A Lighter Shade of Blue (Kings of Chaos 2)

“Took a beating and kept his mouth shut. Figured we needed to up the ante. They’re waiting for you at the old warehouse.”

“I’ll get the information.” I stand, rap the table with my knuckles, and walk to my old dorm room to retrieve my kit.

To anyone else, I was just a man with tools. But those who know me, know I’m a fucking surgeon with the simple instruments inside my saddlebag. I can feel the bloodlust rising up inside of me. If you’re not with me, you’re against me and there’s no love lost. I see the faces of the brothers I’ve lost in these assholes. The ones in the ground and behind bars. People call us savages, but we live a simple life. We follow a set of rules, punish those who break them and give respect as long as it’s given. To us, the rest of the world has gone mad. We’re the Kings of Chaos, because we know how to control it.

It’s dark when I pull up to the run down building we use to do our dirt. I see the door open and nod my head at the lookout. Taking my black bag out, I walk up to the door. As soon as I enter, I find a mess of a man, tied to a chair. It’s hard to tell what he looks like underneath the blood and bruises. But I would guess mid-thirties with dark hair and a lanky build. Standing, I would put him at about six foot. He’s held on this long, so I know a few things about him. He’s loyal, or more afraid of the person who sent him on his mission. He’s also strong mentally. It takes more mental strength than pain tolerance to keep your trap shut when someone is working you over and asking the same question over and over.

“Now, we’ll see if you’ll stay quiet. This man will make last night look like a walk in the park,” one of the brothers says loudly.

I nod at the brothers posted against the wall. Their swollen knuckles and the beads of sweat on their brow tell me they’ve all taken a turn. “What do we have on him?” I ask.

“His real name is Joshua Davis. Used to be one of San Diego’s finest up until a year ago, after his sister, Shannon, died. Funny thing about Shannon, she used to hang around the club. Got mixed up in the wrong crowd and got herself deceased. I’m betting our boy here blames us for it.”

“That true, Joshua?” I ask, walking over to examine him. “You blame us for little sister’s bad decisions.”

“She was a good girl until you,” Josh growls.

“So, he can talk when he wants? I never met her personally, but something tells me she wasn’t the saint you’re making her out to be.”

“Fuck you.” He pulls at the rope binding him, rattling the chair.

“Good, you still got some fight in you,” I say. “What did you think you’d do, get the place raided?”

Joshua smirks. “The game’s still being played. You’re just too stupid to realize it.”

The smug expression makes my blood run cold. He knows something.

“You ruin families. It’s time you know what that feels like.”

“String him up. Get a cold buck of water now. He got anyone, family?”

“A brother. Private detective. Small shit, cheating, fraud. That type of thing.”

“Name?”

“Jameson Davis.”

“Jameson?” The coincidence doesn’t sit well with me. The best lie to tell is one close to the truth. “We need to check on all the old ladies and kids now.” I watch the flurry of motion as a hook is lowered and chains are set up. He’s hoisted up with his feet just reaching the ground. They throw a bucket of water on him and he flinches. “Bring in the car, and hook up a battery.”

His eyes widen, but there’s still a look of pure determination in his brow eyes.

“I will break you, Davis. Once I’m done, you’re going to wish you never heard of us.”

“I already do.” He spits on me.

I laugh. “You think I give a fuck about spit? I’m going to have a lot more than that on me soon enough.” I walk back to my kit, retrieve a hammer, and slam the end into his knees.

The crack of bones and his screams mingle together.

I do the same to the opposite knee, not giving him time to breathe. This information is time sensitive, I feel it in my bones. “You ready to talk yet, Davis?”

“Fuck you,” he croaks.

The car pulls up behind me and I grin. “Don’t worry, I can be more persuasive.” I watch them hook the jumper cables up. “You know how this is going to play out. Why don’t you save yourself the trouble?”

“You’re going to kill me either way.”

“Yes, but it’s your choice whether it’s clean or dirty.”