Page 32 of Hard Corps (Selected Sinners MC 7)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Summer 2014, Austin, Texas, USA

I parked a considerable distance from the home and walked up the block. As I approached the driveway, I verified the address, walked to the garage, and removed the length of wire from my pocket. After fishing it through the upper trim on the garage door, I released the security latch, raised the door, and walked inside.

The entire process took no more than a few seconds. Breaking into someone’s garage took a matter of seconds, and as long as they left their door from the garage to the house open, getting in the home took no more than turning a door handle. It amazed me how people never forgot to lock their front or rear door to the home, but historically left the door leading to the garage unlocked.

I walked to the door leading into the home, turned the handle, and grinned as it opened.

Based on my study of Josh, he should have been arriving in roughly thirty minutes. I calmly walked into the home, sat down on the living room couch, and waited for him to come home.

As I heard the key in the front door, I slumped in the seat and waited for him to come. After confirming he was alone, I stood from the couch and began to walk in his direction.

“What the fuck? I’ll give you whatever you want,” he said, no doubt confusing me for a burglar.

Holding my pistol in my right hand to help convince him I was serious, I spoke calmly, but with a convincing tone.

“I’m not here for your belongings. I’m here to make sure your testimony tomorrow doesn’t land my friend in prison,” I said as I walked toward him.

“I uhhm, I…” he stammered as his eyes shifted to my pistol.

“Listen, I’m going to make this simple,” I said as I placed my pistol on the kitchen counter.

“I won’t testify,” he murmured.

I gazed over the counter and nodded my head. “Yes, you will.”

“And,” I paused and shook my head from side to side as I studied him. “Unless I ask you to speak, do not speak again, or I will cut off one of your ears.”

His eyes went wide as he raised his right hand to the side of his face, touching the bottom of his ear as I continued.

“That, Sir, is not an idle threat. It is a promise. I’ll add it to the collection I already have. Make note that I do not like you or those like you. People like you make me feel sick, is that understood?” I said.

I sighed as I pulled my knife from the sheath.

I glared at him, wanting acknowledgement of my question.

“Nod your head,” I said.

It wasn’t my intention to try and intimidate him by how I acted, or how I appeared, only make him aware of his options. The more I looked at him, however, the more I grew to dislike him.

He nodded as I placed the knife on the counter beside the pistol.

“I’m sure you still have nightmares about our mutual friend visiting you and relieving you of a finger and a few teeth. Smile and hold up your hand,” I said as I lifted my chin slightly.

I had yet to see Ripp’s handiwork, and had only heard stories. Josh was obviously scared to death, but did his best to fight against the urge to cower and piss his pants as he forced himself to smile, revealing snow white teeth. As I admired his porcelain replacements, he held up his right hand, which was missing seventy-five percent of the index finger.

A small, almost unnoticeable stub remained.

As I studied his missing finger, I nodded my head. “That cleaned up quite nicely. And those teeth look remarkable. They’re nice, really nice. Well, for what it may be worth, Josh, I’m not at all a pleasant person.”

His eyes remained fixed on me, filled with uncertainty and fear.

I’m not like Ripp, “I continued. “You were given an opportunity by our mutual friend to keep your mouth shut. You made a poor decision, and chose to speak. I do not know, nor do I fucking care to know the circumstances surrounding your involvement with the authorities. I will say this. I hate most cops about as much as I hate you.”

As I pressed my palms against the edge of the countertop and flexed my biceps his eyes fell to my chest and quickly raised to meet mine as I began to speak again.

“Now, your testimony. You spoke to police, and I suspect you told them of the removal of your finger, the ass whipping, and the fact your teeth were knocked out. They now expect you to testify tomorrow regarding what happened and why. That, Sir, will not happen. I will not allow it. It will not. Do you understand me?” I asked.