The Biker's Fate Chapter 652

Cash

WE DROVE AROUND for what felt like an hour or so, maybe even two. I got the impression they were taking twists and turns along the way to throw me off, so who knows how far we'd driven from where they'd grabbed me.

My captors were mostly silent during the ride, the only sound was the wailing and moaning of Gloria who had regained consciousness shortly after I was bagged. By the time the van stopped, I was nauseous and completely disoriented. Forced out of the van and marched for about a hundred yards, I was lowered into what I think was a metal folding chair before my hood was removed, the bright lights stinging my eyes until a figure walked in front of me. I glanced up to see Warlock's ugly mug and scowled.

"Cash, my friend, welcome to my new clubhouse," he said. "I'm afraid it's still under construction, as you can see. But it's nice to have our first visitor, nonetheless. I trust your ride here was comfortable?"

I cocked my head. "As opposed to…?"

"As opposed to the fate your boy, Razor, suffered tonight."

I scoffed. "I'm gonna do a lot worse to you, once I get these ties off."

"Oh, such hostility." Warlock chuckled. "I could have killed your friend tonight. But I didn't. I want it to be known that I'm a man of restraint."

"A man who has women beaten and raped is a man of restraint?"

"People make their own destinies," Warlock said. "If they happen to bump into me while on the road they travel, then they must deal with the consequences. Good or bad. Gloria came to me, Cash. Asked for my help and I gave it. I believe in swift conflict resolution. For instance, I have a couple of prospects who have found themselves in some sort of disagreement. I've asked them to meet me here tonight to air their grievances. I hope by inviting you to bear witness to this little 'trial,' you will see that I am a fair man."

Warlock motioned to Trunk who opened the door and two young men walked in wearing prospect cuts.

"Roscoe, Scratch, I understand the two of you have got some sort of beef to settle," Warlock said.

"That's right," Scratch said, pointing to the guy next to him. "I don't wanna work with this guy."

"Has Roscoe transgressed against you in some way?" Warlock asked.

"Not directly, but I worked on a crew with him a couple o' years ago and he withheld on a robbery."

"Is that something you can prove?" Warlock challenged.

"No, but I know it for a fact, and I don't trust him, and I don't wanna work with him."

"And there's no possible way you can be dissuaded?"

Scratch shook his head. "Nah, no fuckin' way."

"Scratch, are you packin'?"

"Yeah, Warlock, always."

Warlock nodded. "Good. I want you to shoot Roscoe in the face."

"Wh…What?" he breathed out on a nervous laugh.

Warlock waved at Roscoe as if giving him the same offer and before Scratch could draw, Roscoe shot him right between the eyes.

"Ah, there you go," Warlock said, clapping his hands. "But before I conclude this matter, Roscoe, is what Scratch said about you withholding money on a previous job true? And be warned, I'll know if you're lying."

"Yeah, boss, I kept a little more than my share," Roscoe fessed up.

"Thank you for your honesty, Roscoe," Warlock said. "And know that if you ever withhold from me, being dead will be the least of your worries, you understand me?"

"Yes, boss."

"Good, now go get a fuckin' mop and clean this shit up."

If Warlock's intent for me witnessing this exchange was to better understand what kind of man he was, then he succeeded. He was a calculating psychopath who was not going to be told what to do on any level. The way he spoke made it clear, he believed he was the smartest man in the room and if I was going to get myself out of this shit, I was going to have to make him believe I believed it, too.

"So, young Cash." Warlock turned to focus on me again. "By now, you may be wondering why I've invited you here tonight."

"Is that what you call kidnapping?" I retorted. "An invitation?"

"You'll have to forgive me, my original intent was to request the presence of one of Hatch's children, but they've all seemed to go underground, so I had to make my move on the next best thing."

I let out a deep, dramatic sigh. One that Teagan would be proud of. "It's always so disappointing to know you weren't the first choice for the dance."

"Oh, don't worry, I'm sure the son of a VP knows all the latest steps."

"I know the one where my crew dances on your face when they find me," I said, realizing suddenly that Teagan had my tracker.

Fuck, shit, fuck.

Warlock laughed. "Not in a million years. After the ambush at the O.K. Corral that was our previous clubhouse… an ambush that I believe your club was involved with if I'm not mistaken… Oh, anyway, that's all just blood under the bridge now. Anyway, after our clubhouse was surrounded, shot to hell, and our members slaughtered, I thought it wise to procure a new base of operations. It's a highly secured and well-hidden facility that neither your club nor law-enforcement will ever find."

"I don't know, chief, the world's a small place and it's gettin' smaller," I said. "It's gettin' harder and harder for roaches like you to find dark places to run to and hide."

"Oh no, you misunderstand me. I'm not running or hiding. As a matter of fact, I'm just getting started. The Spiders will not only reclaim the throne they once sat on, but we're gonna follow Wolf's expansion plans. However, you'll find me much smarter than my predecessor. Wolf was an impulsive hot head and men like that are never good for business. I, on the other hand, can torture and murder a man without the threat of a single emotion getting in the way of completing my directive."

"That I have no problem believing," I muttered.

"You shouldn't," he snapped, dropping his pleasantries. "I can make your stay here with us comfortable or not."

"What's your plan here, Warlock?" I asked. "What's the point in holding me at all?"

"First of all, I took you to show Hatch I can get to any of his guys any time I want." He puffed out his chest. "Secondly, I need him to sever his ties with those Colorado assholes and turn his grow over to me. You're here to ensure your president does as he's told."

"And if he doesn't?"

"Then I'll be digging two graves," motioning to the corpse, previously known as Scratch.

I scoffed. "I coulda saved you the trouble of kidnapping me with a single phone call."

"What the fuck are you talkin' about?"