Shit’s about to get real.
My muscles tighten, ready for action, while my heartbeat starts speeding up.
“Bro, pack up your shit and leave my hood,” the leader says, his chin lifted in a dare.
Berisha lets out a lazy chuckle. “You leave.”
The gang banger looks back at his men, shaking his head. “Can you believe this motherfucker?”
Noticing a number eight tattooed on all their necks, I assume it’s their gang insignia.
Eight.
Leaning closer to Joseph, I whisper, “I think this is the entire gang.”
“You got something to say, motherfucker?” the leader shouts at me, drawing his weapon and pointing at my feet.
My fingers flex around the handle of my gun, and I just stare at the stupid fucker while adrenaline starts flooding my veins.
“Enough talking,” Berisha mutters, and then all hell breaks loose as he plants a bullet between the leader's eyes.
I grab Joseph’s arm and yank him behind our car. Shoving him down, I use the vehicle as cover and quickly look for a clear shot. Training my barrel on the nearest gangster as he runs to take cover behind his own car, I take the shot, the bullet slamming into his back. He sprawls over the concrete floor, his weapon sliding beneath a Cadillac.
Joseph moves to get up, and it has me barking, “Stay the fuck down.” I duck as one of the fuckers opens fire on us.
Joseph laughs, shaking his head while letting out a holler of excitement.
Our eyes meet for a moment, and I see trust shining from his before I dart up to fire another shot. Two gangsters have taken cover, taking turns to open fire on us.
I glance at Berisha, who nods his head toward the gangsters, showing for me to move. He opens fire on them to distract them, and I break out into a run. Nearing the vehicle, I drop to my side, and the momentum has me sliding into place. My breaths burst from me, my heart thundering in my ears. Through the gap between the car and the floor, I take my shots, hitting them both in their ankles. As they drop, I empty my clip in their bodies.
When silence falls in the warehouse, I focus on calming my breaths as I move onto my knees. Lifting my eyes, it’s to meet Joseph’s as he walks toward me.
Holding out his hand, he pulls me up and instantly throws his arms around me in a brotherly hug. “Fucking knew you wouldn’t let me down.” Pulling back, his hands settle on the sides of my neck, pride shining from his eyes. “My brother.”
Berisha comes to pat me on the shoulder, and even he looks impressed. “You did good. Second test passed.”
“Like I said he would,” Joseph brags, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
Glancing to where the bodies are scattered on the floor, I wait for the guilt to hit, but it doesn’t.
Joseph's pride draws a smile from me, then he shoves me toward the driver’s side of our car. “Let’s get out of here.”
We all head back to Jezebel’s to celebrate, and while I have Joseph alone, I ask, “You knew it would be my second test?”
He nods. “I didn’t want you to worry.”
“Is that why you were so tense?”
He gives me a grin. “I never doubted you, Danny.” Our eyes lock for a moment, and the bond between us intensifies. “I knew you’d man up to the task.”
Knowing I have Joseph’s trust and now Berisha’s as well, it eases the knot in my stomach from worrying about being caught out.
“What’s next?” I ask, pulling the car into the alley next to the club.
“There will be a party where the new soldiers are welcomed. You’ll get your third task from Zef, who’s the boss's right-hand man.”
Keeping my expression neutral, I ask, “Who’s the boss?”
“Vaso Bregu. You’ll get to meet him at the party,” Joseph informs me.
We climb out of the car and walk toward the side entrance. “Have you met him?”
Joseph nods. “Also Armand, Vaso’s older brother. He’s the one in charge of everything, but we only meet with them once a year.”
“At this party?” Giving Joseph a curious look, I ask, “What kind of party?”
Berisha moves in behind the counter, taking a bottle of alcohol out. “Today, we celebrate with raki.”
I watch as Berisha pours the traditional Albanian drink, and when each of us has a glass, he toasts, “To Danny.”
Swallowing the alcohol, my chest warms.
I’ve made it to the inner circle.
Glancing at the men who now trust me, I feel a sense of camaraderie with them as if I actually belong.
Joseph throws his arm around my shoulder as John fills the glasses again. “Danny wants to know what the party will be like.”
John lets out a low whistle, shaking his head. “All the pussy you can eat for an entire weekend on a yacht.”
Meaning?
Joseph shakes me, a grin on his face. “The hardest part is over, Danny. You can relax. The party is all fun and no work.”
My eyebrows draw together. “What about the test Zef will give me?”
John shakes his head again. “He’ll probably just watch you closely at the party. You’ve proven yourself to us. Stop worrying, and let's celebrate.”
Taking the drink he offers me, relief starts to trickle into my veins, knowing I’ve made it.
JJ
I haven’t seen O’Brien for three days, and I’m about to lose my mind from worry.
Staring at the phone for the hundredth time, I’m tempted to call the number he gave me when there’s a knock at my door. Lunging from the couch, I run and yank the door open. My eyes scour over every inch of O’Brien, and when I’m sure he’s not hurt, I dart forward, faceplanting against his chest. “My God, I was so worried.”
His arms wrap around me, and I’m lifted from my feet. He moves us into the apartment, and after shutting the door, he holds me tightly.
My relief shudders through me and clinging to him, I take deep breaths, filling my lungs with his scent.
Once I have my emotions under control, I ask, “Where have you been?”
My question has O’Brien pulling back. He steps away from me and heads to the couch, dropping down on it. “I had jobs to do.”
I take my usual seat across from him, my gaze glued to his face and searching for any sign that I’m losing him to the Albanians. The scruff on his jaw is darker, thicker. The intense look in his eyes is sharper, more guarded.
Apprehension trickles into my heart. “What kind of jobs?”
“Mostly debt collecting.” He pauses, his eyes flicking away from me. “I made it to the inner circle.”
God.
The blow hits much harder than I expected, making my body sway for a moment. My voice is nothing more than a hoarse whisper when I ask, “You killed?”
It takes a long, heartbreaking moment before his eyes flick back to me, then he nods.
There’s no guilt for the life he took.
Another blow hits, breaking my heart for O’Brien and what he was forced to do, but more so, how it’s changing him.
Getting up, I move around the coffee table and sit down beside him. Where I usually would’ve hugged him without hesitation, something holds me back. I take a good look at his face, searching for the reason for my apprehensive feeling. “Look at me, Daniel.”