The Syndicate

Pedro sat in his office, a laptop open on the desk and a pack of weed pressed to his lips. He was waiting for his men, eager to hear their feedback, but they hadn’t arrived yet. Everything was recorded—proof of his latest triumph. He couldn’t wait to show the other mafia leaders, especially Godfather Marco, how easily he had taken down their supposed "backbone."

A guard called him, interrupting his thoughts. Pedro quickly stepped out of his office to find the pack members gathered outside, staring at the bodies of the twenty men he had sent to the mission laid out in a row. Each of them bore gunshot wounds.

"He killed them all," the guard said grimly. Another guard set up a laptop and played a video. The footage showed an explosion, followed by a chaotic pursuit. Pedro watched as his men were gunned down systematically one by one.

But before that, he saw the target take multiple close range shots to the chest and back.

"He can't have survived that," Pedro sneered. "No one could."

His expression darkened, however, when the footage shifted and a different camera showed a young woman dragging the injured man into her tiny home followed by another shot clearly taken this morning with Venom walking out the same door seemingly hale and healthy.

"He's alive? How is that possible?" Pedro's furious eyes darted around the room but everyone was silent. No one would meet his eyes. Cowards!

"Who's the girl?" he demanded, his fury building.

"I did some digging," his right-hand man replied. "You won’t believe what I found out."

"What is it?" Pedro asked impatiently.

"She’s the daughter of Antonio Argento," the man revealed.

"You mean the MC doctor who disappeared mysteriously years ago?" Pedro asked, his eyes narrowing.

"The very one, Sir," the man confirmed.

A sinister grin spread across Pedro’s face. "This just got a lot more interesting. We’re paying her a visit. Get fifty men ready."

THE REAPERS

Entering The Reapers' main clubhouse felt like stepping into the underworld itself. The air was thick with smoke, whiskey, and a palpable sense of danger. Quiet conversations buzzed in the background, broken by the occasional clinking of glasses and sharp bursts of sinister laughter.

Venom climbed off his bike and made his way straight to Godfather Marco’s private room. Marco was smoking a cigar when Venom walked in, a knowing smile spreading across his face.

"I knew they couldn't kill you so easily. You’re not called my backbone for nothing," Marco said.

"I’m going to kill that punk, rules be damned," Venom replied, his tone icy.

"You have my blessing," Marco said. "I’m already punishing those fools who abandoned their boss."

"Let them go," Venom said. "I told them to leave. Did you receive the package?"

"I did," Marco answered. "What do you plan to do with it?"

"That’s private," Venom replied curtly.

"When will you start your revenge?" Marco asked with a calm yet dangerous tone.

"Sooner than later," Venom said, smirking. "I’ll deal with all of them."

"You have my full support," Marco said.

"I know," Venom muttered, leaving the room.

As Marco watched him leave, he chuckled to himself. "He really is my backbone," he said, puffing his cigar.

Outside, a MC bitch named Snake approached Venom.

"Venom, I’m so glad you’re alive. I missed you last night." Her voice dripping with suggestion as she ran a red taloned hand up and down his arm.

"I’m tired," Venom said coldly.

"Should I come by tonight and make you feel better?" she pressed with a smile.

"No," he replied curtly and walked away.

Another pack bitch, Ghost, watched the exchange. "You should give up," she said to Snake. "He’s never going to look at you that way."

"Watch your mouth, kid," Snake growled. "Or I’ll tear your throat out and hide your body."

"Such a drama queen," Ghost muttered, rolling her eyes as she went to join the others.

*********

Venom’s Room

Stripping off his bloodied clothes, Venom sat down as the pack’s doctor entered, medical kit in hand. The doctor began checking his wounds even though Venom had insisted he was all better.

"Whoever patched you up did a great job," the doctor remarked. "I'd expect more scarring with all the blood I heard you lost and the amount of time it took before you could shift."

The door opened, and a young man walked in, a lollipop between his lips and a laptop in his hand. It was Hacker, a prospect of the MC.

"Glad to see you back, boss," Hacker said with a bright smile.

"Find that asshole for me. Now," Venom ordered, ignoring Hacker’s cheerfulness.

Hacker’s smile faltered, but he obediently got to work, typing furiously on his laptop. The doctor continued checking Venom over in silence.

“Pedro runs a small MC called the Syndicate. He’s fifty years old…” Hacker spoke quickly, his fingers flying over the keyboard, his eyes glinting with excitement.

"I know that part, what else?" Venom growled; his wolf barely contained.

"Uh, he has a son and a daughter…" Hacker's fingers continued to tap furiously.

Venom’s brow furrowed as he listened intently. “Can you check his location now?” he asked, his voice calm but commanding.

“Sure, boss.” Hacker nodded, tapping away on his laptop. “He’s on the move, but I can’t pinpoint where just yet. I should have his location triangulated shortly.”

Venom’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “Get some men. We’re leaving immediately,” he said, rising to his feet and grabbing a fresh pair of jeans and a t-shirt from a drawer.

Hacker hesitated, his face clouded with worry. “But Boss, are you well enough? You almost died. Godfather Marco won’t approve.”

Venom turned, his piercing gaze silencing any further protest. “I don’t repeat myself,” he said, his tone icy.

“This is bad,” Hacker muttered under his breath, hurrying after him, his fingers never leaving his keyboard.

Within moments, Venom was flanked by a group of men, their faces grim and determined. They knew the stakes were high and prepared to act without question.