Chapter 6

Chris.

Chris walks back into the bar that is smelling of the triple S, sex, sweat, and smoke. Dead soldiers lying on the bar and on the floor. Legends are cranking out the blues tonight. He was actually hoping that the music would relax his troubled mind, now that he knew Sabine was okay, he could finally rest a little easier. The person he really needed to speak to has yet to grace everyone with his presence. Thor has been MIA for the day, no one has seen or heard from him.

Sitting at a table with a drink in hand, foot bopping to the mellow sounds of Nina Simone’s Feeling Good wafting through the speakers, wow how appropriate for Sabine when Thor walks in. His presence is felt before you even see him. His six-foot frame intimidating as he wades through the sea of people in the club, walking toward me.

Thor sits down, crossing his large arms over his broad chest, pushing the table back with his feet to accommodate his large body.

“What’s up Chris, what was so urgent, that it couldn’t wait for tomorrow?” his voice so deep it sounds like thunder booming. Chris tipped his beer back, cleared his throat, and took a deep breath before speaking.

“Pres.” Chris starts to say before rethinking how he can talk to him, without him losing his shit. He knows he should’ve mentioned to Thor before that Sabine was on her way but Thor had been far too busy with club business to be around and listen to his family drama.

“What have you done Chris and how serious is the damage?” Thor drawled knowing full well that he is jumping to conclusions, but today of all days has just been one big ‘fuck you of days with nothing going right.

“I Uhm ….. you know we go way back and have done some shit together?”

“Okay let me stop you there, stop blowing smoke up my ass and get to the fucking point Chris, I am tired and haven’t had a decent night’s sleep in over 48hrs” Thor snaps leaning back in his chair.

Chris informs Thor that Sabine will be rolling into town tomorrow during the day. Thor listens to Chris and then exhales a deep breath running both hands over his face in exhaustion, the last thing he needs on his plate right now is another complication, but for his brother, in arms, he would walk through hot coals and endure the deepest of tortures for. They have seriously been through thick and thin together and he is worth it.

Thor knew the minute he left the club that he had a tail. He could feel the presence but couldn’t see the man in question. That all too familiar musky cologne, he grew up smelling, wafting through his nose. This man was not a threat, but seeing him again after so many years was not welcoming at all, it only spelled trouble.

With Thor’s handgun in the waistband of his jeans, he never changed his stride or changed his course. He was exhausted and didn’t have the time or patience to deal with his father’s henchman. He turned into a dark alleyway and walked a little way up, his heart pounding erratically in his chest.

He heard the sound of a gun being cocked. Thor chuckled and turned around slowly coming face to face with Raphael.

“Hello Raph, would you really shoot your boss’s only son?” Thor questions looking suspiciously at Raphael.

“He needs you Thornton,” was all Raphael said moving the gun in a ‘come’ motion.

“Jesus, whatever happened to a good ol’ phone call from the old man, fuck an SMS would even suffice” Thor spat at Raphael, expecting an answer but coming up blank. Thor just shook his head knowing full well his father would never turn to him in times of need.

After driving for 45 minutes in silence they finally pulled into the long driveway. Security detail doing a vehicle check at the gate before they could enter. Gunmen lined the drive periodically until the big white house came into view. More gunmen stranded the perimeter of the property, you just knew there were more there even though they were not visible to the untrained eye, but he knew they were there lurking in the shadows.

Thor walked into the large home and was greeted by Sally, his father’s housekeeper, and Raphael’s wife.

“Hello, gorgeous boy,” Sally says pulling me into her as she wraps her loving arms around me.

“Hello, mama Sally, where’s he?” I ask hugging my mama Sally back. Mama Sally has taken good care of this family for over fifteen years. Since my mother died, God rest her soul, Sally has really stepped up, taken care of me like a mother would, taken care of my father, and still run the house and her husband like a pro. She is truly an amazing woman and a godsend. I love her as I would love my own mother.

“Upstairs in his room”, she says, clicking her tongue in frustration over my father.

“He has been wanting to work while he is damaged and all shot up, that man” she shakes her head in disbelief, making Thor chuckle.

“Some things will never change,” Thor says walking up the stairs toward his father’s room. He walked towards his father’s bedroom and knocked on the door. When Thor was met with silence he turned the doorknob and to Thor’s shock and surprise his father’s room was void of any human presence.

The anger rising up in Thor was palpable. The man was just shot and where is he, fucking working? Thor headed over to the office on top of the landing where he proceeded to knock on that door. Harsher than he intended to knock but no matter how upset Thor was right now, he knew better than to barge into his father’s office.

“Enter” Michael bellows through the closed door.

“Father,” Thor says, swallowing his anger as he sees the once strong, unbreakable man, looking frail while being elbows deep in paperwork, sitting behind his desk.

“Hmmm, I see it takes me getting shot, to actually get my son to come home,” Michael says coldly, without giving Thor a passing look.

“Dad please, let’s not start a fight, okay!” Thor exclaims getting annoyed with his father already.

What’s strange is that they haven’t seen each other for over a year, yet after two minutes in each other’s company, all hell breaks loose.

“What do you want Thornton, I am actually in the middle of something, as you can see?” Michael says without lifting his eyes off the paperwork in his hands.

“I came home to see how you are doing and to see if there is anything that I or the club can do to help you out?” That came out more as a question than a flat-out annoying statement. Michael chucks the paperwork down on the table and steeples his fingers over his mouth in annoyance.

“Really Thornton, where have I ever needed you, or your so-called club, to help me out of a situation?”

“Jesus dad, you were just shot for fucks sake. I am here now, aren’t I?” Thor shouts losing his patience with his arrogant, condescending father.

He was just about to leave the office, when his father huffed and puffed then spoke in a very calm voice, a voice that Thor knew oh so well.

“Leave then, it’s what you do best, isn’t that right Thornton?” Thor swallowed deep and hard at the anger that was rising at one hell of a speed. He turned around and looked daggers at his father.

“You know what dad, I have dropped everything to be here for you for a few days, can you please stop giving me shit? I mean seriously I have my own club and shit that needs my attention. So please —.”

“Go home Thornton, if I need anything, I will let you know,” Michael says picking up the paperwork once more.

Doubtful, Thor thought to himself but walked over to his father anyways, kissed him on the top of his head, and walked towards the door. He froze when his father spoke words he never expected to hear.

“Thanks for coming son!” Michael squeezed out while watching his son’s retreating form.

“I love you, dad,” Thor says closing the office door behind him. Thor leaned against the closed door and exhaled an exhausted breath. He really wishes now that things were different between him and his father. Hearing those words pulled on Thor’s heartstrings but he now resigned himself to going home again.

“Raphael” Thor bellowed, pushing himself off the door and down the stairs again. Raphael was already waiting at the foot of the stairs for him, seriously where this man hid, to just magically pop up when he was needed was unnerving.

“Yes Sir?” Raphael responded.

“I am leaving, I hope the car is ready?”

“Yes Sir,” Raphael says moving towards the front door, holding out Thor’s bag, and opening the door.

“Raph. Please look after my old man?” he says grabbing the bag.

“I always do Sir, and Sir, take care of yourself out there, these are dangerous times?”

Michael.

I stared at my son’s retreating form. He would never know just how proud I am of him and why is that. Because I would never tell him. Well, not face-to-face. I was not raised that way. I was not raised to show any emotion as that was known as a sign of weakness. Thornton went out on his own, to prove he is a better man. I really thought he would fail and come back with his tail between his legs but he has an outstanding group of men surrounding him.

A group of men, much like my own. A group of men that would trade their own lives for his. I would know all this because I have kept close tabs on my son but I have never interfered in his business and he has kept himself at arm’s length from me and mine.

What Thornton doesn’t know is our two worlds are going to collide very soon, and he will need more than just his men to solve this problem. One man is to blame for my shooting, he is encroaching on my business and my territory, which will directly influence Thornton’s way of life. Our two worlds will be one. I might not be alive to see this happen but I have full trust in my son and OUR men that they will stand tall and be successful. One man will stand in my son’s way to complete happiness and that man is Valentino.