Page 111 of Knox Unleashed
“It’s a cute name.”
“Imogen Juno Hills. Strong name, strong life. What can we do for you?”
“Got a problem. Name’s Mateo Alvarez. I’m guessing a Miami outfit but we don’t know for sure, yet. Showed up like a warlord. Semis. Missile launcher. Says Paltrow owes him a quarter of a million. He thinks we’re hiding him. Told us weeither produce Paltrow in seven days or give them the quarter of a million. But we don’t have that kind of cash.”
King runs a hand through his hair and Imogen kicks her legs a little. “That’s not small time.”
“We can’t match their firepower either.” I hate to admit that, but we’ve never really needed more than the rifles and handguns we’ve always carried. “They walked right up to my fucking gate. They beat Vandal up pretty bad. Burned him with a cattle prod or something too. Looking at him, I don’t know if he’s ever gonna see again from the mess they made of his face. I want to fuck Alvarez over for that alone.”
“You need backup and supplies.”
It’s not a question, and I appreciate it. I stub my cigarette out.
“Jesus, what I would give for one of those right now,” King mutters. “Rae fucking banned ‘em in the house now that Imogen is here, like I was ever gonna smoke around her. But this little one has been testing her lungs out tonight, and I don’t know who got more fraught about it, me or her.”
I chuckle at that and wonder what I would give up for any kids Maren and I might make. “You look like it suits you, brother.”
He smiles softly at that. “Yeah. Happiest I’ve ever been. Being there with Rae while she gave birth, Immie being a preemie, and having to deal with all that, I felt utterly powerless, for a hot minute. Fucking prayed, Knox. Like, full-on, got down on my knees and prayed. I’m not even religious, but I just wanted my little girl to live. Cried more in the last three months than I have in my entire life. Puts everything in perspective.”
There’s a realness to his words, something raw and unexpected.
“Listen, you don’t need this, Prez. I can handle my territory. Let me talk to Atlanta and see if?—”
“I know you can,” King says. “You’ve been one of the strongest chapters and the best presidents we’ve ever had.”
The words hit hard against my chest. Praise in this game is rare. You do it right, your club thrives. You do it wrong, you get voted down.
“But only fools go to war alone,” he adds.
War.
Yeah.
That’s what all of this is shaping up to be. And, I’ve been itching for action, but not the kind where we’re outmanned and outgunned.
“You said you got seven days, right?”
I nod. “That’s what they said.”
“Then, I’ll send some of my men down. En route, they can collect arms from other clubs on the way. I’ll get those clubs to meet up with them along the I-75 or catch them at rest stops. I’ll find out who has semis and compensate them for sending them your way.”
I start to refuse but then realize it’s my pride talking, given help is the reason I called in the first place. “I’ll take all the help I can get.”
“I’ll also ask each club to provide a few men. Can’t guarantee the quality you’ll get, but I estimate it’ll yield thirty or forty men. You might want to get your road captain to meet the convoy to ride them in. Those swamplands are creepy as fuck.”
I laugh at that. “You live in one of the roughest places in New Jersey.”
King shakes his head. “You have alligators and snakes and shit.” He shudders at that.
Imogen cries out, and King puts his hand on her back, rubbing smooth circles. “Hey, hey, I know. You’re hungry. We’ll go find you the food your mom pumped before she left. Sorry,Knox. I gotta go, but one last thing. I’m gonna send you a quarter of a million dollars.”
“What?” My mouth opens.
“It’s not your fault that someone is looking for a man I gave approval to be killed. Nor that he’d run up this kind of debt and someone would come looking for him to pay. I’ll send it to you. I trust you to do what’s right. You think he’ll go away once he has the money and it saves all your fucking lives, give it to him. But if you think he’ll keep coming back and creep onto your turf and those precious weapons routes, then stand your ground.”
“Understood,” I say.
Imogen’s snuffles are temporarily soothed when King supports the back of her head with his wide palm. “They’ll be on the road in the morning. You’re not alone in this, Knox. Remember that.”
