Retaliation (Part 3 - Retribution)

[Tommy Knox]

///Retaliation\\\
Chapter XXIX, Part III

"Just remember what cut you're wearing."
- Jared -

Tuesday 5:22 PM [July 2nd, 2013]
Long Beach, California

It's been a long two weeks on the road, away from home. It feels good to be back. The sun beats down on everything below it without a single cloud in the sky for cover. It's a warm day, not too hot. Summer has finally come and has spared us the heat for the day. A hard wind blows from the coast carrying that salt smell in its grasp. Days like today are the type that make you think about how good life really is.

In an industrial park on the outskirts of town a black truck sits in seclusion, parked away from everything else within the gate. On the inside, CHINasty sits back in the drivers seat hidden behind a big pair of black sunglasses and ball cap pulled over his face. By the look on his face, he's nervous about something. With everything that has happened as of late, there's no telling what's going through his mind and who he may be hiding from.

A motorcycle pulls into the front entrance of the park with a cloud of dust trailing him from the dusty road. The custom black Shovelhead rumbles as it slowly approaches CHINasty as he waits in the truck with his attention drawn to the rider wearing a Nomad cut. Knox sits upon the iron horse as it slowly rolls beside the truck and stops at the driver window. He kills the engine and kicks the stand at his foot just before leaning the motorcycle over. Knox looks at CHINasty and nods as he removes his helmet and places it on the handlebars.

Knox then pulls out a cigarette and places it between his lips as he searches his cut for a lighter. After finding it, he lights the tip of the cigarette and takes a slow drag as CHINasty takes his hat off and tosses it beside him in the passenger seat. Knox smirks as he slowly exhales and removes his shades from over his bloodshot eyes. CHINasty does the same as the two lock eyes for a moment and Knox takes lead.

"What's up, bro?" Knox asks.

"Nothing much. You tell me. I'm having to hide out now because I think Jared is on to me." CHINasty says as he looks down at Knox.

Knox thinks to himself for a moment as he takes another drag from the cigarette. "Are you sure it's him?"

CHINasty nods in agreement just before answering. "Yes. That woman he met with was the skinheads wife. The same skinhead that you said almost killed you and knew that you were coming."

"You said that he gave her a bag?" Knox asks.

"Yea, man. It was a small leather type bag. It looked like a payment taking place to me. I followed her home after they met and used some of my resources to pull up information about her based off the license plate that was on the car she was driving. After digging a little deeper, I found out that she was married to the skinhead you called me about." CHINasty says as he looks around the industrial park with a nervous look on his face.

Knox pauses in silence and thinks to himself before replying. "It had to of been a payoff. That piece of shit knew that I was comin' to take him out before we even got there. Everything's too coincidental revolvin' this mess. First Jared hangs back and doesn't ride with the club. The mark was obviously tipped off and called me out by name. Now, this? Somethin' isn't right here and I'm under the impression that Jared has it out for me."

"Has it out for you?! That mother fucker has been on to me ever since I spotted him with that woman. FUCK ME! I've been in hiding ever since. I didn't even feel safe coming out here today to meet with you but I trust you. I have to get out of town." CHINasty says as he pulls out a half burnt joint and fires it up.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me, bro. Jared has had a beef with me ever since I first met the prick. Now that I've joined the club and grown close with Wallace, he's become more and more distant. There's not a single doubt in my mind that he tried to have me killed." Knox says as he takes a drag from his cigarette.

"What are you going to do?" CHINasty asks.

Knox shakes his head from left to right as he looks CHINasty in the eyes. "I don't know man. Wallace is ready to fully patch me in the club but as long as Jared is around I know I'll never get a unanimous vote. I'm goin' to retaliate but I can't have the club find out about it. I need to hurry up and handle this problem before my vote comes up. You know what I have to do."

CHINasty looks as if he can't believe the words Knox says. He sits in silence for a moment as he looks around the industrial park once more. He then looks down at Knox with a look of fear in his eyes. "I know what you have to do. Keep yourself out of trouble and stay alive."

"You can count on that. I'm meetin' with the club tonight and then we have a big bash for the fourth in a couple of days. Jared won't make a move with the rest of the club around. Prospect or not, if he does without a vote then it's his ass. I just need a couple of days to settle this thing once and for all with no repercussions." Knox says as he takes a final drag from the cigarette and tosses it aside.

"So, what's the plan?" CHINasty asks.

Knox starts his motorcycle and grabs his helmet. He leans his head forward and puts it on just before looking up at CHINasty. "Don't worry about it. You've done enough. Just get yourself out of town for a few days until you hear from me.

The two then nod as Knox straps his helmet. He then puts his sunglasses back on and slowly pulls away, leaving CHINasty behind. The roar of the engine rumbles throughout the industrial part, bouncing off the walls of the metal buildings. Knox leaves CHINasty behind as he approaches the gate. He pauses for a moment at the street and looks around just before pulling onto the open road and riding into the distance.

Thursday 9:55 PM [July 4th, 2013]
Long Beach, California

The air is electric tonight as people celebrate what little independence our government leads on. With power comes corruption and our leaders are as dirty as the people they claim to protect the citizens from. Freedom isn't free no matter what our government wants us to believe. It comes with a cost, a loss of rights that were once truly ours.

A party is going down at the Nomad clubhouse tonight as these men of mayhem celebrate their own freedoms. It isn't free for these men. They went out and took what was theirs by any means necessary. Constricted by laws of a corrupt society these men overstep the boundaries between what's considered right and what's considered wrong. They live by their own rules and tonight is a simple reminder of what they have bled for.

Within the gates of the property, a huge crowd enjoy the night as music blasts in the background and alcohol alters the environment. Right now, they aren't concerned with what's going on in the outside world. All that matters is what's going on right now with the people they call friends and family. A brotherhood amongst members flying the same colors, wearing the same cuts. Whether you're a patch member, a blood relative, loved one or an associate it doesn't matter. These are the Nomads.

Knox stands by the garage with Wallace and Jared as the three talk amongst each other. Knox stands off to the side, keeping a distance between him and Jared. Wallace leads the conversation as the two listen and enjoy their night while maintaining their buzz.

"You should have seen it, Jared, it was crazy!" Wallace says.

Jared nods his head as he takes a drink from his beer. "I heard about it. That's all you've been talking about for the past few days."

"I knew Knox was going to Florida to take care of business but I wasn't expecting him to break Gooch's arm and send him to the hospital." Wallace says as he looks over at Knox and smiles.

Knox looks back as he takes a drink from his beer before replying. "It's what I do. You fuck with me, you get handled. It doesn't matter who you are." As those last words roll off Knox's tongue he cuts his eye at Jared who's looking back at him.

Wallace pats Knox on the back as he moves in closer. "You said it, brother. Taking out Gooch was the best thing you could have done to dismantle The League."

"How's that?" Knox asks.

"You put their largest asset in the hospital and out of APW. That is how you send a message." Wallace says.

Knox takes a drink from his beer and nods. "Yea, you're right. You also send a message by paintin' some punk bitch's name on the fallen. I still haven't heard anything back from Envi."

"Maybe he's scared." Jared says as he interrupts.

Knox laughs before replying with a question. "You would know?"

The two look at each other in silence as Wallace stands there in wonder. He then steps forward and puts his arm around both of them. "Either way, we're proud of you, Knox."

"Yea, proud of you, bro. Just don't forget that the club comes first over your new friends in APW." Jared says with a grin on his face.

Knox thinks to himself for a moment and then replies. "There's no need to worry about that. The club always comes first before my personal agendas. You guys couldn't get in an APW event without security kickin' you out. I had to make allies within now The Black Hand is a force to be reckoned with in APW."

"I'd like to meet Madison sometime, Knox." Wallace says as he turns his head to the side and looks at Knox face to face.

"You will, soon enough. By the time it's all said and done there will be more for you to meet. I'm takin' APW by storm." Knox says.

"Just remember what cut you're wearing." Jared says.

Knox smirks as he looks over at Jared with cockiness. "There's no need for you to worry about what cut I'm wearin'. I'm wearin' this cut and puttin' it above all else until I'm stripped of it."

Wallace laughs as he listens to Knox and cuts in. "Well, we're voting after you get back from this next road trip for APW."

Knox looks surprised as he looks at Wallace and shows respect. Knox then takes a drink drom his beer and tosses the empty bottle aside. He then backs away from the two just before saying. "Man, I have to get to the shitter. I'll be right back guys."

Knox turns and heads for the garage as Wallace and Jared look on. Wallace thinks for a moment and then speaks up. "Hey, Knox! You're going to the shop bathroom?"

"Yea man, I have to get to a toilet fast. I'll catch up with you guys in a little bit." Knox says.

Wallace finishes off his beer and looks down at the empty bottle. "Well, looks like I'm going to the clubhouse to get another cold one."

"Grab one for me too and I'll catch up with you guys after I handle this." Knox says as he backs towards the door.

"You got it, champ." Wallace says and nods as him and Jared turn away and walk towards the clubhouse.

Knox then turns to the garage and opens the door. He walks in and closes the door behind him, locking it. All of the bay doors are down and there isn't a single window inside. A few bays over, a couple of motorcycles sit and Knox makes his way towards them.

One of the motorcycles look familiar. One of these belong to Jared. Knox slowly walks up to it and looks around the garage while doing so. He then stops in front of it as a smile comes to his face. Thinking to himself, he looks at the bike and then takes a step towards the toolbox beside and reaches for the drawer as the party continues on the outside.

AMERICAN HIGHLIFE
July 6th, 2013 [•REC]

"It looks like we meet again, Havok. I didn't expect to climb back in the ring with you this soon but then again, I'm sure you didn't expect me to dismantle The league in one single night. You can point the finger at whoever you like. You and I both know The League didn't implode by the force of ego's within. I'll be glad to tell you exactly how it went down and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong."

"At Test for the Best Gooch and I climbed in that ring and beat the livin' hell out of one another. In the end, I'm the one still standin' and gettin' in the ring with you at Overdrive. I made an example out of Gooch. Plain and simple, I took The League's biggest asset out of the equation. You can speak up for yourself and deny it if you like, but we both know that message sent a shockwave that ripped through the ranks one by one."

"After I put Gooch out for good, I took it upon myself to send a message to who I saw as the highest rankin' man within The League. This man happened to cast his shadow on you other three "lesser-thans" and it ate you from the inside out. Who's this man I'm speakin' of, you ask? I painted the picture as clear as day on Gooch's broken, battered and bruised body. That man who pulled your strings is no one other than Evan Envi."

"I've heard rumors of Envi steppin' away from APW. Hell, I've even heard what you had to say on the matter and claimin' all credit. Get over yourself. You were nothin' more than a second rate puppet hidin' behind the name that put The League on the map, for what little time that was. You can stop takin' credit for somethin' that you had nothin' to do with. I am the evil that The League could not defeat. I am the evil that brought The League's world crashin' down."

"Am I wrong? Did I not sideline your largest member in a matter of moments? Did I not call Envi out by writin' that simple message on the body of your fallen? You can't deny for one second that I didn't do any of these things. I own up to it and there isn't a damn thing that you can do to stop me. When The Black Hand first came onto the set I warned everyone of factions fallin' at our feet. I warned everyone of the corruption that was comin' to an end. I warned everyone that The Black Hand takes what is rightfully theirs and that's what I plan to do at Overdrive."

"Don't feel too down on yourself for allowin' me to destroy what you stood for in one swingin' motion. The League isn't the only group to have felt my wrath. Look at NBK. What have they become now? There's only so much that a man can take before bein' pushed over the edge. When it comes to Jake Titan, I was there to give him that final shove and send him packin' with his head held low and pointin' the finger at everyone but himself. Now Jennings has aligned himself with Raab and Leon Roberts is left alone with no one to turn to. Just like NBK, just like The League, anyone who stands in The Black Hands way will fall. And from those ashes The Black Hand will rise."

"The rumor goin' around the locker room is that Envi has stepped down from APW. You seem to be high and mighty of yourself by takin' credit but I'm not one to give credit where it sure as shit isn't due. At Overdrive I'm climbin' in the ring with you and Envi. For someone who has stepped away from it all I am awful surprised that he is even listed on the card, in our match fightin' for a title that he supposedly gave up. It was bad enough that you had to deal with me in that ring, especially after the outcome of our battle in the Test for the Best tournament. Now you have to deal with the man that you now hate so much, face to face."

"Hell, I could have the night easy if I chose to. I could just sit back and let you two rip each other apart and make my move when you both are strugglin' for a breath of fresh air. That's not how I roll. I was born to fight and come Thursday night, that's exactly what I will be doin' as I beat the livin' hell out of both of you. I didn't come to APW for free handouts and easy wins. I came for the taste of competition. If you think for one second that I'm not the one to watch out for in this matchup then sir, you need to think again. I am the only mother fucker comin' into this match with somethin' to prove and everything to lose."

"Lose, how could that be? What do I have to lose? It's not about wins and championships with me anymore. The only thing that motivates me is respect and you can bet your last dollar that it will be earned. This isn't goin' to be a simple rerun of our last encounter in the ring. We now have a new element to factor in and it's a third man. Each of us hate the other two just as much as they hate us. I destroyed that you guys stood for. Apparently Envi has uncovered some deep down emotions in you and led by false ideals. You've turned your back to him in the blink of an eye. We all have somethin' to prove in this match."

"I have more to prove than any of you two. I didn't come back to APW to pad my stats. I didn't come back to APW to win the fans over. I came back to make a name for myself and do what I do best. I've always been a fighter, it's how I'm wired. I'm in the business of kickin' ass and right now business is fuckin' boomin'! Don't believe me? You two can go ask your friend while he gets his arm surgically repaired. Test for the Best just wasn't meant to be for me. I had more important things to attend to and we all witnessed what exactly that was last week. I could care less about pointless tournaments. I'll leave those for the likes of AJP and every other piece of cheap gash runnin' around backstage."

"What's important to me, right now, is the Overdrive championship. Don't get me wrong, I don't need titles to make me feel good about myself. I want what comes along with that strap. I want what everyone else on Overdrive under Level-One wants but can't go out and grab it for themselves. I was born to be a champion, a fighter better than those beneath me. Heavy is the head that holds the crown and Envi's time has come to an end. I want that power all to myself. I want what every other wrestler dreams of havin'. Not many can take it and knock Envi from that pedestal but I can!"

"Many have tried but none have succeeded at dethronin' Envi. That all comes to an end. I called out Envi and no one else but now I have to deal with you stickin' your nose in business that doesn't concern you. Havok, you've drawn your line in the sand in this matter that had nothin' to do with you. It's time to pay the piper and get what's comin' to you. This was supposed to be about me and Envi. Once you heard rumor that Envi was steppin' out you took it upon yourself to throw your name in the hat and get a shot at what I've earned for myself. Those actions will not go unpunished!"

"Havok, I hope you've come prepared to pay for these pathetic actions and weak attempts to get somethin' above your talent scale. After our first meetin' in the tournament, I decided to walk away without any retaliation and move forward. Now I see that was a mistake. If I would have just hit back and put you out for good then I wouldn't have to bother with you gettin' in the way of grown men business. If I would have just sent you to the hospital like Gooch, Envi and I would have our match that we wanted without havin' to sidestep around a jerkoff like you clutterin the ring with sloppy technique and weak abilities."

"If what you say is true, maybe Envi and I wouldn't have had the match that I WANTED. Maybe he took my challenge to heart and got the hell out of Dodge before he ended up like his friend, Gooch. There's no tellin' what's exactly goin' through his mind but the card has been booked and he's defendin' the title against ME with you just ridin' shotgun. He can show up if he has the nerve or he can run and hide for all I care. It doesn't matter what he does. What matters is that the title will be on the line and someone is goin' to have their ass handed to them and you can bet it won't be me!"

"Let me tell you somethin', Havok. I've been in this business, professionally, since 2006. It's been a long and bumpy road but I've put in my time and sweat to get to where I am today. The fans won't get you anywhere, trust me on that. In the end, they'll disappoint and look to another icon or favorite when you've become yesterday's old news. I gave up on the fans and decided to do things for myself and those I hold closest to me. Since I've turned a shoulder to those parasites, I've made more of an impact in APW than I could have ever imagined."

"I've dismantled factions and injured talent both physically and mentally. The Black Hand has made it's footprint in the company and it's only walkin' forward, growin' in numbers and power. What have you done? From what I've seen, you've made deals on the side with APW management. The first time we were scheduled to meet in the ring you were seen behind the scenes with Jeff suckin' the corporate cock to get ahead. That all ends here. That all ends now. I warned you all about the corporate corruption and it's time to crack the whip and bury it once and for all."

"I don't need to make side deals with management to get ahead. I live by my own rules. I set my own standards. I do whatever the hell I want. If management doesn't like it, who gives a fuck?! As long as there are people like me, people who stand up against these injustices, there will always be a place for the underdog in this sport who doesn't drop to their knees at corporate's callin'. And now we have this so called "New Reign" bullshit spewin' from your mouth. The League didn't last longer than a brief mornin' wood and you were dirty and corrupt as the people you claimed to fight against. How long will this new faction last before it crumbles from the inside and falls by it's own weight?"

"You don't have a good track record with factions, Havok. You've mentioned this new group within a week of me dismantlin' The League and it scares nobody, peaks no interest whether it be backstage or from the fans sittin' in the seats. You're a loser. You're better off standin' alone and fightin' by yourself. If you do align with someone, there's always goin' to be a better man castin' its shadow on you, causin' jealousy among the ranks. I'm not the least bit concerned with this New Reign that you speak of. I actually welcome the opportunity to crush another faction and add another notch to my belt. I kill punk bitch factions DEAD!"

"I'll leave you with this, Havok. You decided to get in my business and it's time to settle the score. I fucked up last time and made a mistake that you took advantage of and I can promise that it won't happen again. It's time to get to business! Don't let your mouth write checks that your ass can't cash."