Page 14 of The Devil

“Not anymore.”

Done delivering the only warning I’m giving the club, I walk back to my SUV and climb inside. I start the engine, and when I begin to drive, the man has to roll out of the way to avoid being run over.

Well, after that little showdown, the club is going to be out for my blood, and law enforcement is bound to pay me a visit.

Picking up my phone, I call the control center on the island.

“Afternoon, Mr. Oliveira. How can we be of assistance?” Miro, who always takes our calls, answers.

“Send another team of ten men to me and find out if we have anyone on our payroll who can cover things up in Minnesota.”

“Give me a few seconds while I check.”

I continue to drive back to the house I’m renting, while I hold on the line.

“We have Secretary Spackman,” Miro says. “Do you need me to get a message to him?”

“Yes. Advise him that things are going to get hot in the vicinity of Aurora, Minnesota. While I’m here, he'd better keep the police from sniffing around me.”

“I’ll take care of that immediately, sir.”

“Thank you.”

“Your order for security has been processed, and the guards will be in Minnesota first thing tomorrow. Do you need anything else, sir?”

“That will be all. Thank you, Miro.”

I end the call, and a few minutes later, I pull up to my house that’s surrounded by green trees. Even though the place needs a lot of work, it’s beginning to grow on me. I’ve ordered new furniture and can’t wait to get rid of the old shit in the house.

The day after I arrived, I was surprised to see the property borders on a lake. I’ve bought a speedboat, which will be useful if I need to make a quick escape via water.

Checking the time on my phone as I climb out of the SUV, I see I still have four hours before Jenna starts her shift at the gas station.

I take a few seconds to look at the damage to the side of the SUV and let out a disgruntled breath. At least it’s just a dent with a few scrapes.

I head into the house, and taking the stairs up to the second floor, I go straight to the bedroom, where I exchange the empty magazine of my gun for a full one. I’ve been sleeping downstairs in the living room because the weapons I got from the island takeup most of the space in the main bedroom, and it’s easier to keep an eye out for potential intruders.

Moving to the window, I glance at the boathouse down below, thinking I should move some of my arsenal there. Having all the weapons in the same spot is risky.

The day after I arrived, I walked through the two-story house again and saw a gym. I can put some of the guns there as well.

Grabbing a box of grenades, two handguns, and a submachine gun, I head downstairs and exit via the back door. I have to set everything down on the lawn so I can dig the keys out of my pocket, and finding the right one, I unlock the boathouse.

There are shelves along the walls, and a pile of thick rope in the corner. The water laps gently against the wooden surface that acts as a walkway around the area where the boat will be moored.

I’ll have to oil the weapons regularly so they don’t rust out here.

I set the box and handguns down on one of the shelves and walk to the corner where I hide the submachine gun under the rope.

Leaving the boathouse, I lock the door before heading back to the house. After I’ve carried most of the weapons down to the gym, I take a quick shower and change into a clean suit.

When I was nineteen, I bought my first suit, and the look instantly became a favorite. Now it’s second nature to wear one.

Walking into the kitchen, I open the fridge and grab chicken breasts and mushrooms to make rissóis. Usually, I’d use shrimp for the filling, but I couldn’t find any that looked fresh at the nearby stores.

While I prepare the breaded pastry, which are half-moon shapes, I think about my altercation with the MC club.

I could just blow up the bar when most of the members are there and pick off the stragglers.