Pulling into the parking lot of the Triple H Bar is like arriving at a country concert. The parking lot is packed full of big trucks, jeeps, and motorcycles, There are even a few Bentleys to the side. Tonight is going to be busy since there is another huge show being performed. On the card is a local band just starting in the business but I know they will do well, they opened up for some guys that frequent the bar, and put their blessing on them. I drove around back and parked in my normal spot, jumped out, and grabbed my gear. I don’t have to lock it for two reasons, there is nothing in there to steal besides the radio, and two, if you steal anything in this lot you’re offering your life up in trade. Not by me of course, Mr. Wyrmwood does not take kindly to theft in any form and, he takes it personally if any of his clientele is taken advantage of.
Walking up to the back door I see the new guy Jimmy on duty. Jimmy is a good kid with a good heart, he has dreams of going to school at Texas A&M for a degree in sports medicine. He seems to know his stuff and I wish him the best of luck with his future. I am just hoping that summer doesn’t kill him. He is a little too alert with his surroundings for the job. He has noticed that not everyone who comes here is your normal customer and I hope it changes soon, or he can kiss his dreams goodbye, and possibly his life.
“Hey boss, thought you had the night off?” I hear as I approach him.
“Yeah, but Mr.Wyrmwood had some questions about a few upcoming gigs and wanted me to come in to share my thoughts for security.”
He straightened up real quick and a smile leaped across his face. He could barely contain his excitement and with a nervous tone busted out, “If you need any extra help, I would be glad to work those dates. I could use the work and the experience.”
Poor kid had no clue what the world was really like, and who was I to tell him otherwise to bring his world tumbling down? I just gave a smirk, nodded, and reassured him, “I will keep it in mind, Jimmy. Now keep a lookout, people like to sneak into the vehicles when the show is going on.”
He gave a quick nod and stared back out into the graveyard of a parking lot, looking for any non-do-gooders. I almost chuckled to myself as I slid through the door behind him. The crowd roared with cheers and bellowed out enjoyment from the show at the front of the club. It looked like a good showing for the local boys. I made my way through the back toward Lucian’s office, passing the security office, the dressing rooms, and the lounge I ended up face-to-face with Samuel.
“Evening Samuel, how fair you this night?” Keeping the tone as professional as possible so anyone listening doesn’t put together that we are actual friends. It is not that I can’t be friends with whomever I want, but in this place, I need to make sure my two worlds never are seen blending. Samuel understands and always follows suit.
“Daj I am doing well thanks for asking. Mr. Wyrmwood would like to see you as soon as possible. He has some guests he needs to introduce you to.” He steps to the side of the stairs and allows me to pass. Showing my normal pleasantries, I nod in his direction and then head up the stairwell past him.
Once we start up the stairs, Samuel leans in and whispers in a very questioning tone, “What the hell are you wearing? Dad is so going to be pissed when he sees you. He told you to dress appropriately. You are my best friend, but when he sees you I hope I don’t have to find a new one.”
All I could think in my head was, if it is good enough for Johnny it is good enough for anyone. If it is good enough for Johnny it is good enough for anyone. When we come to the end of the hall there are two huge solid wooden doors, the kind that would be on some Hollywood Star’s house. They are about eight inches thick and I believe they each weigh about eighty pounds. Both doors swing wide open before I come to a complete stop in front of them. Blocking the entrance now was a mountain of a man if you could classify him as a man. The being stood about seven foot two inches tall and looked to be about three hundred and seventy pounds of pure kick ass in a four thousand dollar suit. The scent he projected was that of a predator of a carnivore nature and was looking for something to chew on. His small beady black eyes looked at me with a deadpan stare.
He must use this technique a lot to intimidate people in his world so I did the only thing reasonable in this situation, I returned his deep gaze with a look of your boring me. I could tell from a gleam in his eye he wasn’t used to having someone stare directly at him, as his jaw tightened and I have seen a vein on the left side of his neck starting to pulse vigorously.
With a firm but non-threatening resonance in my voice, I simply said, “You’re in my way, please move.”
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
The man became tenser, he moved his left foot back about six inches and started to bring his hands up to my chest, but before he could touch Mr. Cash on my chest, my right hand was holding a loaded and cocked Sig to the still pulsing vein in his neck. He froze in an instant, I said I was a commoner I never said I was slow. The dark pupils in his eyes grew four times in size the instant he realized he fucked up. I stood there calmly and slightly cocked my head to the side, while still staring at his full-blown pupils. Never blinking and never moving, I just stood there and listened. The whole room fell quiet at the exact moment that they realized what was happening at the doorway.
Someone in the background started to move, but I heard Lucian clear his throat and the movement stopped. The mountain in front of me only moved his eyes from left to right and back to see if there was any help coming to his aid, he found none. I didn’t speak for another full minute; the time seemed to pass like molasses in winter. A small bead of sweat leaked its way to the surface of the mountain's forehead and started to run down his right eyebrow. I straightened my head up and made the same statement in the same tone as the previous one. “You’re in my way, please move.”
This time the mountain took the hint and took two steps backward and to the right never taking his eyes off me. I did not follow him; I simply took a statuesque stance in place and waited for him to stop moving. Once the mountain came to a stop and was not about to move, I un-cocked the gun slipped it back into the holster and let my shirts fall back into their original location to cover them back up, and then waited patiently for my invitation to enter.
My resolve brought a huge smile to Lucian’s face. The vampire’s smile was from ear to ear in pure enjoyment of how the situation panned out. Lucian loves to know that the people he employs have a backbone and are willing to stand up to any challenges that come their way. Once he realized I was waiting to be invited in, he came to terms with the room and said he spoke in a most generous and joyous tone he spoke in a most generous and joyous tone.
“Mr. Hoyle, Arbiter of the Supernatural world and my guest for this evening. Please enter my office under the laws of the land, and take notice that you will be safe in my place of business. Also, take refuge in knowing that no harm will fall upon you as long as you are my guest.” He then scanned the room to make sure he was noticed before finishing with, “And if anyone wishes to press my resolve in such a manner, you will find the outcome to be unflattering for you.”
I bow to Lucian and before I enter the room I pronounce my attention for being here. “Thank you Mr. Wyrmwood for your invitation. I was called upon this evening as the Arbiter for a matter I have not been made aware of. I will honor my host in the utmost manner as long as I come to no harm. If I believe harm will befall me, I will act per the laws of the land and make sure I survive this meeting. Are my terms agreed upon by all in the room? If so raise your left arm.” Then I wait for a response.
In one unanimous motion, everyone in the room raised their hand in approval, even Sam behind me raised it. I damn near busted out laughing. I bowed again and then entered the room. As I passed the mountain to my right he tightened up but did not budge a single muscle. The room looked like that out of a movie. There was a huge desk in front of a giant window that overlooked the club floor below. The carpet on the floor was a nice black with red and blue slashes spread out through it. There was a small bar area on the left side of the room that had about four guys standing at it. On the right side of the room, there was a huge fish tank that had about six saltwater fish in it. Blocking the view of the tank was about another three gentlemen. There are two big chairs in front of the desk that Lucian is standing behind. The two chairs each had a gentleman in them with another man standing behind them.
I make my way across the room to shake the hand of the host for the evening’s event, Lucian. I do this first to show him the respect he deserves, for allowing this meeting to take place in his business. I then turned to the two men to my right, since I already knew them. One was Samuel’s father, Jebidiah Longstrum the leader of the Nashville wolf pack. The next man was his second in command Leo Detti, he came to the area about ten years ago and worked his way up in the ranks of the pack. I don’t know much about him, but from the stories around him, he is dangerous, lethal, and very loyal to Jebidiah. I shook both of their hands with a slight bow as well.
My attention was then made to the men to my left, whom I had never seen before. The first one was tall with a slender build but looked like he owned the room. The charcoal black suit screamed Armani, and he had a crimson red tie with a matching handkerchief. Short black hair that was combed backward, cleanly shaven, and a defining jawline. On his right hand, he was wearing a ring that looked to be made of gold, that had an insignia on it, and engulfing his wrist was a gold matching Rolex. The shoes looked to be made of alligator and they were very well polished. There was a power that radiated from this man and I could tell by how the others never kept their gaze on him, he was feared or respected, maybe even both.
The man behind him was about six feet tall and about one hundred and thirty pounds. His jet-black hair was combed straight back. He also adorned a suit that would cost in the thousands, but his black suit was trimmed with a cobalt blue tie and matching handkerchief. He was also wearing a gold watch which I presumed was a Rolex, and matching gold cufflinks. If I had to make a guess I would say he was either the man’s bodyguard or second in command. He stood there with his hands behind him, like someone you would see in the armed services. As I went to shake the hand of the bigger gentleman, he introduced himself to me as he took a firm forceful grip.