Machinations and sacrifi.., p.23
Machinations and Sacrifices, page 23
“No. It didn't.” He dropped onto the chair in front of the desk, not bothering to wait for an invitation. “I got jumped. Clyde didn’t appreciate me making him look like a slow fool the other night.”
“That shouldn’t have happened. I'll have Sovee talk to Mosquer.”
“Don't bother. He’s got enough problems. He’s going to be short staffed. The three that jumped me won’t be fighting for a while.”
“The three?”
“Yeah. Clyde and two of his friends.” There could’ve been a dozen of them, and he would’ve won. They were lucky he hadn’t killed them.
“You fought three fighters and won?”
“Yep.” He grinned, wincing as his smile pulled the cut on his face.
“I’ll talk to Sovee.” The lawyer’s eyes gleamed. “I don’t think there’s ever been a two against one fight in the ring.”
“And there won’t be. At least not with me working for you.” This was the time to push. He was tired, cranky and Vickers was impressed.
“I heard you weren’t happy.” The excited look on the lawyer’s face, shifted to disgust.
“Then I’m sure you also heard that my novelty is wearing thin.”
“It won’t if we put you up against two fighters.”
“I’m not doing a fight like that for what you’re paying me.”
“For what...I’m paying you fifty percent. No one else gets even close to that much.”
“No one else is me, and you’re also denying me the biggest fight of the year.”
“You’ve been in every important fight since you started.”
“But I won’t be in the biggest one. The one at Crosnics Manor.”
“That’s what this is about. Hurt feelings for being snubbed.” The lawyer laughed. “I didn’t know we were in grade school.”
“Keeping me from making double what I'd make in ten fights isn't something I find funny.” He stood. He was in no mood for this.
“Sit down.” Vickers motioned at the chair. “I wanted to invite you.”
“Then why am I not going.” He sat. “I find it hard to believe that I did something to offend Terbasse because I only saw the guy once when he was leaving Club Gall.”
“No. You didn’t offend him. Francis would love to see you there.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“My wife.” Vickers leaned back against his chair and sighed. “Terbasse organized the party last year and it was a disaster. My wife told me that we were never going again unless a female was in charge. Terbasse is a confirmed bachelor, so my wife offered to do it.” He ran his hand over his face. “The damn party is costing me a fortune, but even worse than that we had to move there. Vivian swears she can’t manage the party from our house. I hate it. I have papers there. Papers here. Papers at my house. It’s a mess.” He paused. “You’re single, right?”
“Yes. I have no plans to get married. I recently broke up with my fiancé.”
“I heard about that. Smart move. I highly recommend you stick with your plan and don’t get married.”
“If your wife is organizing the party and you and Terbasse want me there, then why am I not attending?” This didn’t make any sense at all.
“Numbers.” Vickers frowned, shaking his head.
“What do you mean by that?”
“Last year you could’ve come. It was basically a wild bachelor party. It was great.” He grinned and then sighed. “My wife was not pleased about any of it, especially the limited number of...acceptable females as she put it.”
“I don’t intend on bringing an acceptable or unacceptable female.”
“That’s the problem. It’s just you. This year it’s an even number of men and women.”
“Okay. I’ll find a date.” He wasn’t sure who, but he could find someone.
“It’s not that simple.” Vickers shook his head. “Your date would have to be approved by my wife. Plus, at this point she has everything planned. Throwing another couple into the party would upset everything, according to her.” He shook his head. “You should’ve heard her a month ago when she thought one of the couples was going to back out.” His face paled a little. “I’m not listening to that again. Next year, I’ll make sure you get invited.”
“I don’t think my popularity will last into next year.” He didn’t have a year to wait. Whomever killed those Servants would strike again before then.
“You might if you start fighting more than one opponent.”
“Even that will lose its appeal.”
“Then we change it again.” Vickers studied him. “Some of those cuts don’t look like they came from fists.”
“Because they didn’t. When Clyde and his friends couldn’t take me down with their hands, they used whatever they found in the alley, including metal pipes.”
“People would pay to see that.” That gleam crept back into the lawyer’s eyes.
“I’m sure they would, but it’ll cost you a lot more.”
“I’ll give you sixty percent.”
“Sixty percent gross not profit.”
“I can’t do that.” Vickers sounded appalled. “I have expenses. Advertising. The building overhead. Train—”
“I don’t care. I want sixty percent gross, or I go to Mosquer and offer my services.”
“You don’t want to do that. Mosquer will never agree to give you as much as I already do.”
“I think he’ll give me more. He’s down three fighters who I just beat.” Jethro stood. “But since we’re friends, I’ll take fifty percent gross, or fifty percent profit and one invite to the party.” He walked to the door. “I’m going home. You have two weeks to decide.”
CHAPTER 47: Hugh
“Are you sure you don’t need to see a doctor?” Hugh had expected Jethro to get some bruises and cuts while fighting but this was too much. The kid looked like Hugh had after being beaten by the prison Guards—one or two punches away from permanent damage or death.
“I told you. I’m fine.” Jethro glared at him out of his one good eye as he lounged on the couch.
“You don’t look fine,” said Trinity. “You really should see Dr. Kalper.”
“It’s nothing. You should’ve seen me last week.”
“This happened a week ago, and you still look like this?” It was even worse than he’d thought.
“Yeah, but it’s all superficial.” Jethro touched his cheek and winced. “No reason to see a doctor.”
He walked to the bar and poured a liberal amount of whiskey in a glass before handing it to his brother.
“Thanks.” Jethro took a drink and sighed. “See, I’m feeling better already.”
He ran his hand through his hair as he sat back down next to Trinity. Tonight, he’d invited Ray to this meeting so they could talk about additional steps they could take to get Jethro invited to The Sin, but it looked like that wasn’t going to be necessary. He didn’t want to pull Jethro from the undercover work, but it was obviously getting too dangerous. “I think it may be time to stop.”
“No.” Jethro sat up, wincing again.
“Stop denying how badly you’re hurt.” He understood better than Jethro knew.
“I’ll be fine, but—”
“Fine?” He stood and began to pace. “I never liked the underground fights but this”—he waved his hand toward his brother—“is ridiculous. Those cuts weren’t all caused by fists. What weapons are they making you use?”
Jethro took another long swallow of the whiskey. “We aren’t using weapons, and this didn’t—”
“Those don’t look like claw marks,” said Trinity.
“There’s no way the damage to your face was caused by fists.” The slice across Jethro’s cheek was long and deep. He couldn’t imagine the damage to Jethro’s body but by the stiffness in the other male’s movements it was extensive. This was all his fault. He’d sent his brother undercover. It was for a good reason, but even that wasn’t worth this.
The door opened and Tim, Jackson and Ray entered.
“Holy Araldo, what happened to you?” Jackson headed across the room toward the couch. “Now, I know why you’ve been avoiding your mom.”
“It’s nothing.” Jethro shifted away from the Guard.
“That is not nothing.” Jackson turned toward Hugh. “This has gone far enough.”
“That’s what I said,” said Hugh. “He’s done. No more fights. We’ll find another way.”
“That didn’t happen at the fight.” Ray smirked at Jethro as he glided across the room and took a seat in the sun near the window.
“What do you mean by that?” asked Hugh.
“I was there for his last fight.” Ray’s green eyes remained on Jethro. “He won.”
“I did do that,” muttered Jethro.
“Yes, you did and somehow, during the fight you managed to avoid being hit.” Ray cocked an eyebrow.
“Not completely,” corrected Jethro. “I took one to the jaw.”
“Barely a glance. Nothing that’d cause that.” Ray waved his hand.
All eyes turned toward Jethro.
“I was getting ready to tell you when they came in,” said Jethro.
“If it didn’t happen during the fight, when did it happen?” Hugh liked this even less.
“Like Ray said, I won the fight. I went back the next night to collect my winnings and the loser...Let’s just say he and his friends weren’t too happy about losing.” Jethro smiled. “Believe it or not, I won the second fight too.”
“That is hard to believe.” Hugh splashed more whiskey in Jethro’s glass and then poured a drink for everyone else before sitting on the chair across from his brother.
“I still think it’s time to end this,” said Jackson. “It’s getting too dangerous.”
“I agree.” Trinity took Hugh’s hand.
“Yes,” purred Ray. “No one likes losing. It can mean life or death.”
“Life or death? They don’t...” He had no real idea what anyone in the underground or black market did and he’d sent his half-brother in there alone. His eyes darted to Jethro. “I didn’t know they—”
“Calm down.” Ray sounded bored. “They don’t actually kill the fighters...usually. They send them to the shelters...at least that’s what most of them used to do. Now, they fire them.” His eyes darkened with anger. “And they die from starvation, freeze on the streets or die of some other way. Results are the same. Only slower.”
“Oh.” That shouldn’t make him feel better, but it did.
“And they especially don’t like losing to an Almighty,” Ray continued. “If they can’t beat an Almighty then who can they beat?”
“They’d better get used to it.” Jethro shrugged.
Hugh studied his brother. Jethro was more muscular than most Almightys but that didn’t explain his ability to fight. He was up against strong, healthy males from the other classes who were trained to fight. Yet he was able to hold his own. Vickers had to be raking in the money on Jethro’s matches. No one knew that Jethro wasn’t pure Almighty. He wasn’t even sure if Jethro knew it. He hadn’t yet been able to decipher exactly what Conguise had spliced into Jethro’s DNA, but there was something there, and it wasn’t Almighty.
“They’re not going to,” said Jackson. “Our physical abilities are all we have ever had over the Almightys and now you’re taking that away too. You’re making a lot of enemies.”
“I’ve never needed a lot of friends.” Jethro took another sip of his drink.
“Jackson’s right. We have to find another way to catch the black-market butcher,” said Hugh.
“Jethro said he’s fine,” said Tim. “Let him decide when to stop.”
“I’m not going to let you send him to his death,” said Jackson.
“I’m not sending him anywhere,” said Tim. “I said it was his choice.”
“Stay out of it.” Jackson strode over to Tim.
“It wasn’t your daughter he tried—”
“Dad. Stop.” Trinity’s face heated, but her eyes were hard. “What happened is over. Done.” She glanced at Jethro and then Hugh. “We don’t need to talk about it. Ever again.”
The room fell silent. Trinity had told him everything and Hugh had accepted that what’d happened or had almost happened between them had been consensual. He didn’t like it, but he’d accepted it. However, it didn’t mean he wanted to talk about it. He and Jethro had grown a bit closer over the last few months and bringing up the past wouldn’t help that.
“It may not matter much longer.” Jethro sat forward on the couch. “I’m not getting invited to the party at Crosnics Manor.”
“How is that possible?” asked Hugh. “They have fights there. You’re the lawyer’s ringer.”
“But I’m single,” said Jethro.
“So is Terbasse and—”
“Vickers’ wife is arranging this party and she wants couples this year or an even number of males and females. Something like that.”
“Terbasse can’t go to his own party?” asked Hugh.
“Apparently, she found him a date or a female to sit with him. I don’t know exactly how it works, but I talked to Vickers and I’m out.”
“You are engaged.” Tim’s face was blank, but his green eyes gleamed with amusement.
“Stella is persona non-grata,” said Jethro.
“He’s right,” said Ray. “Vivian Vickers used to tolerate Jason’s family because they were in power. Now, she wouldn’t be caught dead in the same room with the girl.” Ray took a sip of his drink. “If you want him to go to that party, you’ll have to find another female.”
“What about Sassy?” asked Hugh.
“With how much she’s been drinking lately?” Trinity shook her head. “It wouldn’t be safe for her or Jethro.”
“Let me rephrase,” said Ray. “You need to find him a female who’d meet Vivian’s approval.”
“Wait a minute,” said Jackson. “I thought we agreed that Jethro should stop.”
“Jackson’s right.” Hugh filled his glass. He wanted the killer caught but he couldn’t keep sending his brother into the ring.
“No.” Jethro stood, wincing as he walked across the room and took the bottle from Hugh. He refilled his glass. “I want to finish this.” He walked over to Ray, filling his glass also. “If we can find someone, that is.”
“You can’t keep fighting,” said Jackson. “You’re going to get killed.”
“I can handle myself,” said Jethro.
“So far, yes, but you have no idea what they’ll throw at you,” argued Jackson.
“I’ve already fought every combination of Guards, Servants, Producers, Stockers and Grunts that there is...and won.” Jethro’s eyes gleamed in triumph, his smile crooked in his swollen face.
“You’re not invincible,” said Hugh. “Thinking like that will get you hurt, maybe killed.”
“Like I said, I’ve fought and won against everything so far. What else can they throw at me? I fought mixes that you can only imagine.” Jethro glanced around the room, drawing everyone into his story. “There was one guy, I swear he must have been part Grunt by his size and Stocker by his attitude. It was brutal.”
“That was a great fight.” Ray stood in his excitement. “I almost bet on the other guy.”
“You would’ve lost,” said Jethro.
Ray tipped his glass to the young Almighty.
“This is all moot unless Ray knows someone who Jethro can”—Hugh held up his fingers and made air quotes—“date.”
Jackson frowned. “I still don’t think—”
“Too bad,” said Jethro. “It’s my choice and I’m going to finish this if it’s possible.”
“Your sister is going to kill you and then me.” Jackson sighed and dropped onto the couch.
“I’ll let you worry about Kim.” Jethro chuckled.
“Are you sure?” He didn’t want to see his brother hurt, but if Jethro said he could handle it then it was his decision. Jethro was an adult, not a child.
“Yes.” Jethro nodded.
“Then we need to find him a girlfriend.” Hugh turned toward Ray.
The Servant stared at his drink as he slowly swirled the glass. “She can’t be just anyone. Vivian is very particular about who is invited to her parties.”
“Does she have to be an Almighty?” He wasn’t sure that Ray had too many contacts in that realm, but the Servant hadn’t failed them yet.
“No, but she does have to be...special. Especially since adding two more people to Vivian’s party is going to require her to make modifications.”
“Like what? It’s just two more guests,” said Jethro.
“This isn’t a college keg party.” Ray shook his head in disgust. “There are arrangements—sleeping, seating, activities, arrivals, departures, and don’t forget that there will be additional accommodations needed for your carriage and Grunt, as well as—”
“Okay. Okay. I get it.” Jethro sat back down. “This is going to be a lot of work for her.”
“It will,” said Ray. “If we can wait until next year, there are plenty who I can set him up with who’ll work.”
“He isn’t going to be able to last a year on the fighting circuit,” said Hugh.
“Hey,” said Jethro, offended.
“They’re already attacking you after the fight. Do you think that’s going to get better?”
“I’ll handle it.”
“We can’t wait.” Hugh turned away from his brother. The kid was too cocky. “Not only will there be more murders, but we don’t even know that he’ll be invited next year.”
“That’s true,” said Ray. “Your name is already becoming well known in the circuit. In another year, either you’ll be dead, or no one will bet against you. Either way, you won’t be too popular with Vickers and that means you won’t be on the list of names that he gives to his wife.”
“It’s over. We can’t wait another year.” Hugh tossed back his drink. This was a disaster.
“Perhaps.” Ray’s eyes were alight with mischief.
“What do you mean, perhaps? We can’t wait for a year, and we don’t have anyone that Vivian Vickers will invite last minute.” He didn’t like the look of amusement on Ray’s face.
