Page 30 of Dock

“Bes.”

Removing the firearm is attached to the order, “Speak.”

“This shipment – all of the shipment – was for the Mayfields new acquaintances, the Berkleys – they’re from Keleston, I believe – and while yes, I am very well aware of the Misfit protocol in regard to smuggling, it seems that they simply disregarded your wishes-”

“Rules, Harry.” I press the muzzle to his temple. “They. Are. Rules.”

“Yes. Yes. Rules,” he expeditiously attempts to correct. “They decided to break your rules in spite of the warnings and insistence on not doing so; therefore, I strongly believe that it is them who is responsible for paying the penance I now have no doubt is owed.”

“Problem?” Dive asks upon his arrival to the situation.

“Dear Lord, I hope not…” mutters Harry in a pleading fashion.

“The Broker here decided to take on new clients.”

“Profitable.”

“Those new clients wanted their items smuggled in from Cuba.”

“Expensive.”

“And those new clients decided to disregard our rules by including a child in their manifest marked as an ‘exotic pet’.”

“The kid that Kegger’s about to take to Lady.”

“That’s the one.”

“Oh, brah,” the blondest member of our Chapter playfully scolds, unholstering his own gun during his distance closing, “you know better.”

“I do!” shrieks Harry. “I most certainly do! Please, do not kill me!” Hyperventilating is accompanied by sweat steadily seeping down his nose. “This was not my fault! I am a mere middleman! An innocent third party-”

“No, the innocent is the child we’re rescuing from a life he never agreed to,” I harshly correct in tandem with wedging my weapon deeper into his damp flesh.

“Never!” he loudly cries out. “I would never knowingly betray your club in such a fashion! You know that!” His eyes briefly shut, and I’m unsure if it’s tears or more sweat that cascades down his cheeks. “You must believe me!”

“The only thing we must do, brah,” Dive grabs a hold of his chin, forcing his eyes to make contact, “is guarantee this shit doesn’t happen again.” He plants his weapon against Harry’s lips. “That we keep the oath we took as Misfits.” Gibberish attempts escape out of the man we may have to kill today. “But,” there’s a thought pondering bobbing of his head side to side, “since you claim you had no clue-”

“Bibit!”

“And you have never done anything like this before-”

“Bebber!”

“And we know you’ll never do something like it again-”

“Bebmerbagain,” leaves his almost completely sealed lips.

“We’ll just take their shipment as collateral and give you a reminder of what happens when you break the law. Sound fair?”

Harry desperately nods in agreement.

“Dock,” our eyes momentarily meet, “you’re up.”

Not grinning is impossible.

It’s fucked up, I know.

But I like this part of my job.