Page 10 of Ravaged By the Dark

“Yo man, we got security patrol coming,” Cody said.

Renee’s eyes flicked to her brother’s, and at that moment, she hated him more than she hated her mother for leaving. He was her older brother, the last man in the house, her brave protector, and once her best friend. Now she didn’t recognize the man who would allow someone to threaten her like this.

“I don’t care about fake Po-Po.”

“We don’t need the heat,” Cody said, and Tyson shot him a glare.

“You do look fine, Bambi.” He emphasized her stripper name, and she knew then he’d seen her mostly naked, and she could feel bile rising in the back of her throat. “ ‘Til later.”

Tyson gave her a wink and slowly sauntered away, his posse in toe. Cody never looked back, and she could feel more tears threatening to make an appearance.

“Nae Nae?”

Renee immediately let go of J.J.’s head, completely forgetting that she was still pressing him into her leg. “Yeah, sweetie, what’s up?”

“I don’t like him.”

“Neither do I, J.J., neither do I.” Renee stared down at her brother’s wide brown eyes and sighed.

Not that she wanted Tyson to follow through on his threat, but as she watched them disappear into dots in the distance, she wondered why he hadn’t taken her already. Fear like lead settled in her stomach, so she needed a new plan. Her first order of business was to find a way to move somewhere safe. She needed to get the fuck away from the Crimson Vipers, and more importantly, Tyson.

As soon as he and Tyson walked away from his sister, Cody knew there was a good chance he was fucked. The look Tyson had given him was one of pure murder. Everyone assumed he’d earned the scar on his face from a fight with another gang. But the truth was Tyson gave it to him when he dared to question an order in front of a potential supplier.

They drove to the warehouse in silence, and by the time they arrived, Cody’s hands were slick with sweat. He may have turned into a mean SOB, but Tyson was next-gen fucked. He was the type to rip your balls off and eat them raw while you bled out. Cody cringed as he recalled the memory of the last guy Tyson had tortured to death. So many screams rattled around in his head they could make a mother fucking choir.

“Ice Man, office, now,” Tyson said as they walked into the spacious building. Cody swallowed hard and was given concerned looks by the rest of the group.

He followed like the obedient dog he was.

“Close the door.” He once more did as he was asked and stood like a statue, waiting for his punishment.

“Good job with that deal today,” Tyson said.

“I’m sorry, what?” he asked, his brain racing backward to the very beginning of the day and the large business deal he’d nailed down with one of the smaller gangs needing product to move.

Tyson laid his Glock down on the table and lit up a cigar. “You heard me, don’t make me repeat myself.”

“I thought you were upset with me, is all.” Cody took a small step toward his leader.

“You mean about the security?” Cody nodded. “Fuck, are you paranoid or something?” He laughed. Unsure what response was appropriate, so Cody simply smiled. “Naw, you were right, I would have killed them, and that would have been difficult to wipe away. Sit down. I hate when you stand over me.” Cody dropped into the chair across from his boss. “We do have an issue, though. I said I’d wait to claim your sister, but that’s not going to work for me anymore.”

“But…” Cody started. Tyson laid his hand on his gun, and the words froze in Cody’s mouth.

“That bitch sister of yours needs to be trained. She’s always been disrespectful, but each year older she gets, the more mouthy and resistant she becomes. I don’t tolerate anyone disrespecting me, not even that hot piece of ass.”

“I can warn her to cut it out, get her in line. I just want her to finish school, and she’s almost done. Please, I’ve been a good member, loyal, and I will continue to be forever. Just let her finish school.” Cody’s heart was pounding hard. He knew that his sister hated him, and that was fine as long as his being here kept her safe.

Tyson sat back in the chair and laid his head back, ringlets of smoke puffing into the air comically. “When does she finish?”

“Two months.”

“Fine, I’ll wait the two months, but you better get the bitch on the right page. She’s mine. I own her ass.”

“I’ll speak to her.”

“See to it that you do. Now get out and send a couple of the girls in.”

“Which ones?” Cody stood and headed for the door.