Romeo (Dark Knights MC/Blood Fury MC: Crossover)

Chapter 29

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Someone needed a fucking attitude adjustment.

While in one way, Maddie hating her job kept driving her into his bed. In another, he saw her bottling up all that shit and that made him want to drive his fist into her boss’s throat.

Romeo wanted to see that fucker on his knees gasping for air. Even better, begging for mercy. And not the Shadow named Mercy because if he got on that man’s bad side, Roger Smith would both shit and piss in his panties at the same time.

Truthfully, Romeo didn’t know who he’d rather meet in a dark alley: a pissed off Shade or Mercy.

Neither, if he had to choose.

While Magnum was a badass—even at his age—he most likely wouldn’t slice you open from nuts to throat and then climb into your carcass to use you as a coat.

“Fuck,” Romeo whispered, thinking about how savage both men could be .

Of course, they always had a valid reason to do what they did. Romeo made sure not to give either man a reason.

Wait…

His brain glitched when he wondered if doing Shade’s stepdaughter without his knowledge would really trigger a response like that.

Would fucking Maddie be a death sentence? Magnum believed it would, but Romeo had no clue how Shade’s twisted mind actually worked.

As for Smith, he only wanted to crush the man’s windpipe until the asshole learned a lesson on how to treat his damn employees. Even though Romeo only cared about one in particular.

The one who came to his place very tense—now on a regular basis—and, after Romeo’s type of therapy, left very fucking relaxed. He was tasked with undoing any damage Smith caused Maddie.

Every time she had shown up in the last few weeks, she arrived earlier and stayed later. While that meant more sex with her, it also meant more shared meals and words.

Crazy enough, while not his normal routine when it came to women, he had actually begun to look forward to it.

His grin was quickly wiped from his face when he spotted movement out of the corner of his right eye.

Just the man he’d been waiting for.

While he had considered wearing something to conceal his identity, like a mask or similar, in the end, he decided he wanted Smith to know exactly who was delivering the important message.

His only concern about this special visit was if Maddie ended up fired. If she did, she’d probably never forgive him, and he’d never get to taste or fuck her again.

That disturbing thought almost kept him seated in the cage he’d borrowed. If he ever wanted the opportunity to dip his dick into Maddie’s sweet, wet pussy again and watch her face as she orgasmed, he should drive away and leave the whole situation alone like she insisted.

He should.

But he wouldn’t.

Romeo might benefit from Smith being a bastard, but that didn’t mean he’d let Maddie’s boss continue to go unchecked. He was ticked every damn time he entered her apartment, or she walked into his place with her spirit crushed.

He had done time in the joint. He had seen fellow inmates get beat down. Not physically, but mentally. Her working at Smith’s shouldn’t be similar to doing a bid in prison.

It wasn’t capital punishment; it was a goddamn job.

So, yeah , a little attitude adjustment was on the menu tonight. If Maddie felt the need to continue working there in order to help advance her career, then she needed a better environment to work in. Meaning, if she wouldn’t leave Smith’s, then Smith’s had to change.

Romeo was bound and determined to help make that happen.

After unfolding his body from the driver’s seat, he took long strides across the unlit parking lot. Of course, driving anything with more than two wheels, he had removed his cut. He left it in the cage after deciding it was best not to advertise his MC.

This little late-night visit didn’t have dick to do with the Knights, anyway. It wasn’t club business, this was personal.

Romeo figured if Smith saw him approaching, he’d either run, hide, or call the pigs. Because of that, he purposely dressed in all black, including wearing a do-rag on his sometimes-reflective bald head, and kept to the shadows as he moved quickly, but quietly, to catch up.

He must not have been careful enough, because when Smith glanced over his shoulder, Romeo knew he was made. He increased his pace at the same time Smith took off in a jog.

For fuck’s sake , he wasn’t expecting to break out in a damn sweat tonight. This was supposed to be a “catch and release” operation, not a chase.

A fleeting realization filled his gray matter… He should’ve hired Mercy to deliver the message so Romeo could stay anonymous.

But he was a cheap ass and, anyway, it was too fucking late. Now he needed to follow through and deliver that message. One Smith needed to receive loud and clear.

Just as Romeo got about five feet away from the fleeing business owner, Smith stopped suddenly and spun to face him. “What do you want?”

Should he be satisfied that the whites of the man’s eyes were so damn wide that they were blinding?

“You!” Smith yelled when he recognized Romeo. “Mad’s friend, the thug.”

Say fuckin’ what? Forget the part where the asshole called her “Mad” after Romeo warned him about that.“Callin’ me a fuckin’ thug?”

“Why else would you be hunting me down?”

“For a simple discussion,” Romeo lied, taking small, slow steps closer. He was trying not to spook Smith since he wasn’t in the mood to sprint after this fucker wearing his heavy boots.

“About what?”

“About the way you treat your fuckin’ employees.”

Smith’s eyebrows stitched together. “How the hell is that any of your business? If they don’t think they’re being treated well, they are free to get a job elsewhere. I’m not forcing them to stay.”

“Ain’t you?”

For every step Romeo took toward Smith, the other man took one backward, not realizing he had a wall behind him.

Stupid? Hell yes, but the fuck if Romeo would warn him. Instead, he would use that mistake to his full advantage.

His hand shot out in a blur and his fingers wrapped tightly around the man’s throat. He used that grip to slam Smith against the wall. The same way Magnum had done to him a few weeks ago.

The satisfying sounds of air being forcefully pushed from Smith’s lungs hit Romeo’s ears. Seconds later, Smith’s Adam’s apple shifted under his palm.

“Take your hand off my neck.”

Did Smith think he was in the position to make demands? It was time to prove otherwise. Instead of loosening his grip, Romeo tightened it. “No one’s stoppin’ you from removin’ it.”

Was Maddie’s boss trying to swallow? Was he struggling to breath?

Too fucking bad.

Smith yanked at Romeo’s wrist and tried to peel his fingers free, but Romeo was stronger.

More determined.

And, if anyone gave a fuck enough to ask, pissed.

One thing was for sure, he was tired of seeing Maddie beat down. And the man causing that was now in Romeo’s hands.

When Smith tried to pull free again, he only cracked his own head against the brick wall.

That had to hurt .

Damn shame.

The grin he wore earlier slid right back into place. “So… Got a reason to treat your employees like shit? Besides the obvious one that you’re a dick.”

A croak was the only answer he heard.

Romeo turned his head until his ear was closer. “Didn’t get that.”

Smith’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.

If he had to admit it, his chokehold might not be helping this discussion. “If I loosen my grip, you gonna run? Before you answer, just a warnin’… gonna have a discussion whether you wanna or fuckin’ not. Ain’t gonna be able to escape it. If it ain’t now, it’s gonna be later. Promise you that.”

All he heard was a gurgle.

Romeo loosened his grip slightly. “What’s that?”

Again, he heard nothing but a strangled noise.

“Glad to hear you’re agreeable and are up for a little convo. So, this is how it’s fuckin’ gonna go. Gonna release you and we’re going to continue this discussion like two fuckin’ men. Don’t disappoint me by runnin’ off like a little bitch. Got it?”

Smith managed a slight nod.

Romeo stared at him for a few more seconds, just knowing the asshole was going to run, before releasing Smith’s throat and taking a step back. He was ready to knock the fucker to the ground, if needed. And Smith couldn’t outrun a bullet. Not that Romeo was going to admit he was packing.

But at this point, the motherfucker hadn’t done anything to warrant a death sentence. Now, if he had put his hands on Maddie… That would be a whole different story.

“I don’t know who the hell you think you are, but I have a lot of friends in high places and you’re going to regret this. ”

“Huh. ‘Magine that. I got friends in low places and ain’t lyin’ when I say my friends are fuckuva lot scarier than yours. But ain’t here for a dick sizin’ contest. Only want to have a word.”

“You could’ve called.”

“Nah, Roge, doubt you woulda answered. And anyway, this needed to be face-to-face.”

“I have nothing to discuss with you.”

“Don’t got the same opinion.”

“I have to get home,” Maddie’s boss insisted.

As he went to move away, Romeo slapped his hand across Smith’s chest—the same way Magnum did to him—to stop him. “Only need a few minutes of your time.”

“I don’t have a few minutes.”

“Ain’t askin’, Roge.”

“I was right to call you a thug.”

Romeo let that slide. He didn’t give a fuck what Roger Smith thought of him. He cared more about how the fucker treated Maddie. He wanted Maddie to be happy while Smith wanted her to be miserable.

The asshole got pleasure out of doing that. It was a whole damn power trip for him. Power that needed to be stripped from the pussy-ass bitch before him.

“Since you’re in a fuckin’ rush, lemme get to the point… You treat my girl like fuckin’ shit.” Damn , did he just call Maddie his girl ? Had he lost his damn mind?

That had to be it.

“You know who else don’t like you treatin’ her like shit?” He paused. “Her family.” He wouldn’t mention that the Fury considered her family and if they found out about Smith’s treatment of Maddie, they’d be having a conversation with him, too. Only he didn’t need to mention that whole MC, just one particular member… “Ever meet her stepdaddy? ”

His answer of “no” came out strained, like his windpipe had been bruised or something.

“Be glad you haven’t. Only’ll take one word to him, and he’ll infiltrate your nightmares. Take my fuckin’ word, you don’t want that.”

“You aren’t doing her any favors by assaulting me.”

“Didn’t assault you. Not yet, anyway. Only havin’ a discussion man-to-man. Don’t gimme a reason to show you the difference ‘tween talkin’ and you endin’ up not talkin’ ‘cause your jaw’s broken.”

“You’ll end up in jail.”

Romeo shrugged. “Nothin’ new. But here’s the thing… I’d still be breathin’. Unlike you.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Like I said, ain’t me you gotta worry ‘bout. Consider me the calm before the fuckin’ shit storm. You don’t want that shit storm, Roge. Promise you that. You might got connections but so does she.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“Exactly what I said, so I’m gonna make a suggestion you should heed… Gotta treat her and the rest of your employees better. Treat ‘em with respect. Give them good references.”

“I don’t have to do anything you say.”

Romeo went on like Smith hadn’t said a word. He leaned in closer and dropped his voice an octave to make his point. “Maddie hasn’t left your abusive ass ‘cause she thinks you’re gonna tank her career. That true? You hold that shit over her?”

“She doesn’t have a career to tank.”

“Bullshit. She’s doin’ time with you so she can move on to bigger and better things. You know what those are to her?”

Smith nodded. “She has this mistaken notion that she’ll get hired by a professional sports team. They’re never going to give her a first glance, forget a second. She’s too much of a screw up.”

“Then why didn’t you fire her if she sucks so bad?”

Smith pinned his lips together.

“Thought so,” Romeo continued. “Just talkin’ out your ass and tryin’ to control her. So, here’s what you’re gonna do to make up for that… You’re gonna put in a good word for her with your friends. Her dream job is workin’ for the Steelers. See she gets that.”

Smith grimaced. “I can’t get her a job with?—”

“Steelers don’t got a spot for her yet, then check with the Penguins. Or the Pirates. Get her in where she’ll get her name known with those overpaid athletes. Or hell, give her a fuckin’ choice.”

Smith’s eyebrows jerked up his forehead. “You think I have that kind of power?”

Maddie thought so. That was the whole reason she kept working for this motherfucker, so it had to be true. She wouldn’t continue to torture herself if it wasn’t. Unless he’d been running his mouth, and it was all a damn lie.

Narcissists did tend to lie often.

“Don’t you? Didn’t you just brag about having friends in high places?”

Smith’s mouth dropped open. “I meant in law enforcement.”

“Here you are lyin’ to me again, Roge,” Romeo said in a very low tone.

Did the asshole turn even more lily white? Good.

“Why do you think she’s good enough for them to hire?”

“You sayin’ she sucks at her job? You keep her on, so that sounds like another fuckin’ lie. Don’t like liars, Roge.”

“My name is Roger.”

“Don’t like your name bein’ shortened? Well, neither does Maddie.” Romeo drilled a finger into his chest. “Don’t call her Mad again. Last warning.”

“I’m done with this conversation. You didn’t do Madison any favors by having it.”

“Once you lay your head down on your pillow tonight, Roge, I’m sure you’ll go over this conversation in your head and realize what you need to do. So, do it.”

Smith shook his head and when he went to escape, Romeo didn’t stop him this time. Instead, he remained where he stood and watched Smith power walk to his prissy sports car.

One side of Romeo’s mouth pulled up after witnessing Smith looking back over his shoulder several times.

As soon as Smith got into his cage and sped away, Romeo’s lips pursed.

That didn’t go quite as planned. Did he get his message across? Or did he just fuck shit up for Maddie?

And if he did, who would regret it more?