The Skull King (Skull 1)

“For the time being,” Dirk said ominously.

I’d underestimated these guys. I thought they were happy with their little pasta company. It’d been around for generations, so it obviously brought them a good living. But they were shooting for the stars and everything above. “My job is to keep the peace.”

“By threatening people?” Case asked incredulously.

“Yes…it’s one of my techniques.” I shut the briefcase then took a drink of my scotch. “It gets shit done faster. And when I actually start slitting throats, it gets shit done even faster.” I set down my glass and looked at him, telling him I was being completely honest about my execution style.

Case looked at me but didn’t seem intimidated. “You’ve got your money, so you can go now.”

“I will when I finish my drink.” I swished the liquid in the glass then brought it to my lips.

Dirk was muscular like his brother but slightly leaner. He had to be at least four years younger than Case because his youth was more apparent. He drummed his fingers slightly on the table, looking at me without blinking. These two men had made the right decision to submit to me, but they didn’t turn into a bunch of pussies. They maintained their respect in themselves.

“What made you guys decide to get into the game?” I asked. “Are you users?”

“No,” Case answered as he continued to work on his paperwork. There was a fresh cigar on the table along with an ashtray, as if he smoked a great deal. The hint of cigar smoke was in the air, so he’d probably finished one before I arrived. “If we did, we’d be in the wrong business.”

“We prefer booze, cigars, and pussy,” Dirk said. “Nothing else.”

“We have an auction every Friday night.” I swirled my glass. “We debut the finest women for a high price. They are yours to keep and do with whatever you wish. I can extend you an invitation if you’re interested. It’s pretty exclusive.”

Case set down his pen and looked at me, his look of irritation undeniable. “I can get pussy just fine. And I find that criminal activity despicable. I have a sister and…” He looked away and shook his head. “I’m not interested. Neither is Dirk.”

I detected a hostile tone in the air. Case seemed more put off by that offer than when I marched in here and demanded my cut of their business. He didn’t even finish his sentence before he dismissed the subject altogether. “What happened to your sister?”

Case didn’t look at me.

Dirk was the one who spoke up. “We both know you don’t give a shit, Balto.”

“Well, I’m the most powerful man in this country—and I’m your ally.” I looked at Case. “Perhaps I can help you.”

Case turned back to me, his eyes not as hostile as they were before. He watched me for a long time, his eyes shifting back and forth slightly. “There’s nothing anyone can do. Not even you.”

11

Balto

I returned to the prison and watched the guards usher Heath through the door. Just like last time, they completed the entire protocol by cuffing him to the metal bar on the table and attached the chain between his feet to the hooks on the floor. In the ridiculous orange jumpsuit, he looked like a clown that had forgotten his wig and makeup.

The guards shut the door and left us alone.

My brother had a rougher appearance because he’d been in prison for over six months. I didn’t feel bad for letting him rot in there because he was a loose cannon. He had to understand what life was like without food, pussy, and freedom. He had to know what it was like to be bossed around by a man half your size with a baton. He needed a reality check to straighten out his act. I didn’t care that he was a criminal—but he needed to be a better one. He needed to mind the rules and get some class.

I was the most notorious criminal in this country—but I was also the most respected.

I played by the rules, I kept my authority through respect as well as fear, and I didn’t cause more problems than I fixed. I executed my enemies and never behaved like a pushover, but I also didn’t take lives needlessly. I didn’t provoke unnecessary wars.

Heath was a different story.

“Are you ready to come out and play nice?” My brother and I were so much alike that it would be easy to impersonate each other. Same eyes, same skin tone, and same musculature, it would be easy to fool anyone. But if you looked more closely, you would be able to see the darkness in the eyes, the exhaustion of the last six months. I, on the other hand, was living my best life, fucking pussy and drinking every night.