"Dalton has a nasty gambling addiction, as far as I know, it started 15 years ago after he retired from his career as an MMA professional fighter", John was spilling everything he practically could tell me about the man I was on the hunt to find.

"I'm curious to know if he owes you any money, young man", John looks at me in the same way my father does, when he has this concerned look on his face, wondering if I have everything under control. I could see at that moment that John was a good man and I could trust him, if allowed myself to tell the real reason why I was, here, but refrained from doing so. "He owes my father money and I am here to collect a debt that Rialto must pay for".

I kept my voice from rising and try to keep my anger at my bay, but once Arsenio and I find Dalton, I was going to release the tension from spending the night away from Verena and having to get on a damn jet to find this fucker who has been hiding from me and my family all these damn years, rather than face his karma like a fucking man.

Arsenio looks across the table and at me as he signs with his hands, "I was able to pinpoint a location where Dalton is located. Are you ready to go or do you want to keep talking with the old man here, he seems a bit a harmless, but you can never be too sure".

John excuses himself from the table to speak to one of his employees. "Yes, we might as well leave, I think we have all our answers". Arsenio nods as he places a $100 bill on the table as a tip for the waitress. Just as I place my trench coat back on, John walks over and places his hand on my shoulder, "Don't worry about you and your friend paying for your meal, it is on the house".

I smile back in appreciation. "Thanks, hey I was wondering if you are up for it, whenever you have free time, come visit me and my father in Alphacrest". John looks startled and scratches his gray curly hair.

"Umm, not sure if Mason may want to see, I've lost contact with him". I shake my head, not wanting to take no for an answer. "Nonsense, just by talking with you, I can tell your heart is in a good place, if it wasn't you would be in a bodybag right now".

I look dead into his eyes he looks a bit taken aback by my blunt answer back. He hesitantly nods his head as he stares back at me with reservations in his eyes. "Okay, I am closing the restaurant the week of Christmas, which is a week from now. I can book a flight to..", I raise my hand for him to stop, "No need to book a flight, I will send my pilot to come get you. If you have any family, bring them along". I then walk toward the front entrance of the restaurant.

"Hey Eryx, I need to give my contact information". I shake my head, "No need, I will have my assistant, Zander, reach out to you with further details. I will see you soon". Arsenio then shakes hands with John before following me out of the restaurant.

"It was nice meeting you, take care". Once Arsenio and I get back inside the truck, he immediately starts rambling off an address as he reads it from his phone. "9807 Vester Drive, that is the location I was able to pinpoint where Dalton is, it looks as though he lives in a rather questionable neighborhood".

I frown not understanding what Arsenio is referencing as I type the address into the built-in navigation system. "What the hell is that supposed to mean". "This neighborhood is a part of a local drug cartel, called the 9807 Ryderz", Arsenio mentions as I drive down the road before stopping at a red light. "Well, I guess we will have to bring our big toys out to play since we are going to a territory that is not even affiliated with our organization. Who the fuck is 9807 Ryderz. Sounds like a fucking motorcycle club".

Arsenio starts laughing, "I was thinking the same thing, do I need to call for back up". I nod, "Yes Arlo, Tirian, and several of our other men arrived last night, so send them address so they know where to go". I knew Dalton was a coward, but to think he could hide behind a local drug gang is quite laughable yet pathetic to me. I was going to have fun killing him. We make it to the rather rough neighborhood called Vester City.

As soon as we drove inside the neighborhood, I could immediately feel the energy shift. This was an old community, many of the homes were run-down or abandoned. I took notice of many crack fiends and drug dealers standing on one side of the street near a corner store. I glare at many of the guys who look inside the car directly at Arsenio and me, sizing us both up.

I drive slowly down the road until we make it to a small, brick house that looks well-kept although the houses around it look as though they should be demolished. I get out of the car with my Glock 17 sitting firmly inside the front of my pants hidden under my black sweater.

Just as I shut the door, I hear footsteps, "Aye who the fuck are you Poindexter looking niggas, and why you in our neighborhood for", A guy who was about the same height as me, standing 6'3, but has a stocky, buff frame, while I am muscular. He is holding out his Glock, pointing directly at my chest as three other guys surround the car Arsenio stands next to me, looking rather annoyed, just as I am.

"First off, if I was you I would lower my weapon. I don't take kindly to anyone disrespecting me". The stocky guy frowns and then laughs along with his friends as he smugs at me.

"I don't have to do shit, you in my territory, my nigga". I sigh before I let out a loud whistle, taking the men in front of me by surprise as several of my men, twenty in total surround us with their guns out, ready to kill at my signal. I can see fear present in the guy's eyes who just seconds ago thought he was scaring me, but now he looks as though he has pissed on himself.

I walk up to the guy, each step I take I make sure that my footsteps are slow and precise as wanting to the man to be unsure what my next move will be. I stand directly in front of the stocky guy, before I remove his gun from his hand, grab hold of his hand that held the weapon to my chest, and slice three of his fingers off with a scalpel.

"You are fucking crazy, who the fuck are you", the guy drops to the ground as he tries to stop the bleeding with his other hand as blood pours, getting everywhere. "Your worst fucking nightmare, now I suggest you find someone else to fuck with before I chop your head off next". I then motion for my men to disappear, and many of them leave the premises, being the entire neighborhood has watched what has happened, being I see many of the residents watching me with fear in their eyes.

"I suggest you all act as if you didn't see anything or might end up like your friend here". Everyone runs off headed back to their home, while Arsenio and I walk up the porchway leading to Dalton's residence. I bang on the door, not even interested in being polite. Just as I am about to bang on the door again, Arsenio yells, "Get down, before he tackles me to the ground, before gunshots come from the door. We bear crawl as gunshots spill from the home as we make to the side of the house, I take out my Glock to see Dalton, shooting at our direction.

I shoot back. Bang. Bang. Bang. "I heard you were looking for me", Dalton screams as he continues to shoot my way, but misses.

"I am", I say before I shoot him in the foot causing him to lose his stance, as his gun drops to the ground. Arsenio growls as he runs and tackles Dalton to the ground and begins pummeling punch after punch against Dalton's face.

I pull Arsenio off Dalton as blood spills from his mouth as he laughs looking up at us. "Your father is a bitch sending his son to come do his dirty work that is why your mother was murdered". The mention of mother sends me in rage as I walk to the car, pop the trunk and my eyes roam for several minutes until I find the blow torch. I walk back over to Dalton as he tries to scoot away, but Arsenio stomps his foot on his chest I hear several bones cracking.

"I was going to just put a bullet in your head, but you just had to bring my mother up. Burn in hell muthafucker", I say as I pull the trigger fire lets out, burning Dalton to a crisp as he yells out in pain, as the stench of his body fills the air, and his body decomposes in a matter of seconds. Once Dalton is nothing but bones, do I let go of the trigger? Arsenio then takes the blow torch from my hands. "Let's burn this shit to fucking ground", he then pulls the trigger and walks to the front of Dalton's house creating a massive fire.

We both quickly walk to the car throwing our weapons in the backseat before riding out seconds later the house explodes. I grin as I see the explosion in the rearview mirror. Mission accomplished.



Sorry for taking so long to write this chapter, I took a little break for Christmas, but promise more chapters are coming. Arsenio and Eryx are great duo, maybe I should make more scenes involving them, because they really are a force to be reckon with and I want you guys see more of the dynamics of their friendship.