Runner (Riders of Apollo #3)

Chapter Twenty-Four: Mika Sage

The most frustrating thing is sitting behind this desk, staring at a computer screen and waiting for the action to start. It has to be the most painful experience I've had in awhile, though the fight that occurred a few days ago left me the same way. Thankfully, both Ollie and Gem are asleep in Hunter's room and the rest of us are gathered in the lounge to watch the footage on the projector screen.

The women are silent and the prospects have taken to playing cards in the corner, seemingly not to care about their brothers who are going into what could be heavy fire. I turn the camera on it's axis and can finally spot our men creeping in from all four entrances, the security on the doors either unconscious or dead and the audience none the wiser. They're watching Skullcrusher beat the living shit out of another guy, who looks inches from death.

His face is smashed in and his torso is covered in marbled bruising, his knuckles dripping with blood and his body sinking in on itself. Not long until that fight is over and the next one starts. I know Bear's idea is to pen everyone in and then scare them into fucking off and if they're seen at the next fight then they will be killed. While this is a solid plan, they're are going to be people who are unhappy with the way this goes and it's gonna be the trained fighters who get paid to do this.

It's a very volatile situation and Hunter has planned for every eventuality, even Breaker reassured me that everything would go well. Unfortunately, even Breaker can't predict the ending of this. I take a deep breath and hold it as all of our men step out of the shadows, having surrounded all of them and slamming the overhead lights on taking everyone by surprise. "Who the fuck are you?" The guy that has tried recruiting Raphe takes the head of the pack, facing down Reign not Bear.

"You should know, you are operating in our territory." Reign's voice is soft, the deep baritone floating across the room and seeming much louder. He has a lot of power behind him even though he's the Enforcer and is probably considered our 'deadliest' member even with Breaker's extra strength because he plans extensive torture beforehand while Breaker just gets caught up in the fight. 

"You're those bikers, I suppose." The businessman is trying to look brave, his fake bravado crumbling under the beads of sweat and shaking hands. He really should've thought this through, taking on such a formidable enemy without even knowing them. "I heard you swore in some woman, bad decision on your behalf, where is she anyway? Cleaning the dishes and doing your laundry?"

Everyone who knows Reign and Saviour take a sharp breath, knowing that could've been the worst thing he could've said to Reign especially when he's ready to go into battle. He'll find any excuse to pop off and murder everyone. "Speak of my wife again and I will tear your fucking tongue out and make you choke on your own blood." His eyes have a sparkle of crazy in them as he stares down the businessman and Saviour shivers.

Normal people would think that she's disgusted but we know she's turned on. Both of them are absolutely mental but we love them anyway. The businessman pales further, trying to scoot away from Reign who has gotten uncomfortably close, his knife poised to make good on his promise. 

"Stand down, Reign." Immediately, Reign's blade returns to its holster and he backs up to stand to Bear's right. "I've let you get away with operating in my territory for awhile but this is no longer beneficial for me so I'd like you to fuck off. Take your guys and get out of here and my men and I won't kill you."

"What makes you think I'd do that? I've gotten away with this for years." His cocky tone is amusing, especially with the 'I don't give a fuck' face that Bear is currently sporting.

"You started three years ago and I let you, your business brought potential prospects for me so I was quite happy for you to keep going. Your men gave me cuts of their cash and I've had a few men work out of here selling and making bets off of you and your stupidity. I would've continued to leave you alone if you hadn't had one of my men stabbed." The businessman pales even further, bordering on green and I hold in a laugh. He really is out of his league here.

"I-I-I didn't have anyone stabbed."

"The stitches in my side say different." Raphe is behind him at this point and I can see the businessman's eyes squint in anger before he spins around in his posh brogues to focus on Raphe, who looks way too comfortable in this environment. God, if Saviour hadn't trained him we wouldn't be in this mess.

"You're a Rider, why am I not surprised? I suppose that means Siren is the woman you swore in?"

"She's known as Saviour now." Bear responds, his face bland and unimpressed. He really wants this over with and the businessman is just being extra irritating to try and extend his life.

"And why is she not here? Hmm? Too scared to face my men again?" Our boys laugh, probably loud enough to scare people as people shuffle uncomfortably and try to get away from them.

"Trust me, she's not scared. She's dealing with bigger problems than your sorry ass." Mac is still laughing as he explains where his daughter-in-law is.

"We've given you the warning Mr Bainbridge, clear out. Consider this mercy because we've killed for less." Bear is content leaning on one of the pillars in the room with Hunter and Reign flanking him.

Mr Bainbridge just smirks and the power cuts. The cameras only showing static seconds after the building was plunged into darkness. I avidly start typing on the computer as everyone surrounds me, still silent but pale this time as they use their eyes to ask me if I can do anything.

"I can't get any footage, the entire grid in that area is down." I pull up a camera from a street over and all we can hear is bullets and screams, muzzle flashes burst everywhere before the entire building erupts into flames.

Our men would've come out the other door so I can tell who is alive but I do see Mr Bainbridge and a few of his men come out. His men carrying an unconscious body and looking mighty proud of themselves.

No. "They have Runner." Saviour is the first to break the silence, her hand resting on my shoulder in comfort. No. No. He can't be gone.