Page 77 of Sacrifice the Knight (Checkmate 6)

20

Eric

The crackle of Kane Bishop’s emotionless voice cuts through the piece nestled inside my ear. Thug, murderer, enforcer, sharpshooter. Brother and enemy in one. “You’re wanted in the office. Now.”

I’m but a lowly bouncer inside Derrick Ireland’s seedy club in the middle of Chicago’s shadier district. I have weapons strapped to my hips, my thighs, another at the back of my jeans, and two more in a leather holster that presses against my chest. A long blade rests against my ankle, and another in my coat pocket.

Not only will Derrick not have a problem with what I’m packing, but he’s my supplier.

Nodding toward my compatriot as though to say I’m going, you’re in charge, I turn to the door I’m paid to shield and let myself in after a single knock.

I’m met with soldiers, angry soldiers who don’t know how to wear a different expression. I’ve been working undercover in this club for seven months now, with Kane by my side, though, of course, Derrick doesn’t know of our brotherhood. He has no clue we know each other, so when he nods and signals for Kane to grab me, Kane does it, and I remain comfortable in the knowledge that my brother won’t shoot.

But the other soldiers… they’re another issue.

I’m not restrained, not shot, beaten, or stabbed, so I play my role and continue forward till I stop in front of Derrick’s desk. I stare at the gold silk tie he wears. I loathe it, and I’d love nothing more than to strangle the man with it.

I knew my line of work would result in meeting not-so-pleasant people, but Derrick has always rubbed me the wrong way. He’s always seemed too smug, too arrogant, and way too smart.

I incline my head. “Boss.”

“Updates, Daniel.”

Yeah, in this world, my name is Daniel, and Kane’s is Elijah. Eli, when we’re feeling friendly. Which is never.

“Sir, Alphonse reported a successful handover at 0300. Twelve out, fifteen in. We got a–”

He waves me off with jeweled fingers and reclines in his wing-backed chair. “I already know about that. I’m asking about what’s happening right here inside my club.”

“Okay.” Kane’s hand tightens on my shirt, in restraint, in support. “We’re at seventy-five percent capacity. Everyone is behaving. Product is moving steadily.” It burns my gut knowing drugs are being consumed right in front of us every single night, but we can do nothing about it. We’re told what to do; we’re given orders from both sides of command, so we do as we’re told, and we keep working the case. “The girls are dancing and keeping the money entertained.”

“And what of my staff?” Derrick’s voice is entirely too calm. Too easy. “Do I command loyalty?”

“Yes sir. I hear of no problems among staff. Is there…” I glance around as the men surrounding me grow restless. Even Kane has waves of adrenaline radiating from his pores. “Is there a problem?”

“There is.” Derrick’s dark hair is slicked back and shiny from hair gel. The combed lines are still showing, the sparkling blue in his gaze both youthful and terrifying. He’s younger than our usual, but he’s smart, which is how he commands a club at just twenty-four years old. “Eli.”

With just a wave of his hand, I find my arms pinned behind my back, a nine-millimeter pressed to my temple, and Kane’s frenzied whisper in my ear while Derrick is busy with a television remote. “Stay cool,” he murmurs. “Stay alive.”

Kane is so good at his job, he was promoted ahead of me. From bouncer to soldier, his willingness to get mean has earned him a position in Derrick’s office, whereas my secret preference for being at home rather than a shitty club has left me stranded on the door, the gatekeeper between Derrick’s inner sanctum and his visitors. Kane holds me now with machine-like strength, and if I didn’t implicitly trust him or his whispered words, I’d worry he’s turned on our mission.

Switching on a TV using the remote by his computer, Derrick turns back to me with a lifted brow. “I demand honesty inside my club,” he says in monotone. “I demand loyalty. I demand not to have a fuckin’ rat inside my home!”

He hits play on the remote, which starts a voice recording, but the screen remains black.

“When are you coming home?”

“Soon, Gem. I promise, soon. I’m working, but we’re getting closer.”

My stomach drops with such speed, I almost lose my intestines on my boots. We’re trained to go undercover. We’re trained not to cross our two worlds over. “Derrick…”

“Silence!” Spit flies from his mouth, and his smoothly styled hair begins to break away from the combed lines.

“Callie wants her, daddy, Eric. You said this would be a short one.”

“I told you I didn’t know, but it’s not in my control, Gem. We talked about this, remember? We talked about me moving up and working something new.”

“I thought it would be sexy! I thought it would be like the movies.”

---