VJ

19 - Needing something from the Don

VJ

“Long time no see, Beast.”

I roll my eyes at Tony.

Everyone around here calls me Beast. Draven began calling me that when I was sixteen, and he first saw me fight. He said I attacked like a wild beast. The name stuck with these idiots. However, I did not adopt the name and carry it through to the MC. No way was I going by the road name Beast. It’s bad enough being known as a psychopath, never mind a wild animal! I never wanted any other name but my own.

Why would I want to be known as anything other than VJ Jackson?

The only good thing about being called Beast by these Mafia pricks is that no one, aside from Roman and Bones, knows that I’ve worked for Draven in the past. If Shepard or even Jett found out what I’d done in the past for the Don, never mind what I’m about to ask him, they’d kill me. It won’t matter that they’re family, my blood; they’ll see me as a traitor, put it to a vote, and kill me. If not that, I would, without a doubt, lose my place with the Snakes. Not that I would actually stand there and wait for them to kill me.

Did I seem stupid to you?

I’m not the only one who does work for Vidal. Both Roman and Hammer do, and I’m pretty sure Tank does now and again. Hammer has a free pass as Vidal’s younger brother. Perhaps Tank, too, as he’s Vidal’s cousin.

Roman and me?

Not a chance. I don’t know how Draven got Roman to work for him now and again, but any man worth his salt would want the crucifer on his side. Bones isn’t involved with Vidal, but that’s because I wouldn’t allow it. Bones is a lot of things, but the man isn’t made for the stuff I get up to.

How did I get involved with Vidal?

I was fifteen, and he caught me torturing a kid who’d pissed me off. The kid was older than I was by about three or four years, but it didn’t stop me from beating the shi.t out of him. Nor did it stop me from dragging him into the woods and tying him to a tree. There, I did vile shi.t to him that you’d only see in a horror movie.

How did he piss me off?

The stupid cunt made comments about Nova and what he’d like to do to her. Nova can take care of herself, but she’s still a woman. No woman deserves to be spoken about in such a disgusting manner. So, I had to teach him a lesson.

I didn’t know Draven and Tony were behind me; I had no clue why they’d even followed me. However, Draven got right to the point and told me he’d followed me because he’d been driving and had seen me. He said I had been foolish because anyone could have seen me. But he was fascinated to see a fifteen-year-old dragging an older kid with his hands bound into the woods.

Draven told me that I’d been reckless, that anyone could have seen me as he had. Then he said that he could train me to be a machine, that the Beast within needed to know when it was time to sleep and when it was time to wake up.

I looked back at the guy I’d killed – yeah, he was dead – and smirked. I felt such satisfaction ending that bastard’s life. Draven asked if I felt remorse for ending a man’s life over a few words. I laughed and told Draven I never did anything I didn’t mean.

Draven looked at me with narrow eyes before chuckling. Then said he would dispose of the body, and to think about what he’d offered.

I didn’t need to think about it. I took Draven up on his offer without thinking much about it. Draven even spoke with Shepard to let him know that he was teaching me how to box because I’d taken an interest in it. Dad was, of course, skeptical at first, but soon came around when I expressed how boxing was helping keep the demons away, and that it would help me stay calm.

I don’t think Draven Vidal banked on me being such a monster. Not even the Don could control me when I got in the zone. I could get God to confess to murder if I got the chance. I’ve certainly gotten confessions out of men who swore I’d never break them. I imagine that’s why Draven always called on me when he needed to extract the truth from someone.

The key, however, is to know who’s confessing just so you’ll stop hurting them and who’s confessing because they committed the crime you’re accusing them of. I have a knack for knowing which is which. Luckily for some.

“Tony.” I tip my head and shake his hand. “Is he in?”

“Just finishing a call. We wondered when you’d show your face.”

I fold my arms across my chest and roll my neck to feel the pop. “Had better things to do.”

“Better things like Chloe?”

I narrow my eyes. Nothing is a secret long in this town, especially from Draven Vidal and his minions. However, it pisses me off that these fucker.s know my business.

“Your point?”

“A little innocent for you. Don’t you think?”

I raise my eyebrow.

This i***t knows nothing. Chloe might be innocent, but people like Tony should not mistake that innocence for weakness. Women are deadly creatures. This prick should know that better than anyone; he’s married to a damned assassin.

I run my tongue over my top teeth. “What I think is that you should mind your own business. What I do and with whom is none of your concern.”

Tony laughs, as always, reaches his fist behind him, and knocks on Draven’s door. He waits no more than five seconds before opening said door.

“The boss will see you now.” He smirks.

Prick.

I push past Tony and walk into Draven’s office. “Well, well, the prodigal returns, and looking so much bigger.”

“Draven.”

Draven sits forward in his leather chair, leaning his arms on the oak office desk in front of him. He offers me a seat, which I take. “What brings you to my door, over a week after your release, VJ?”

“You know me, Draven.” I shrug.

“I do. The question is, what’s taken you so long?”

I chuckle. “You already know the answer to that.”

Draven rolls his eyes and smirks. “It’s always puss.y with you. Eighteen months locked up and you haven’t changed.”

“Never want to, either. Though there is someone trying to change me.” I roll my neck again.

“A woman?” I nod, and he looks at me wide-eyed, as though I’d grown two heads. “Am I missing something? You’d never entertain the thought of a woman trying to change you. Why the hell are you sitting here looking like this woman has gotten under your skin?”

I rub the back of my neck and sigh. “She’s different.”

“I’ve always known that Chloe was different, VJ.” He laughs.

“I never said it was Chloe.”

“You didn’t have to.”

I swear under my breath. “Look, she’s under my skin, and I’ve claimed her. She’s the reason I’m here.”

Draven sits straighter in his chair. “Is something wrong with Chloe?”

I shake my head. It seems that the Don has a soft spot for Chloe.

Does everyone?

“She needs an operation that could help her hearing. Chloe told me about the cochlear implants she’s eligible for.”

“What are you getting at, VJ?”

I hate asking anyone for anything, but for Chloe, I’d ask the devil for his soul if she needed it.

“Chloe can’t afford the operation, and she’s too proud to ask for help. Obviously, being in prison for a year and a half, I haven’t made any money. So, what I’m asking is for you to hand your more difficult jobs to me. I’m not saying I want in, but I want to help Chloe.”

“Wow.”

I shake my head at Draven. Anybody would think I’d just told him that my coc.k dropped off, and I’d grown ten balls in its place.

“I never expect to hear something like this from you. Chloe must be special.”

“She is, and I don’t have a damn clue why. But I want to help her, Draven.”

He stares at me for a moment, sizing me up.

Cunt!

“Vincenzo has been in touch,” I wondered how long it would take him. “I’ve warned him that you’re off-limits. Whatever you did for him in that place, stays in that place. Out here, he has no power.”

I nod my head. I don’t need looking out for, but I can’t deny that running after Vincenzo out here was not appealing. Not that I would have done it, but still.

“Now, having you work for me in any sense may not be a good idea, VJ. You’re reckless, hotheaded, and quick-tempered. Look where it got you last time.”

“I don’t need a fuckin’ reminder!”

Draven raises his eyebrow.

I grit my teeth because I fuckin.g walked into that.

“I can’t have a loose cannon working for me, VJ. You’re good at what you do; I wouldn’t have trained you and let you work for me in the past if you weren’t.”

“I need to do this for Chloe, Draven. Besides, I’m not looking to go back to prison anytime soon.” I unconsciously touch my abdomen. I’m not going back to that place at all, and that’s a fact. “I was young and stupid. I’ve learned my lesson.”

“What’s in it for me?”

There’s always something!

“I do the hard jobs; you pay me for it. You get what you want without getting your hands dirty. Just like old times. You think I want to be here right now asking you this? I don’t, but I like this girl, Draven.” I run my hands through my hair. “I don’t have a damn clue why I can’t shake her.”

Draven watches me with a smirk on his face, slowly shaking his head from side to side. “You’re fucke.d, and you don’t even see it.” Cunt! “Fine. However, you fuc.k up once, and you’re gone for good. I won’t put up with you besmirching my good name, VJ.”

What fuckin.g good name?

He’s a Mafia Don; they don’t have good names! Whatever, he’s giving me what I want, and that’s all that matters.

I get out of my seat. “Just remember to keep this to yourself. My club finds out I’m working for you...”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard it all before from you and Roman, VJ. I know how it works. You keep your damn nose clean and be ready when I call.”

I nod my head and leave.

I’ll get the money for Chloe’s operation no matter what I have to do to get it.