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Darker Shades
A HOUSE OF SKIN NOVELLA
HART DE LUNE
Chapter One
JACKSON
The sense of havoc these brothers bring with them is menacing, even for my world.
Sitting, I watch as the last one, Dante, known as Dragon, leans on the door he’s closed behind him. He lights up a cigarette and stares over his hand, nothing but animosity on his features and tattoos running over his wrists. I understand that animosity. I’m an unknown to them, a newcomer. I’m not around here. London is my home and I'm nightmare enough to scare most of it, but to them I’m nothing. Insignificant. A fucking fly to be swatted and batted around.
“You sure you’ve got the capability to maintain this, Reed?” the one in front of me says.
My stare comes back to him. This one's Knox. They call him Poe. I suppose we all know why. Sharpest of the bunch as far as words are concerned, and as useful with a blade as a poet is with a pen. “It won’t be a problem.”
The near shadow staring at my picture board of dancers moves from the gloom attached to him. I’m most wary of that fucker. He’s not said a word since he came into my club. He’s just looked, scanned, and gone in any direction he feels like. The eldest one. Abel. Not that the name suits him. I doubt anyone's killing him soon.
Who they are in reality is the Cortez brothers. San Antonio's underbelly. There’s another brother hanging around here somewhere – Elias, and then another brother and a sister to finalise the carnage. Neither of which have bothered coming to my club today. That’s fine by me.
These four are enough for me to deal with.
The shadow keeps moving until he’s got both hands on my desk, as if claiming territory that isn’t his. “The shipment will be here on the twenty-sixth. We’ll start with eight. See how you manage.”
“The trainer will arrive on the twenty-seventh and show you how it works,” Poe continues for him. “We’ll send the pickup details closer to the time. Dragon and Elias stay the entire time until the auction is done. They get a free run around here, yes?”
I glance towards Dragon, wondering where Elias has gone, and watch as he sucks in more smoke. “Fine.”
A dark chuckle comes out of Abel's mouth, somehow filled with a hatred that swarms his entire being, and he stares. It’s enough for me to lean back, conceding to his power over me no matter how much I hate it. One wrong move here, one word said that annoys or pisses on their superiority, and everyone is dead. I know it.
And they’re happy to make sure I do.
Another low rumble leaves him as he pulls up to look towards the back of the room, nodding at Dragon for some reason. The door gets opened and he’s gone on command, smooth strides leaving me with only two in the room and the heavy smell of smoke. “We'll leave a reminder,” Abel says, heading for the door. “Sense beds in better when we do.”
Unsure what that means, I stand as Poe does and track them both out. By the time we reach the main rooms, I can do nothing but watch the wreckage unfolding. The bar’s getting trashed up, girls scattering everywhere, and Dragon's pouring bottles of booze over it. He flicks a lighter about when he’s done. A warning about what could come for me if I get this wrong, presumably.
And then he just lights the fucking place up anyway.
I don’t know what the hell to do next. For once, I’ve got nothing other than holding my nerve. No power over them, and no retaliation without blowing the deal I'm trying to strike.
Abel watches the flames lick the length of the woodwork. Dragon’s still smoking, adding more fuel to the fire with another bottle. And Poe’s talking to me about the deal again, as Elias looks at all the girls scattering and smirks. “Eight in the shipment,” he says. “Get this place cleaned up. No one wants to bid on cheap crap. This smells of old hooker's cunt and looks just as fucked.”
I nod, as I see some of my own men run in from the side, and hold my hand up to them. They glance at me, confused, and wait for me to tell them what to do.
“We’re done for now,” Abel murmurs, walking back towards me. “Dragon’s breath.” He nods at the flames. “And wise words spoken, Mr Reed. Remember both.”
One last look at me, a look that makes me question how deep I’m getting with this, and he starts moving for the door. Poe folds in behind him, swinging a black coat around his shoulders like a shroud, and then Dragon takes his time to walk directly at me drinking from a bottle. I’m thinking about not moving, about showing them exactly what I’m capable of when threatened, but he’s the craziest according to my sources. He's also not remotely wound up yet, and my club’s on fire.
Sidestepping, I give him the space he’s earned and watch him grab hold of one of my dancers harshly. She shouts at me, pleads as he drags her out. Again, I’ve got nothing to help her with. Not with these brothers. I don't even have the power to try warning Elias off as I see him crowding Jamie by the door.
“Boss?” Heckle says, as my guys run over to me.
I look back from the doorway and point towards the bar as if that should be enough instruction. They get to work immediately. Fire extinguishers start dowsing the flaming woodwork and water gets tossed over the floor or curtains. Some of the girls join in as if they’re as much on my side as the guys are. They won’t be – not when they find out what I’ve just got myself into.Money, though. A lot of fucking money. It’s not something I was about to turn down, and no one turns these brothers down anyway.
Sucking in some air to calm myself, I listen to Jamie as she comes up behind me. She’s as pissed as I am. Not surprising, considering she's just been felt up, but she won’t be when I let her know the percentage that’s coming my way from this deal.
I’ll clean this place up like I’ve been told to and do exactly what I’ve promised can be done. This is the kind of company I need. They’re the kind of allies I need. I’m not having anyone belittle or try playing with me again after this. I’ll be stronger, further reaching, and, with any luck, have more backing than I’ve ever had before. Fuck Landon Broderick and his threats. Taking my best girl from me and threatening me with Logan Cane? By the time I’m done here, he’ll rue the day he dared even speak to me.
