The Hand of Death

Chapter 7

The gang leader nearly jumped out of his seat, stunned to see his second-in-command reduced to such a state.

The younger man lay in a pool of his own blood, gurgling as he struggled to breathe.

“I’ll give one million dollars to whoever brings me the head of this delusional bastard!”

Earlier, they had been promised $20,000 for the fight. Now that the reward had suddenly increased to a million dollars, the men were eager to cash in.

They followed Roman’s example, breaking their sticks and batons against the wall before charging at him.

Each man wanted to be the one to take him down.

Watching them approach, Roman realized they weren’t even worth using both hands on. He pressed a hand to the corner of his eye and sighed.

When the first man reached him, Roman swept him off his feet, snatched the stick from his hand, and stabbed him in the arm.

He did the same to every man who came at him, changing the spot he targeted each time. Some were stabbed in the arms, others in the legs, until all fifty-five men lay groaning on the floor, their blood staining the white marble.

Realizing what was happening, the gang leader shot to his feet and made for the door, his bravado vanishing at once.

He had barely taken a step when a gust of wind swept past him.

A broken baton smashed through the thick glass door and lodged in it.

He gasped. His legs gave way, sending him tumbling to the floor.

Roman calmly walked over to the chair the man had been sitting on, picked it up, and placed it beside him. Then he leaned forward.

“I-I’ll give you as much money as you want if you let me live,” the gang leader stammered.

Roman raised the stick in his hand and smacked him on the head.

“You bastard. Where’s your dignity? Ganging up on one man with fifty-five people?”

The man swallowed hard and knelt properly before him, his eyes darting around the store like a thief caught in the act.

“Boss, I didn’t want to do this, but the order was clear. We weren’t allowed to approach you with fewer than fifty men, so I brought all my men. Now that I’ve seen what you can do, I understand why they were so specific about the number.”

Roman’s brows drew together.

“Who gave the order?”

“The higher-ups. When I asked who wanted it done, they said it was way above my pay grade.” The man answered immediately.

Roman’s pupils widened.

He sprang to his feet and rushed out of the store the next second.

He ran through the streets, nearly getting hit by passing cars, but he didn’t stop until he reached the hotel.

He headed for the elevator, but when he saw that it was descending from the sixteenth floor, he turned and raced toward the stairs at the back of the building.

He climbed all the way to the seventeenth floor.

Reaching their suite, he pushed the door open and quickly stepped aside as a gleaming object flew toward him, missing his eye by barely an inch.

“B-Boss, it’s you!”

Jonas, who had been preparing to throw another curved knife, froze when he recognized Roman.

His knees nearly gave way as he lowered the weapon.

“I’m so sorry. Forgive me. Please, forgive me. I didn’t mean to!”

Roman stood by the door without moving an inch.

His eyes burned with rage as he stared at Jonas.

Anything that was way above a local gang leader’s pay grade would have been known to the Hand of Death.

If Jonas hadn’t told him about the bounty on his head, then he might have been the one who gave the order.

At the thought of Baby’s safety, Roman rushed out before he could stop himself.

But before he could say anything, a guilt-ridden Jonas began to confess.

“Seven years ago, after you left, Aaron usurped your position. He killed 323 core members who refused to accept him as the new Hand of Death. Then he threatened to kill me if I didn’t surrender my position.”

“He was afraid you’d return and thought I’d turn against him if you did. So he took the families of our men hostage. He even captured some of our men.”

“Every day I failed to find you, he killed a member of one of our men’s families. At the end of every week, he killed one of our men.”

Jonas’s voice shook as he continued.

“It’s been exactly 2,188 days. Aaron Hale has killed approximately 2,188 family members and 336 of our men.”

“When I found you a few days ago, I fled. But he caught up with me and killed three more of our men to punish me.”

“Then, last night, he called and told me how he planned to kill you and Baby.”

Jonas lowered his head, his grip tightening around the knife.

“He threatened everyone, and I didn’t know what to do. But when I saw you leave and realized Baby would be alone with me, I knew I had to protect her. I would never hurt your daughter. Never!”

He dropped to his knees.

“I’m willing to accept whatever punishment you give me. But in exchange, promise me you’ll kill that son of a bitch.”

Roman clenched his jaw, the muscles around his eyes twitching uncontrollably.

Aaron Hale?

The same Aaron who had nearly been beaten to death by his father at twenty-two, until he saved his life?

That same man?

“But first, permit me to leave. There’s something I have to do.”

Roman said nothing as Jonas got to his feet and left the room.

Holding the curved knife, Jonas looked around the hallway before rushing over to the emergency fire alarm and pulling it.

Several doors immediately opened as guests rushed out of their rooms.

Jonas watched carefully, noting the two rooms whose doors remained shut.

Those had to be the rooms Aaron’s men were staying in.

He snatched a keycard from a passing guest, swiped it at the first door, and rushed inside, ready to slash at anyone who came at him.

But what greeted him was a room full of bodies.

From the doorway to the bathroom, they were everywhere.

Every single one of them was dead.

Jonas backed out, closed the door, and entered the second room.

Just like the first, it was filled with bodies.

“They wouldn’t tell me who sent them.” 

Roman appeared beside him, carrying a now-awake Baby.

Jonas turned to look at him.

Roman glanced back at him.

“Aaron Hale crossed ten billion in revenue this month, and he’s throwing a party at his house to celebrate.”

He adjusted Baby in his arms and looked ahead.

“Let’s take that road trip.”