6. I'll take care of him

The inside of the bar seemed eerily familiar to Jamie. It could not have been longer than two years that he visited this place, yet, not a single thing was out of order. Frisky youngsters smoking pot in a corner, slinky women pursuing their clients and ignorant others swaying to the music. There was nothing he had not expected, including finding his dear friend standing in the midst of it all.

Shaking his head, Jamie walked toward Thomas, or Tom, as everyone called him, ready to drag him away from the women that he surrounded himself with. Tonight was important, he couldn’t be wasting it over a hooker.

“Ah, Chris!” Tom said as he spotted his friend approaching him. “You’re finally here, mate. Let me introduce you to- hey!”

“It’s Jamie, now. Did you forget?” He said, glaring at his friend as he pulled him away from the brunette that was entertaining him all this time. “I told you I’m here for something important. What the hell were you doing with her?”

“Oh, you know what I meant to do with her.” Tom smirked as they reached the bar. Placing an order for two beers, he glanced at Jamie once again.

“Perhaps you’re not fit for the job.” He said, giving him a dismissive look. “I made a mistake.”

“Jamie, don’t be like that. You know I’m trying to have fun while I still can.” He said, “And see? I didn’t go wrong with your name this time.”

“There’s not going to be second chances for what I have in mind for you.” He said, “It’s dangerous business.”

“Consider myself warned. I promise it won’t happen again.” He said, but to utter dismay, Jamie didn’t seem convinced. “Man, I really need to do this if I mean to earn my father’s respect. He would not make me the Alpha if I don’t help you. Besides, I did my job perfectly well with Alex last weekend.”

Finding genuine desperation and fear in his eyes, Jamie let out a breath. Apart from the fact that he was a complete womanizer, Tom was a smart man, and a loyal one at that. Replacing him would prove difficult too. “Alright,” he said, “But we need to find some place more private.”

Holding their drinks in hand, the two men scurried through the throng of people before they spotted an empty table in one corner. Jamie took one large sip from his beer before he diverted his attention to his friend.

“Is your father still adamant on getting you married to his friend’s daughter?” He asked.

Tom groaned, “Unfortunately yes. I don’t understand why he thinks that’ll do any good. I’m hoping he will let me make my own decision when I prove myself useful.”

“Whatever made him think finding a wife would turn you into an adolescent?”

Tom gave him an unimpressed look. “Despite what you think, I have passed that age long ago.”

“You sure don’t act like it.”

“Enough about that.” He said, “Shall we get to business now?”

Nodding, Jamie fished out a piece of paper from the pocket of his leather jacket. “This is the list.” He said as he placed the note on the table and  pushed it towards Tom. “We need to kill them as soon as possible.”

“There’s more to kill?” Tom gave him a look of surprise, “I thought the brotherhood was against violence.”

“Violence against our own, yes. But we’ve always stood our ground on punishing the perpetrator. And sometimes, the punishment involves death.”

Tom averted his eyes to the piece of paper before him, scrutinizing it thoroughly. “Twelve names.” He said, “I thought it would end with Alex. Why do you have to kill all of them.” 

“Because it’s not him that I have a problem with, Tom.” Jamie said, “It’s their kind. The rogue wolves that create havoc everywhere they go. I’m going after them.” 

Tom shook his head, “All of this just because-” 

“That’s enough.” Jamie cut him off before he could finish his sentence. Jamie knew that Tom was well aware of his reasons behind his grudge, and he didn’t want to be reminded of it once again. “We need to get to it soon. Listen, if you help me, you’ll be one of us now. You can’t be questioning our motives. And being one of us requires sacrifices.”

“What sort of them?”

“The sort that prevents you from bringing escorts home.” He said, “Nobody can know of this, Tom. It’s a secret operation.”

“I know the importance, but you should know that I don’t spill my secrets to all the women I bring to my bed.” He said, annoyed.

“You won’t, but it’ll put you in a vulnerable position. You don’t think straight when you’re with a woman, Tom. I simply don’t trust you in that circumstance.”

“That’s ridiculous. Would you have asked for the same if it were somebody else?”

“No.”

Tom’s jaw dropped, “So the bias is just against me then?”

“Yes, I’m afraid so.” Jamie said, “It’s a non-negotiable. Perhaps down the lane, when I have more faith that you will not think with your cock but your brain, I will begin to trust you again.”

“Alright,” Tom relented, “You know I won’t say no, no matter what. I can’t.”

Jamie smiled, taking a sip from the bitter liquid. “Well, let’s take another name off the list shall we?”

Tom didn’t have to look down at the paper to remember what the name was. “Jeremy Howard .”

“That’s right.”

His resolute eyes then moved to his right, fixing on a man by the bar counter. Jamie recalled that Jeremy was only a boy when he first saw him. At that time, he was unaware of his lineage, nor was he part of the brotherhood that was keen on keeping scums like him out of their country. He never harbored any respect for the lad, for he was quite notorious as a teenager, and seemingly carried those traits right into his adulthood. 

Jamie noticed that he was currently engaged in a conversation with a woman. 

“That’s your prey for tonight, Tom.” Jamie said as he watched the two of them. “Are you ready?”

“I am.” Tom whispered. “However, he seems occupied with that woman.”

“You know how to distract her.” He said, smirking to himself. “I’ll take care of him.”