Fury and Flame | 3

6 | 2

J A K E

      Tonight, an empire would crumble from its foundation.

      I could barely wait.

I stood before the opaque double doors, unsure of what lay inside. I'd gotten myself in and out of scrapes with Hundsen before, but this time was different. More was at play then the two of us. Normally, I had every detail painstakingly planned out, but I'd known that this encounter would be more or less left up to chance.

Of course, I would do the best I could. But even I didn't know exactly what would take place tonight.

      I strode through the front doors—unprotected, since I'd bribed the guards. It had taken more hassle than it was worth, as they were Hundsen's security. But I'd won in the end.

      This was the same place I had the assassin spy in; I had to lie about where I was going in case she attempted anything. No one would know where I was. And that was how I needed it.

It was as luxurious on the inside as it had been on the outside. The walls were a dark mahogany and covered in maroon curtains. I passed by several closed doors—offices, probably. It appeared Hundsen had widened his operation here.

      The lower-ceilinged hallway opened up to a much larger room ahead. In the center of it, a massive table was situated, chairs filled with members. Even more men stood on the far end of the room, listening to whatever Hundsen had to say. I'd known he would have them assembled; after I didn't show for the fight three nights ago, he had them on high alert. And that meant he wasn't sure of my next move.

      Half of the men in the room had their guns pulled on me before I even entered into it. I continued walking forward until they could all see me. At the commotion, Hundsen stood and turned around. I could have shot him right then and there.

      "Evans," he said, smile widening. "You decided to grace us with your presence." A few men snorted at his dry statement. "Why are you here?"

      "I'm here to fight your men."

      "You're here to fight my men?" He repeated, turning to his men and smiling, like they shared a joke I wasn't let in on. "And you have the audacity to call me insane."

"You heard me. Is this going to happen, or are you all talk like everyone says you are?"

"I don't know what kind of a Club member would wish violence on his brothers," he said, cocking his head to the side. "Though I suppose you're not one of us anymore."

I saw what he was doing: he hadn't told his men about the fight, so he was twisting my words to make me look like a deranged idiot who stumbled in here ready to fight a losing battle. He wanted the men loyal to me to doubt my leadership skills. Unluckily for him, I'd foreseen this and forced Scotty to let me keep the letter without Hundsen's knowledge.

      Pulling it out of my pocket, I threw it on the table for them all to read. "I don't know what kind of a leader lies to his men and makes deals with his enemies. But then again, here we are."

      "So you accept the deal," Hundsen said, black eyes boring into me. My slight victory hadn't gone unnoticed—and wouldn't go unpunished.

      "I accept the deal. If I win, I get the Club."

      "Yes." He was still staring at me and I wondered what was going through his depraved mind. To his men, he ordered, "Check him for weapons."

      They surged forward at his command and searched me, taking my gun, two knives and a switchblade and throwing them on a side table. I held perfectly still and didn't take my eyes off Hundsen.