Yeah. Everything’s all set.”

“Good,” Reaper said, the flick of his wrist sending the cigarette spinning through the air before it hit the ground, his grin sharp and predatory. “Let’s go open everyone’s closet and get this shit show on the road.”

“Reaper, you sure about this, man?” Bullseye asked while we all sat around in a motel going over the plan one more fucking time. “We do this and there is no going back.”

Reaper sneered. “Nothing but death will stop me.”

“Good enough for me.” Savage chuckled, leaning back against a pillow. “Just point to where you want me, man. I’m tired of this shit and want to go home to my wife.”

“Preach,” Ink and Player said.

Looking at me, Reaper ordered, “Tell them everything, Sypher. The whole truth.”

Nodding, I began, “I’ve been tracking all the players since the Golden Wedding.”

Several eyes turned and glared at Reaper.

Yeah. I fucking knew they wouldn’t like that part.

Another fucking secret he would have to atone for, but not today.

Today was the day the club secured Remi’s freedom.

“Anyway, like I was saying, I’ve been watching everyone for a while now. Reaper knew the wedding wouldn’t stop the Society , so he asked me to find the middleman. I didn’t understand at first, but I agreed. It took me some time, but eventually I found him. The middleman is none other than Boris Petrovitch. The same man who kidnapped Remi and tortured her. But more importantly, the man Petrovitch works for, Konstantin Baranov, is the man who’s been after Remi all this time. To make things more interesting, Petrovitch is Maxim’s brother. Something the Bloodletter failed to disclose to Reaper when they made the blood pact. What you also need to know is that Montana wasn’t exactly forthcoming either, because I also found information that Montana’s father, George Stone, has worked with Petrovitch and Baranov in the past. But that’s not even the worst of it.”

“How much worse can it get?” Matthew Law asked.

Ace groaned. “Jesus Christ, Danny, just tell us.”

“I found another player.”

Leaning forward, Bullseye asked, “What do you mean, another player? You said you were watching all the players since the wedding.”

“Let him finish, Dylan,” Reaper said, nodding at me to continue.

“Devlin Scott.”

“Who the fuck is that?” Player asked.

“The owner of the Trick Pony,” Ace groaned, shaking his head. “I fucking knew that contract would come back to bite us in the ass. Devlin Scott is a psychological, methodical, sadistic dick. He runs a BDSM club in Miami, Florida. He’s also Gideon Scott’s father. What does he have to do with this shit?”

“He was working with Baranov and George Stone to bring down the Golden Skulls.”

Savage laughed heartily. “Fucker can try.”

When I didn’t say anything, Ace sat up and growled at me. “Tell me you didn’t, Danny?”

“I’m sorry, Ace. I had to.”

“Jesus fucking Christ!” Ace roared, jumping to his feet. “You knew he contracted with Harbor Security. If he finds out you hacked his system and that you are my brother, he will sue us!”

“Ace, he killed Dad!”

“What?”

Bullseye slowly stood. “Danny, I’m going to need you to explain that right now.”

“That day at the motel,” I said, my voice trembled as I tried to contain the rage building in my stomach. “You said you saw three men exiting a black SUV. One man had tattoos running up his neck. All three were dressed in expensive suits. Remember, Dylan?”

“Yeah, I remember,” Bullseye whispered. “Vain handed him an envelope, then the man with the tattoos slapped Vain. They left shortly after. Then Jekyll shot Vain. But it was Jekyll that shot Uncle Moonshine.”

“Exactly. Inside the envelope was a picture of Remi,” I said, then added, “But the three men there that day were George Stone, Konstantin Baranov, and Devlin Scott. They knew Vain was a dead man walking. So, they made a deal with Jekyll. He could have Layla if he killed my dad.”

“But why?” Ace muttered, shaking his head. “Why did they want Dad dead?”

“Because Baranov knew Dad was aware of the real identity of Aunt Donna. Baranov wanted all links to Aunt Donna gone. He didn’t want Maxim to find out he had a niece and nephew. But more importantly, Devlin Scott wanted Dad dead because Dad knew the truth about Ravage.”

Bullseye looked at Ace before both men turned to Reaper, neither saying a word, waiting for him to reveal anything.

Sighing, Reaper muttered, “Moonshine asked James Doherty to look into Ravage’s past. It’s bad and I’m not discussing it without telling him first, but just know, Moonshine protected Ravage with his life.”

Both men sat back down and said nothing more. What could they say? Both men knew Reaper wouldn’t reveal shit until he had a chance to talk with Jackson first.

Eventually, Jackson’s truth would come to light, but not today.

Today was for securing Remi’s future.

“Anything else we need to know, Sypher?” Player cautiously asked.

“Only that the Soulless Sinners are not what they claim to be. So be careful if you say anything to them. Especially Montana. That fucker still sits at the table and can make our lives a living hell if he wants to. He already doesn’t trust Reaper. So don’t give him any more ammunition.”

“So, keep your fucking mouths shut,” Reaper ordered, getting to his feet. “After this shit is done, we are going home with a clean fucking slate. I don’t know about any of you, but that’s been a long time coming, and we could all use a fucking breather before shit hits the fan again.”

And it would soon enough.

This life was anything but predictable.