Arranged love

GRAVE

THE AIRPORT IS to the Mason brothers as Kingdom is to us Kings. They rule their domain. But the Kings run shit through a legit casino whereas the Mason boys run most of theirs illegally.

I pull up into the parking lot that back in the day was filled with rental cars.

The Mason brothers live like the Kings. Nothing is out of reach. They live like the billionaires they are. Running a multi-billion-dollar business has its perks.

Getting out, I walk through the parking lot and up to the double doors in the back like I own the place.

“Grave, didn’t know you were fighting tonight,” a man by the name of Miles says when I walk by.

“I’m not,” I call out, walking over to the elevator. It takes me up to the fifth level, and when I get out, two men meet me with machine guns pointed right at me.

“Oh,” Harry says. “Sorry, Grave.”

“No worries,” I say as they lower their weapons. The brothers keep this place highly guarded for many reasons. One is that there are always a few million dollars on-site. Cash that they keep in a safe room, but still. Over the years, men have tried to gain access to it. The place was even set on fire once, but not one penny was stolen. All four men were hung the following night.

The Mason brothers used them as an example.

I nod to the two guys and shoulder past them. Coming to the door at the end of the hall, I open it and enter. Four guys sitting at a round table. Trey Mason looks up at me. His dark eyes crinkle around the edges from his wide smile. He wears his shoulder holster with a Desert Eagle in each one. They look too big for his smaller build. Leaning back in his seat, he takes a drag from his cigarette before blowing it out. “Grave.”

The man who stands at the table to the right, stuffing guns into cases, turns and looks at me. It’s Tanner Mason. He’s the eldest brother, and I thought he was in prison. Without another word, he goes back to packaging the weapons.

Trey stands and walks over to me, pulling me in for a manly handshake/hug. He slaps my back. “What’s been going on?”

“Not much,” I say, looking around the room. “Where’s Turner?” He usually handles these types of situations. He’s the middle brother. Trey, here, is the baby. They don’t let him take care of much when it comes to business. And I really don’t want to have to speak to Tanner. He hates me but has a legitimate reason to.

“He’s loading the truck, preparing for a run to Phoenix tomorrow,” he answers, checking his watch.

I nod. Among other things, the Mason brothers sell weapons and ammo to the Mexican Cartel. They are in as deep as you can get with them.

“Grave?” A guy who sits at the round table stares up at me. I can tell by the look in his eyes that he’s high. Not to mention the lines of coke that sit before him on a small mirror. “I know you.”

“I don’t know you,” I counter.

He smirks. “You won me twenty thousand last weekend.”

Ahh, I see. My fight. “You’re welcome.”

“I told you,” Trey adds. “The guy never loses a fight.”

“Why are you here, Grave?” Tanner acknowledges me. His voice shows his irritation.

I square my shoulders. “May I speak to the two of you?” Might as well include him. If he’s present, he’s the boss. “Privately?”

Tanner’s eyes drop to the duffel bag I’m carrying and nods. “In the office.” He gestures his chin to the door at the back of the room.

Trey and I follow him and enter the room. On the wall behind the desk is a massive picture of a woman framed in black wood. The camera is above, looking down on her. She lies flat on her back in the middle of a king-size bed with her arms and legs spread wide open. Each limb is tied to each wooden corner post with rope. There’s a black blindfold covering her eyes. Her fake tits stand straight up even though she’s lying flat on her back. Both nipples pierced with spikes. Her mouth is held open with an O-ring open-mouth gag connected to a leather head harness. On her stomach is written use me in black magic marker.

Rumor is their father gave it to them when they took over his business. It’s a reminder that men do as they please. They come as they please. Women are just toys to be used.

“What is it that you want, Grave?” Tanner asks, sitting at the desk, getting my attention. “Need some fire power?”

“Not today.” I toss the bag onto the surface and unzip it. “It’s fifty grand.”

Tanner arches a brow, looking down at it, then back up at me. “If you want someone dead, you’ll have to pay more than that.”

Trey snorts.

I don’t need a hitman. “I can do that on my own.” We never use the Masons for help. My brother actually hates them. Titan has nothing to do with them. I don’t mind them and neither does Cross. I used to spend a lot of time with Trey back in the day until we got fucked up together, and he did a job that led to Tanner going to jail. “This is about April.”

His brows pull together. “Is that supposed to mean something?”

“Roses,” I state.

“Ah, the little flower shop.” He nods. “What about it?”

“Her brother owes you money. And this …” I point at the money. “Is the payment.”

Trey smiles. “So my goonies were able to make him pay up. Was he too afraid to come pay me himself?”

“No.”

“Then what …?”

“I’m doing this for his sister.” Trey’s brows rise at the declaration. “When your goonies showed up, she was the only one there.”

He says nothing at that because he already knew. His guys would have reported that back to him. So he is also aware that they put their hands on her.

“So … you’re paying the kid’s debt.” Tanner speaks. “How generous of you.”

My teeth grind. Showing concern for a woman shows weakness. And I’ve been fucking his little sister for years with no care in the world. “I told him he will be paying me back.”

“I’m listening.” Tanner leans forward at the desk.

“His ass will be in your ring. Fighting. Until I’m paid in full with interest.”

He nods. “I’ll put him on the roster.”

Knew he wouldn’t mind. “One more thing.”Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.

“What is it?” He sighs, looking at his watch as though I’m keeping him from something important.

“Promise me that you won’t return to Roses.”

“Grave …”

I wasn’t done. “And you won’t touch April.”

He stands, his shoulders squaring. The Mason brothers don’t like being told what to do. The Kings don’t necessarily work with them. We each stay in our own corners, per se. But I need his word because I’ll hold him to it.

He begins to walk around the desk, leaning up against it, and places his hands in the front pockets of his black jeans. “And you?”

“What about me?” I ask, already knowing exactly where this is headed. I expected it.

“I want you on that roster. You fight. Here.”

I haven’t fought here in years. Growing up, this is where I came. Back then, you were limited on where you could beat the shit out of someone. Now that I own Kingdom, I can walk into that ring whenever the fuck I want. I’m not an MMA fighter or a boxer. I don’t do it for the money. I do it because I literally want to beat the shit out of someone. But I knew coming in that the money wasn’t going to be enough. Not when they’re presented with an opportunity to make more. I’d do the same thing. “I’ll fight.”

Finally, he nods. “Then you have my word. We won’t touch Roses or April. But I can’t make any promises on the kid. He’s here a lot. This isn’t the first time he’s owed us money.”

“I’ll handle him,” I state. I’ll wrap a fucking shock collar around his neck, if need be.

“Then it’s settled.” He picks up the bag and walks out. Probably to go put it in the safe room.

Trey comes over to me and slaps me on the shoulder. “Let’s have some fun.”