That One Ride

12. The King Of Berk

"Alvin."

When he came through that door, he didn't really have planned what he was going to say. But, if working for Alvin has taught him anything, you should always know a way to lie yourself out of the mess. And boy did he learn how to lie. He closed all of his emotions off, every part of his body relaxing to not show any fear. You don't want Alvin to see you scared. Ever.

"Hunter. Mind telling me why you came inside without knocking?" The raspy voice he had still sent chills down his spine, a crescendo that didn't seem to end. He was teasing him. He controlled the streets of this town, he didn't knock. He steeled his eyes, puffing out his chest just the littlest bit to make himself bigger. He raised his head and held it proud, his fists clenching tightly.

"Do you mind telling me why you sent someone to my house in the middle of the day?" his voice was cold and vicious, just like he taught him, not leaving any room for discussion. He saw Alvin's left little finger twitch, a mannerism he was able to pick apart over the years, which meant he was not at all that confident about what he was going to say in reply. He could hardly contain his smirk.

"I will if you keep speaking to me like that. Know your place boy." Alvin replied with a snarl, but Hunter saw trough it. He didn't like to threaten him, Hunter knew that, so this was something that he had to do in order to keep the troops happy. Such as someone as Savage.

"My place? Last time I checked, it was by your side, making sure nothing bad happened and business went smoothly. Am I not your second-in-command?" It wasn't something he was very proud of, but it did have its perks. Like having access to all the shipment dates and meets. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, right? He saw Savage frown angrily at the mention of him being second to Alvin. Savage wasn't his real name, but you don't need to have a wild imagination to assume why they call him that. He was huge, dark hair and even darker eyes framed by bags under his eyes from countless nights of no sleep. His skin was a weird color. White, but as if it was always smudged by coal on some spots. Savage was Alvin's second before he came, but that changed four years ago when he screwed up a shipment, but Hunter was able to get it all back. Of course, he might have bribed the dealers to make a bit of a mess to frame Savage.

"It won't be for long if you keep going like that. I'm warning you Hunter, I'm not known as a patient man." Alvin's fists clenched and Savage was doing a poor job of containing his smile.

"I'm quite aware of that Alvin. But you can't expect me to just stand by as you go through my house during the day, attack my dog and go through my computer. Would you sit by if someone went through all your files? You being a criminal aside?"

Alvin's mouth was clenching and unclenching, thinking it over in his mind. Savage wasn't looking so confident now. If he had to guess, Savage was the one to persuade Alvin into sending people to his house. Not like that was much of a surprise. Ever since he became second-in-command, he has been trying to get it back. He didn't frame Savage to become second because he actually wanted to become second. It was part of the plan. But to Savage, it was personal. He could understand that. The plan he was part of was personal too.

"Thought so. Alvin, how could you even think that I would snitch to the police? If I wanted to, I could have sent you all behind bars years ago. God knows I had enough chances. But I didn't. Doesn't that tell you anything?" He saw that Alvin was going emotional, something he rarely saw, but something only he could cause in him. For obvious reasons.

"I guess not. You probably listened to him again," he pointed to Savage directly, not even bothering to acknowledge Savage's protest. "Instead of trusting me. I thought that after seven years, we've covered that."