spot around the corner and on the street. The sooner I get free of this place, the sooner I can get my shit together.
My feet pound the pavement, and I flex and release my fists to burn off the urge to punch a fucking wall. The muffled sound of angry male voices calls my attention to an alley not far from where my truck is parked. Looks like someone’s having a worse night than I am. A pained whimper echoes off the brick buildings, and I move toward the dark corridor.
Slowly, I peek down the alley only lit by a single streetlight. A group of dudes huddles around something, fists swinging and legs kicking. I have only seconds to act, and I wonder if calling the cops would be the better idea. I’m outnumbered and pretty sure whatever’s going on here I want no part of. I reverse back out of the alley, pulling my phone out of my pocket when I hear him.
“Not so tough when your daddy’s not around, eh, Drake?”
I spring into action, my legs burning up the distance between them and me. “Hey! Get the fuck off him.”
They all whirl on me, and I see Drake curled up on the ground, bloody and not moving. One of the assholes grins seconds before I slam my fist into his jaw. Catching him off guard, he rocks back on his heels, cupping his face. Another advances and takes the brunt of my jab. One more, I swing. He grunts and falls back. Before I’m able to throw another punch, my arms are locked up behind me. I roll into it and toss the guy holding me to his back. I’m grabbed again. My left arm gets loose, and I swing hard at the man advancing. He goes down.
It takes three of the six of them to lock me down. “Leave him alone.” I’m breathing heavy and still struggling to get free; my shoulders burn as I try to rip from their hold.
The biggest of the group glares at me and wipes blood from his lip. “This ain’t your business, man. You should’ve walked away.” He kicks Drake in the back.
“Don’t fucking touch him!” I pull my arm free and lunge, but am quickly re-restrained.
“You know this kid?” His eyes move between my brother and me.
“You touch him again . . . I’ll break both your arms.” My teeth grind together.
He hauls off and kicks him again. Drake’s not making a sound. Is he dead?
“Stop!”
He places the sole of his boot on Drake’s head, resting it there like my little brother is a prized kill from a recent hunt. “Stop? This kid ripped me off.”
Drake moans, and I notice then that the guy is slowly putting pressure on Drake’s head.
“No, please don’t.” Fuck, he’s going to crack his skull!
“Don’t what?” He presses harder, making Drake squirm.
“Stop. Whatever he owes, I’ll pay it. Just fucking stop. Now!”
The guy lifts his eyebrows but doesn’t remove his foot. “You’re taking on his debt?”
“Yes.” Dammit! I’m so used to saving his ass I didn’t even consider what the debt is. Not that it matters. They’re going to kill him. “If you’ll leave him alone.”
He saunters over to me, eyes intent. It’s then I notice what he’s wearing. Leather vest, jeans, chain hanging from his hip, and big heavy black boots.
“You’ll deliver three times our original amount exactly one week from today.”
Fuck! If Drake survives this, I’m going to kill him.
“Same time, right here.” He tilts his head to study me. “If you’re late, if the weight is off by even a fraction of an ounce, you and this piece of shit are dead.”
I flick a gaze to Drake, who has rolled to his back, his face not showing even a hint of skin as it’s covered in blood.
“Fine. One week. Here.” I swallow hard and contemplate the predicament Drake’s sorry ass just put me in. “You give me your word. I follow through. You leave us alone.”
He holds his arms out wide. “On my word, brother.”
There’s coughed-up laughter by the men holding me back. I wrench free, and they step back to avoid me swinging. I don’t, but instead rush to my brother.
His face is swollen, puffy slits that don’t show even a hint of his eyes, and his nose and lips are busted. My hands hover over him, unsure where to touch him that won’t hurt.
“See you soon, sunshine.” The biker asshole chuckles through an overgrown mustache and goatee, and they move