Blood Price
The last waiter girl pushed through the warehouse door, her heels clicking against the concrete as she stepped into the early morning light. Jack stood in the doorway, watching her go.
"Thanks for tonight," he called after her. "You did great."
She turned, flashing him a tired smile. "Thanks, boss. See you next week."
The door swung shut behind her.
Jack stood there for a moment, breathing in the cool air. The sky was just beginning to lighten—pale gray bleeding into the darkness. Six in the morning. They'd been open for nearly twelve hours straight.
He turned back inside.
The warehouse was quiet now. Empty. The stage had been cleared, the ring dismantled. A few security guys were sweeping up broken glass and cigarette butts. The smell of sweat, alcohol, and sex still hung in the air.
Bella was sitting at the bar, her shoes kicked off, a glass of whiskey in her hand. She looked exhausted but satisfied.
Jack limped over to her, his leg aching from standing all night. He slid onto the stool beside her.
"We did it," Bella said quietly.
"Yeah." Jack reached for the bottle and poured himself a drink. "We really did."
They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of the night settling over them.
"You know what the craziest part is?" Bella said, swirling her glass. "At this rate, we'll have enough power to take down Rider in a few months. Maybe less."
Jack's hand froze halfway to his mouth.
Rider.
He'd almost forgotten.
The realization hit him like a punch to the gut. For the past few weeks—hell, maybe longer—he hadn't thought about Rider at all. Hadn't thought about revenge, about Leena, about any of it.
He'd been too busy building King's Paradise. Too busy with Bella.
Too busy being happy.
"Jack?" Bella was looking at him now, concern flickering across her face. "You okay?"
"Yeah." He took a drink, the whiskey burning down his throat. "I just... I don't know."
"What?"
Jack set the glass down, staring at the amber liquid. "I almost forgot about him. About all of it."
Bella was quiet.
"I've been so focused on this place," Jack continued. "On us. On just... living. And for the first time in months, I didn't feel like I was drowning."
"That's a good thing."
"Is it?" Jack looked at her. "Because now I'm sitting here thinking—do I even want revenge anymore? Is it worth it?"
Bella's expression softened. "Jack—"
"I mean it." His voice was low, urgent. "What's the point? Rider destroyed my life, yeah. But I've built something new. Something better. Why go back to that darkness? Why risk everything we've created just to hurt him?"
Bella reached out, her hand covering his. "Because you made promises."
Jack's jaw tightened.
"You made promises to me," Bella said quietly. "To everyone who's been hurt by him. You told us you'd take him down. That you'd make him pay."
"I know."
"And if you don't—if you walk away now—what does that say? That we're not worth it? That what he did doesn't matter? I don't like a man who can't keep his promises, Jack."
Jack closed his eyes. She was right. Of course she was right.
He'd made promises. To people who'd supported him this far. People who hated Rider as much as he did—maybe more.
He couldn't just walk away.
Even if he wanted to.
"Okay," Jack said finally. "Okay. We finish this."
Bella squeezed his hand. "We finish this."
They sat there for another moment, the silence heavy between them.
Then Bella stood, stretching. "Come on. Let's get out of here. I need sleep."
Jack nodded, draining the last of his whiskey. He grabbed his jacket from the back of the stool and followed her toward the exit.
The security guys waved as they left. Jack locked the door behind them, the heavy bolt sliding into place with a satisfying thunk.
The parking lot was empty except for Bella's car—a sleek black sedan parked near the entrance.
"You driving?" Bella asked, fishing her keys out of her purse.
"Yeah, I got it." Jack held out his hand.
She tossed him the keys. "Don't crash my car."
"I won't."
They walked toward the sedan, their footsteps echoing in the quiet morning. Jack was halfway to the driver's side when he stopped.
"Shit."
"What?"
"I left my phone inside. On the bar."
Bella sighed. "Seriously?"
"I'll be quick. Two seconds." Jack turned and hurried back toward the warehouse, fumbling with the keys.
"Hurry up!" Bella called after him. "I'm exhausted."
Jack unlocked the door and slipped inside. The warehouse was dark now—the security guys must have finished and left through the back. He flicked on the lights near the entrance and headed toward the bar.
His phone was right where he'd left it, sitting next to the empty whiskey bottle.
He grabbed it, shoved it in his pocket, and turned to leave.
That's when he heard it.
A muffled scream.
Jack's blood went cold.
He sprinted toward the door, his leg screaming in protest, and burst outside.
The parking lot was empty.
Bella's car was still there. The driver's side door was open. Her purse was on the ground, contents spilled across the asphalt. Her phone. Her keys.
And Bella was gone.
"Bella!" Jack's voice cracked as he shouted her name. "BELLA!"
No response.
He ran to the car, his heart pounding. There were scuff marks on the pavement. Signs of a struggle.
"No. No, no, no—"
Jack pulled out his phone, his hands shaking so badly he almost dropped it. He opened the tracking app—the one he'd installed on Bella's phone weeks ago when she first said someone was following her.
The dot was moving. Fast.
Heading east, toward the industrial district.
Jack's vision tunneled. His breath came in short, ragged gasps.
Someone took her. Someone fucking took her.
He yanked open the car door, and threw himself into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life.
Jack didn't think. Didn't hesitate.
He slammed his foot on the gas and tore out of the parking lot, tires screeching.
***
Bella couldn't breathe.
The gag in her mouth was too tight, cutting into the corners of her lips. Her hands were bound behind her back with zip ties that dug into her wrists. Her ankles were tied together.
She was in the back seat of an SUV, lying on her side, her face pressed against the leather.
The car smelled like cigarettes and cheap cologne.
She tried to scream, but the sound came out muffled, pathetic.
"Shut the fuck up," a voice said from the front seat.
Bella's heart was racing. Her mind was spinning, trying to piece together what had happened.
One second she'd been standing by the car, waiting for Jack. The next, someone had grabbed her from behind—strong hands clamping over her mouth, dragging her backward.
She'd tried to fight. Tried to scream. But they'd been too fast, too strong.
And now she was here.
The SUV took a sharp turn, and Bella's body slid across the seat. She whimpered, tears streaming down her face.
Jack. Please. Please find me.
The car slowed. Stopped.
Bella heard the front doors open. Footsteps on gravel.
Then the back door opened, and rough hands grabbed her, hauling her out of the car.
"Come on. Move."
Bella stumbled, her legs barely able to support her weight. Someone shoved her forward, and she nearly fell.
The air smelled different here. Stale. Sour.
Weed.
They were in a trap house.
Bella's stomach twisted. She'd heard stories about places like this. Places where people disappeared.
She was dragged through a doorway, down a narrow hallway. The walls were stained, the carpet filthy. She could hear voices somewhere—low, muffled.
Then she was shoved into a room.
Bella hit the floor hard, her shoulder slamming into the carpet. Pain shot through her body.
Someone yanked the blindfold off her face.
Bella blinked, her eyes adjusting to the dim light.
And then she saw him.
Tommy.
The man from the Southside Kings. The one she'd met weeks ago, the one who made her pay for "protection".
He was standing over her, arms crossed, a cold smile on his face.
"Hey, Bella," Tommy said. "Remember me?"
Bella's blood ran cold.
***
Jack blew through a red light, the car fishtailing as he took the turn too fast.
He didn't care.
The tracker showed Bella's phone had stopped moving. She was somewhere in the industrial district. Jack's hands tightened on the steering wheel, his knuckles white.
Please be okay. Please, please be okay.
He reached into the glove compartment, fumbling blindly until his fingers closed around cold metal.
The gun.
Jack pulled it out, checked the magazine. Fully loaded.
He set it on the passenger seat and pressed harder on the gas.
***
Bella's heart was pounding so hard she thought it might burst.
Tommy crouched down in front of her, his face inches from hers.
"You know," he said conversationally, "I've been thinking about our little agreement. I don't think a few thousand a month will be enough anymore."
Bella tried to speak, but the gag muffled her words.
Tommy reached out and yanked the gag down, letting it hang around her neck.
"There. That's better."
Bella gasped for air, her lungs burning. "What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Tommy laughed. "I want what's fair. I want a cut."
"A cut?"
"Of King's Paradise. I saw you guys tonight. You're bound to making bank, Bella. I saw the crowd. The money flowing through that place." Tommy's smile widened. "I want twenty percent."
Bella's stomach dropped. "That wasn't the deal."
"The deal's changed."
"Go to hell."
The slap came so fast Bella didn't see it coming.
Her head snapped to the side, pain exploding across her cheek. She tasted blood.
"Wrong answer," Tommy said.
Bella's vision blurred with tears, but she forced herself to look at him. "You're not getting anything."
Tommy stood, shaking his head. "You know, I thought you were smart. Guess I was wrong."
A phone rang.
Tommy turned toward the other man in the room/ Tovi. A younger guy, maybe early twenties, who'd been standing by the door.
Tovi pulled out his phone, his face going pale as he looked at the screen.
"Shit," he muttered.
"Who is it?" Tommy asked.
"It's—" Tovi glanced at Bella, then back at Tommy. "It's Kain."
Tommy's expression darkened. "Answer it. And don't fuck this up."
Tovi stepped into the hallway, his voice dropping to barely above a whisper. Bella could still hear him through the open door.
"Yeah?"
A pause.
"Nah, man. Just... just handling some business." Tovi's voice was tight, nervous. "Nothing major."
Another pause. Longer this time.
"I'm at—" Tovi hesitated. "I'm on the south side. Near the docks."
Bella's heart raced. He was lying. They weren't near the docks.
"Yeah. Yeah, everything's cool." Tovi's voice cracked slightly. "Just wrapping up. Should be done soon."
There was a muffled sound from the phone—Kain's voice, sharp and demanding.
"No, no issues," Tovi said quickly. "I swear. Everything's under control."
Another pause.
"Yeah. Yeah, I'll check in later. Promise."
The call ended.
Tovi stood in the hallway for a moment, his hand still gripping the phone. When he came back into the room, his face was ashen.
"Tommy," he said quietly. "We need to go."
"What?"
"We need to leave. Now."
Tommy's jaw tightened. "We're not done here."
"Tommy, man, this wasn't—" Tovi glanced at Bella, then back at Tommy. "This wasn't part of the plan. Kain is asking questions. If he finds out we're at the trap house—"
"He won't find out."
"He will if we stay here." Tovi's voice was rising now, panic creeping in. "You know how he is. He's got eyes everywhere. If he figures out what we're doing—"
"Then we finish this fast." Tommy turned back to Bella, his expression cold. "Tovi, hold her."
Tovi hesitated, his hands shaking. "Tommy, man, this is a bad idea—"
"Hold her."
Tovi moved forward reluctantly, grabbing Bella's shoulders and pinning her to the floor.
Bella struggled, but with her hands and feet bound, she couldn't do anything.
Tommy crouched down again, his hand sliding up her thigh.
"You know what?" he said. "Maybe I don't need your agreement. Maybe I'll just take what I want."
Bella's breath caught. "Don't—"
"Shut up."
Tommy's hand moved higher, and Bella felt bile rise in her throat.
"Please," she whispered. "Please don't."
Tommy smiled. "Begging now? That's more like it."
***
Jack slammed on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt in the middle of the street. He grabbed the gun, shoved it into his waistband, and got out.
The building was a two-story house, windows boarded up, graffiti covering the walls.
A trap house.
Jack's heart was pounding. His hands were shaking.
He approached the front door, his footsteps silent on the cracked pavement.
The door was locked.
Jack didn't hesitate.
He stepped back and kicked it as hard as he could.
The door splintered, the lock breaking. It swung open with a crash.
Jack pulled the gun from his waistband and stepped inside.
***
Bella was crying now, her body shaking.
Tommy had unbuckled his pants, pulling out his cock. He slapped it against her face, the weight of it heavy and humiliating.
"Last chance," Tommy said. "Agree to the deal, or I'm putting this in your mouth."
Bella's chest heaved. She looked up at him, her vision blurred with tears.
And then she spat.
The saliva hit Tommy's shoe, dripping down onto the carpet.
Tommy's face twisted with rage.
"You fucking bitch."
He grabbed her hair, yanking her head back, and then—
CRASH.
The sound of the front door breaking echoed through the house.
Tommy froze. "What the fuck—"
"Go check it out," he snapped at Tovi.
Tovi hesitated. "Tommy, we need to get out of here. This is Markus's territory. If they find us—"
"Go. Check. It. Out."
Tovi moved toward the door, his hand reaching for the gun tucked into his waistband.
He opened the door.
And then the bedroom door exploded inward.
Jack stood in the doorway, his face twisted with rage, the gun raised.
He saw Bella—tied up, beaten, Tommy's cock near her mouth.
And something inside him snapped.
Jack pulled the trigger.
The gunshot was deafening in the small room.
Tommy screamed, his body jerking backward as the bullet hit him in the chest. He fell to the floor, clutching the wound, blood pouring between his fingers.
Tovi spun around, reaching for his gun.
Jack didn't think.
He fired again.
The bullet hit Tovi in the head. His body dropped instantly, blood and brain matter spraying across the wall.
Bella screamed, the sound muffled by the gag still around her neck.
Jack rushed to her, dropping to his knees. His hands were shaking as he pulled out a pocket knife and cut through the zip ties.
"Bella. Bella, are you okay? Did he—"
Bella threw her arms around him, sobbing into his chest.
"Jack. Oh god, Jack. I thought—I thought—"
"I know. I know. I'm here. You're safe."
Jack held her, his own body shaking. He could feel her tears soaking through his shirt.
"Thank you," Bella whispered. "Thank you. Thank god. Thank you."
Jack pulled back, cupping her face in his hands. "Did he hurt you? Did he—"
"No. You got here in time."
Jack's chest tightened with relief.
And then he heard it.
A low groan.
Jack's head snapped around.
Tommy was crawling across the floor, leaving a trail of blood behind him. He was trying to reach the door, his movements slow and labored.
The bullet had hit him in the chest, but it wasn't fatal. Not yet.
Jack stood, his eyes locked on Tommy.
"Jack," Bella said, her voice shaking. "Jack, don't."
Jack picked up the gun.
"Jack, please. He's not worth it."
Jack walked toward Tommy, his footsteps slow and deliberate.
Tommy looked up at him, his face pale, blood bubbling at his lips.
"Please," Tommy gasped. "Please, man. I'm sorry. I'm—"
"Jack!" Bella grabbed his arm, trying to pull him back. "Don't do this. You're not a killer."
Jack looked at her. Her face was bruised, her lip split. Her eyes were red from crying.
And he thought about what Tommy had tried to do to her.
What he would have done if Jack hadn't arrived.
Jack pulled his arm free from Bella's grip.
"Jack, no—"
He raised the gun.
"Please!" Tommy begged. "Please, I'll leave. I'll never come back. I swear—"
Jack pulled the trigger.
The gunshot echoed through the room.
Tommy's body jerked once, then went still.
Bella stood frozen, her hand over her mouth, tears streaming down her face.
Jack lowered the gun, his chest heaving.
For a long moment, neither of them moved.
Then Jack turned to Bella.
"We need to go," he said quietly. "Now."
Bella nodded, her body trembling.
Jack took her hand, and they ran.