FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The Champion By Cris Fireheart / Ken Anderson Chapter 18 � New Brothers / �I'm a Silver!� Author's note: This story contains scenes of extreme violence, profanity, drug and alcohol use, sale, and abuse, and some sexual situations. Reader discretion is DEFINITELY advised. That being said, if none of that bothers you, then enjoy! As ever, any comments, criticism, watches and faves are well appreciated! --C ------Five Days Later, Friday, 3:45 P.M., Harbor Heights------ �Wow, so after what happened with your birth parents, you and Bobby actually lived together in an orphanage for a while? That's crazy, man; I-- I don't even know what to say to all of that...� R�my couldn't help but shake his head sadly as he reached out a paw to retrieve the lit joint that Jake was holding out towards him. Letting out a melancholic sigh, the tall, heavily-tattooed coyote shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head to one side in response as the two of them, flanked by Robert and Henry on either side, continued on their leisurely stroll along the wide, recently-poured sidewalks which led through the newly-renovated streets of the Heights. After having a very interesting late lunch together at Benny's Diner, where the elder Bison had proceeded to regale the young Fox with numerous old war stories, along with some of the current rumors being whispered about in the neighborhood, including some concerning recent events which may have involved his new family, the four of them had decided to spend the warm summer afternoon simply trekking through the city, and so they continued to walk, talk and smoke, sharing the odd details of their lives as they moved further down the streets of the Heights, walking without any clear destination in mind. �By the way, kid,� The panther called from behind him, as the sidewalk suddenly narrowed, �These days, I normally go by my full name. But, since you're family now, I'm gonna let you, and only you, call me 'Bobby,' alright? At least when we're out and about, I won't mind it. Nobody else gets that privilege with me. You can even ask Jake.� R�my was quick to give him a smile and a nod of his head, letting out a short burst of yip-like laughter as he turned around to hand the joint over to Henry. Five days before, after James, Ricky, and his father had finally managed to help him pack up his belongings and move out of the dilapidated Hacker house he'd been living in, the young Gray Fox had nearly suffered a heart attack as he'd been driven through the different, increasingly affluent areas of the city, riding shotgun in his father's sleek, green Maserati as the elder fox had taken them deep into the suburbs of East Harbor Hills, before finally pulling up to the heavy, wrought-iron gates which led onto the grounds of the Clayton Estate. Upon seeing the large mansion that James and his extended 'family' lived in up close, his jaw had dropped open as the realization that this was to become his new home had finally managed to register in his already overstimulated mind. He'd immediately realized that from this point forward, his entire life was about to change. He was now stepping into a different world; one where he would get to experience a certain quality of life that, as a young kit, he could only ever have dreamed of... Still, he also knew that the privilege of being able to live this kind of life was likely going to come at a high price. And at that moment, in his heart, he'd already made the decision that he was ready to pay it... R�my had spent the remainder of that first day tirelessly exploring each and every room and closet on the property, or at least, the ones that he was allowed free access to. Victor, his father, had adamantly refused to allow him to enter the hidden servants' passageways which were threaded, maze-like, behind the many walls of the mansion. When asked, the elder fox had promptly declared that these areas were his own private domain. James had eventually introduced R�my to Robert, as he'd promised, and the young fox had quickly become giddy with excitement when the panther had shown him his custom setup in the mansion's centrally-located security room. The following two days were spent with R�my offering up a nearly endless repertoire of suggestions and improvements to upgrade the property's numerous security systems; Robert had nearly fainted as the young Fox had begun to explain, in vivid technical detail, the many different kinds of digital and physical upgrades that he could personally code and fabricate using what he'd brought with him, along with whatever else was available in the house. Needless to say, the two of them had gotten along swimmingly, much to Victor's chagrin. However, the biggest surprise for R�my, who'd grown up as an only child with a mostly closed-off and isolated social life, was the fact that he now had not one, but 'technically', two new older brothers. Robert had taken to him quickly enough, and they had already become fast friends, but for R�my, it was the meeting that he'd had with Jake for the first time which had truly cemented the fact that he was no longer alone. While Robert tended to act more like the best friend he'd always wished he'd grown up with, Jake was the first person who'd really shown him what it meant to have an actual big brother. The tall, heavily-tattooed and battle-scarred ash-gray Coyote had literally welcomed him home on the first day with open arms. He'd then introduced R�my to his fianc� and soon-to-be mate, Marco Binetti, and the young fox had quickly been reduced to trembling in fear as the grizzled-looking older wolf had parted his muzzle into a slight smirk of amusement, before offering his rough, tattooed paw for him to shake. The feeling hadn't lasted long, however, as Marco had been more than friendly and cordial with his own introductions, and despite the murderous reputation that R�my had heard and read about, concerning both the wolf himself and his well-known Mafia family, Marco had shown him nothing but patience and respect since their first meeting. He'd had the opportunity to meet Connor, Ricky, and the Rhah brothers next. Although he'd already seen the short, stocky human once before, when he'd come to help him move out of his former home, the first time he'd been 'officially' introduced to the man and his mate, the pair of them had been nothing but bundles of warm smiles and good vibes towards him. Meeting Connor had been a real treat for R�my, in fact; he'd been a lifelong boxing and MMA fan, and getting to meet the new national Middleweight Champion, another Fox, at that, had had his tail excitedly swishing across the waxed and polished floorboards as they'd eagerly shaken paws and exchanged pleasantries, before moving along to share a few drinks together in the den. Henry Rhah had already been somewhat familiar to R�my, since they'd attended a few classes together at Harbor City University, along with the fact that the younger lion had once used to date one of R�my's old roommates who'd also lived at the hacker house. The Fox had actually been quite surprised to learn that Henry had been the one to be formally chosen as his father's Second in the hierarchy of the Pride, instead of his older brother Lenny, but after several hours spent hearing from them both about the rocky circumstances surrounding their relationship with their father Damien, or 'Iggy', as he preferred to be known, in the end, he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for them. Of the two brothers, He'd immediately noticed that Henry was often the more quiet and soft-spoken, tending to shy away from the use of gratuitous violence and intimidation tactics that their father's Pride was well-known for, preferring instead to use his own practice of shrewd negotiation techniques and mutual compromises, skills which he often made good use of in order to further facilitate the Pride's business on the streets. His older brother, however, had been a soldier from a young age, since long before he'd joined the Marine Corps, and to the present day, he'd remained a battle-hardened warrior, through-and-through. Since they'd both decided to ally themselves with the Claytons, the Binetti Family, and Ricky's diverse crew, which, as the news of their alliance had spread, was steadily growing in size by the day, the two of them had also recently chosen to take up rooms at the Clayton Estate, where they could direct the daily motions and activities of their respective gangs from a place of relative peace and security, while their father had preferred to remain alone at his own home on the Northside, visiting every so often when he wasn't busy with his illicit businesses, in an attempt to reconnect and rebuild his tattered relationship with his estranged sons. �So... what are we all going to do now?� Henry asked, taking a pair of puffs from the joint, before offering it to Robert, who was now walking alongside him. �So far, we've had lunch and gotten some updates at Benny's Diner, which was helpful, I'll admit; I hadn't heard that the Gathering of Felines has been considering disavowing my Father over the Pride's recent actions; backing both the Canine Council and our Alliance. I should probably make sure to let him and Lenny know about it when we all get back home... But where are we going from here?� �...Well...� Jake tilted his muzzle towards the sky as he used a paw to scratch underneath his chin in thought. �Marco's off handling some business with his Family right now. There's supposed to be a pretty big shipment coming across the water from Mexico through the Docks at some point today. Ricky, Connor, and the Fenders are all over at �Big Lou's�, that huge MMA and boxing gym downtown, training. Connor's got an official fight coming up next Saturday; it's supposed to be his first time defending his title, and Ted wanted to sharpen up his own skills since Lenny's not available to train with him today. I think my dad's supposed to be setting up a fight for him, too... Hmmm...� Letting out an exasperated chuckle, the coyote eventually just shrugged his shoulders and threw up his paws. �Fuck it; what do you guys feel like doing? As far as the business side of things is concerned, we've all basically got the whole day off! Besides...� Turning to face R�my, he gave the younger Fox a genuine smile, followed by a light punch to the shoulder, �We've finally managed to get you out of the house, so we might as well show you how to have a good time! Let's see... How about Harbor Hills? Or maybe the Southside? There's always something going on around there...� �Yeah; if by 'something going on,' you mean 'trouble, and a pair of dice,'� Robert remarked with a scoff. �Come on, Jake, you're seriously tellin' me you wanna take the kit into the middle of the fuckin' 'hood? I mean, even Henry over here is better prepared for that kind of environment, and he's only eighteen!� �I don't have a problem with that!� R�my was quick to chime in. �Really, that sounds pretty cool to me! And don't worry; I can handle myself. I don't know if James or my Dad ever told you what I did to them when they first came to visit, but you don't have to worry about me at all. Trust me; I'm a Silver. I can take care of things just fine.� Jake and Robert exchanged conflicting glances; the edges of the coyote's muzzle turning up into a confident smirk as the panther's eyes narrowed and he let out an exasperated huff, shaking his head incredulously. �Alright, if that's what you really want to do. At least you and I are both here in case something goes wrong. But I'll tell you this right now, Jake: if anything happens to R�my, I'm gonna be making the fuckin' popcorn while I watch Victor carve you up like a Thanksgiving turkey.� �...Are you guys being serious right now?� Henry muttered, looking fearfully between the two. �Ohh, yeah,� Jake replied with a curt nod. �In case you haven't already noticed, cub, while it usually seems like we're all just fuckin' around sometimes, believe it or not, when it comes down to it, we're ALWAYS serious, and we're always ready to go. As a matter of fact, y'all come on and follow me. I just thought of the perfect spot for us to head to. There's this old gambling joint that Marco once took over for his dad's crew a little over a decade ago; it's about a fifteen minute walk from here, right near the edge of the Heights, near the border where you can cross the street and Harbor Hills starts. I'm carrying a couple of stacks on me, myself; I'm sure you've got some too, right, Henry?� �Well... yes, of course, but--� �Great! Then that settles it! We'll stake Bobby and R�my, and we'll all hit the tables! Let's go clean us out some fuckin' wallets!� �HEY!� The panther scowled as Jake used his childhood nickname. �I carry my own damn money, 'yote boy! And don't fuckin' call me 'Bobby!'� ------Twenty Minutes Later, �The Flush,� a Binetti Gambling Establishment------ The underground casino was located in a rather run-down section near the outer edge of the Heights. While the district had mostly been rejuvenated over the last few years, there still remained, here and there, small pockets within the community that had yet to be rebuilt by the city council. To those people of the city who actively chose to visit these out of the way dens of vice, however, it was a perfectly acceptable environment for them to indulge in their numerous compulsions and addictions. Jake and R�my were talking animatedly and passing a cigarette between each other as the coyote suddenly turned to lead the group off of the old, cracked sidewalk and into a shabby, dilapidated alleyway, whose once-red brick walls were completely covered in moldy growths and what could've been the accumulation of dozens of years worth of dirt and grime. Henry seemed to become a bit more apprehensive as they continued deeper into the shadowy, trash-strewn passageway, headed towards a large, nondescript steel door with a viewing slot set in at head height, which appeared to have been painted in a light shade of blue at one point, but was now covered in large patches and specks of rust, with the paint peeling away in flakes upon the ground. �Are you sure this is the right place?� Henry asked, his fear betraying him through his high-pitched tone of voice. �I've never been here before...� Jake turned around and met the young lion's gaze with his own, giving a single confident nod of his head. �Yup. This is it. Don't worry, this is just the outside entrance. It looks way better once you get inside. And don't be so nervous; you may not be from this part of town, but trust me, you're gonna be just fine with us.� With those words, he strode up to the heavy door and used a fist to knock twice. He then paused for a moment, before delivering three more knocks, followed by one final rap on the rusted metal surface. A few seconds later, the viewing slot slid open from the other side. A pair of deep brown eyes gazed out towards them, scanning each of them in turn. �Mr. Clayton, Mr. Rhah. I recognize the two of you. Are the others with you as your guests for today?� came a deep, bass filled canine voice. �That's right,� Jake responded with a nod. �Mr. Marshall back there is our security.� He jerked a thumb towards the black panther, who nodded his head in confirmation. �And young Mr. Silver, here, is actually heading in for his first time!� R�my shot Jake a quick look of disbelief as the taller Coyote threw an arm around his shoulders and gave him a gentle shake, grinning cockily as they both turned back to face the door. �Alright.� The gruff voice replied with an affirmative tone, �You can all come in, but make sure that your friends know the drill. Leave your pieces at the front, and all bets can be covered in cash, blood, or property only. If you all cause any trouble in here, it gets settled on the floor. You know the rules.� �Got it,� Jake nodded as the viewing slit slammed shut, and the sound of several locks being undone began to echo over the brick walls of the trash-strewn alleyway. A moment later, the heavy door was pulled inwards, revealing the form of a large, well-built Rottweiler, dressed in a deep black wife-beater and red sweatpants, who stood at least a foot taller than any in their group and was holding a metal-detection wand in one paw as he motioned for them to step forward. Jake and Robert entered first, both of them willingly surrendering their pistols to the guard, who quickly turned and handed them off to a tall female Doberman, dressed in what could only be described as a blood-red power suit, before instructing them to spread their arms and legs. After confirming that they weren't carrying any more weapons, the guard waved the pair through, before motioning for Henry and R�my to step forward as well. He quickly repeated the process, his eyebrows turning up slightly in surprise as he noted that Henry hadn't been armed at all; moving him along and motioning for the young Fox to take his place. R�my spread his arms and legs casually, allowing the large Rottweiler to maneuver the wand over his body, before nodding his head as he, too, was gestured to join the others. The female Doberman made a point of reminding the group that their weapons could be retrieved at the door before they left, and turned around to walk towards a small room located near the entrance. The heavy steel door swung shut with a resounding 'clang!' as the Rottweiler once again took his position, seating himself on a small stool which had been placed near the entryway. Motioning with a paw towards the long, dark hallway in front of them, he nodded his head in encouragement. �You've been here plenty of times, Jake, so I'm sure you already know where to go,� he remarked with a smirk, �Most of the players here today are strictly from the streets and middle-class, but there's a few bigwigs around here who've shown up early so far. The Poker and Blackjack tables are in full swing; that's where most of the action is. Craps and Roulette are pretty dead at the moment, but who knows? If you all stick around long enough, things might pick up later on this evening.� Jake offered the Rottweiler a toothy grin as he nodded his head in thanks. �I appreciate that, Jeremy; I was actually feeling like a few good hands of Hold Em', myself.� �Then you should check out the high-roller table in the back,� Jeremy, the guard, responded. �That's where most of the big money was headed towards when I showed up for my shift this morning... Oh yeah, Gods, I almost forgot!� The large Rottweiler suddenly turned his head to face R�my, rising up from his stool, before offering the young Fox a slight bow at the waist. �It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Silver. Your father and your friends all have a hell of a reputation around these parts. On behalf of the Binetti Family, we sincerely hope that you enjoy your first time here at The Flush.� With a slight flourish, the tough-looking canine straightened back up, before taking his place near the door once again. R�my couldn't help but stare after the larger dog as Jake tugged on his arm and attempted to usher him forward. As the group began the trek down the long, sparsely-lit hallway, the fox turned to face him. �It's literally been less than a week since I moved in with all of you guys! Does everybody already know who I am around here?!� �Not really, just a few of the people who know our dads personally. Let's just say that Victor put the word out to the only people who mattered. After all, it wouldn't look good for anyone if something were to happen to a Silver, now, wouldn't it?� The coyote lowered his muzzle towards R�my's ears to whisper, �Or if we ended up having to make something happen, for that matter. Besides, this is one of Marco's places; of course he's gonna let his people know to keep an eye out for you.� With the corners of his muzzle turning up into his trademark cocky grin, Jake reached both of his paws deep into the side pockets of the heavy pair of black jeans he'd chosen to wear for the day, and came out holding two very large wads of hundred-dollar bills, folded in half and secured in place by rubber bands. Holding one of the thick wads of cash out towards R�my, he watched the young Fox's eyes go wide as he reached out with a trembling paw to take it. �Holy shit... I don't think I've ever seen this much money in one place before! How much is even in here?!� �That's about ten grand, little brother. Just like this one over here,� Jake nonchalantly tossed the other stack into the air, before catching it deftly in one paw. His words caused R�my to suddenly stop walking, the fox standing paralyzed in the middle of the dimly-lit hallway as his eyes suddenly focused in on the large amount of money that he held in his claws. He nearly flinched backwards in surprise as a black-furred paw suddenly entered his field of vision, and another rubber-band secured wad of bills was quickly dropped on top of the first stack. �Like Jake said earlier, we'll stake you for the day,� Robert reminded him with an amused chuckle, before giving him a nudge with his shoulder in an attempt to help jar him out of his state of shock. �Henry? You hold on to your own cash, cub. Between me and Jake, I'm pretty sure we've got R�my here covered.� �C-Covered? Exactly how much money are we expected to gamble with here?� Jake turned around and gave him a genuine smile as he continued to lead them towards the end of the tunnel-like hallway. �All of it. We're here to have fun, kit. That means we're likely gonna be sticking around until we've either lost it all, or made back at least double our original stakes.� �Pfft, speak for yourself, 'yote boy,� Robert muttered in response, �I'll settle for leaving this place with at least half of my cash intact. Anything other than that is just a well-earned bonus.� �Well, at least we're in the kind of place where I know I can fit in without any problems,� Henry remarked, pulling out a few thick rolls of bills of his own from one of the numerous pockets inside the coat of his usual dark business suit. �Want to take some bets on which one of us will win or lose the most?� �Too late for that,� Jake replied with a shake of his head. �We're already here.� Nodding towards the exit, he led the group out of the long tunnel, and into what appeared to be a large, open ballroom. Henry and R�my both stopped to take in the sights and sounds as the scope and size of the illegal casino operation suddenly became clear. The massive ballroom was brightly lit by two enormous, matching crystal-studded chandeliers which covered almost half of the ceiling. The dark, rough concrete of the long hallway they'd walked through had suddenly given way to a lush, crimson-colored carpeted floor, with traces of black threads running along it in a dizzying series of geometric patterns. The casino floor itself was divided into three clearly-demarcated areas: immediately upon entering, there were numerous rows of slot machines located to either side of the hall. Further into the room, a large craps table was placed to their left, and a roulette table on the right, both being rigidly manned by dealers dressed in matching, subtle black vests with red, short-sleeved dress shirts tucked underneath. Finally, near the back of the large room, a half-dozen blackjack tables, the seats around which were nearly all occupied, and a trio of large poker tables dominated the remainder of the space. Alongside the noticeable argumentative din of the gambling crowd, the sounds of loud rap music permeated the atmosphere, with several large television screens mounted to the walls, painted red to match the carpet, of course, currently projecting the music video for Lil' Jon & the Eastside Boys' �Real N�A Roll Call,� along with a fine haze of what smelled like a combination of cigar, cigarette, and marijuana smoke hanging low to the ceiling. This was, after all, an illegal operation; little things like city-wide smoking bans and open consumption laws meant nothing to the kind of people who ran this place. �Damn...� R�my muttered as he took it all in. �Suddenly, I'm feeling a bit under-dressed...� The young Gray Fox looked down at his simple plain-white Polo shirt and faded blue jeans. �Don't even worry about it,� Jake replied, motioning to his own usual combination of a nondescript black tank-top and matching jeans, �Like Jeremy said, most of the players here today are from the street or middle-class. There's no dress code in this place; just have a look around!� The Coyote raised a paw towards one of the blackjack tables. Following his gaze, R�my could make out a large group comprised of several different breeds of canines and felines, all of whom were dressed from head to toe-claws in obvious gang colors, grumbling loudly as the dealer at their table solemnly swept up all of their money on a series of losing hands. Nodding towards the poker tables in the back, Jake turned his attention towards their destination. From their position by the entrance, they could both make out a well-built tiger, a tall red-furred maned wolf, and a broad-shouldered German Shepherd, all clad in equally-expensive designer suits, surrounded by a small handful of what appeared to be blue-collar gamblers and spectators, each of them keeping a close eye on one another as they silently continued to place their bets. �That's where I'm going,� Jake noted. �Poker's my game, and at least three of those guys all look like they came here with plenty of money to lose. What do you guys think?� �I have better luck at Blackjack,� Robert shook his head in response. �I'll probably just hit one of the tables near the poker area, so I can keep an eye on you all.� �I think I'll join you,� Henry nodded in agreement, �Blackjack sounds like a better bet to me; after all, it's a game that can be beaten. You just sit at the dealer's left, and I'll take the opposite end of the table.� �Sounds good to me. What, are you gonna count the cards or something?� �Something like that. Just be ready to hit whenever I ash my cigarette, and stand on your hand if I sip on a drink. Do that, and I'll make sure you leave with more than half of your money intact.� �Well, shit, let's do it, cub!� The panther nodded and the two felines broke off from the group, headed towards one of the less-crowded tables. Jake and R�my shared a glance between each other. �...Well?� The Coyote asked with a shrug of his shoulders, �Do you want to come and play some Texas Hold 'Em with me? I mean, if poker's not really your thing, you could go with--� �--Yeah, I'm fine with that!� R�my quickly interrupted with a nod of his head. �Are we gonna be teaming up, or what?� �Nah; Henry and Bobby pulling that shit at the blackjack tables is one thing; if you get caught trying to fuck with the cards at the high-rollers' poker table, let's just say that missing fingers would be the least of your worries. Just try to keep your wits about you, and pay attention to the other players, alright? I know you've got a serious eye for detail, so see if you can spot their tells.� R�my nodded his head as Jake led them directly towards the rearmost table. As if on cue, a few of the other players immediately moved aside and vacated their seats for the pair as they made their approach, a badger with scars on his face and a tough-looking hyena both offering them curt nods as they gestured towards the two now-empty chairs between them. The dealer, a tall, brown Capybara whose black vest appeared barely able to fit around his barrel-like chest, gave them both a slight bow at the waist as they took their seats at the table. �The buy-in for this table is five-thousand to begin with, gentlemen. I've dealt for you before, Mr. Clayton, so I'm sure that you can cover it. Before we all begin this next hand, would you or your guest like to order some refreshments?� R�my turned to look up at Jake as the coyote nodded his head in response. �It's good to see you too, Hector. And absolutely; we'll have a round of Vodka Tonics to start with, and I'm actually running a little low on weed, so a few grams of something nice and strong would also be appreciated.� The Capybara nodded his head, before snapping his thick fingers together, summoning a slim cheetah who was dressed in a long-sleeved waiter's uniform, with a barely noticeable red shirt tucked under his coat. Leaning in close, the dealer whispered their order to the feline, who nodded his head wordlessly. Turning back to face Jake, the dealer tilted his head to one side and cleared his throat to speak. �That won't be a problem. Would you like the cannabis to be prepared for you, or would you prefer to roll it yourself? Also, we have a special offer available today; a free taste from our latest shipment of cocaine, if that interests you.� �Seriously?� Jake' ears perked up as his eyes went wide. �Marco's already made it back with the bricks?!� �Just over two hours ago, in fact,� the dealer nodded his head in reply, before motioning towards the tall, red-furred maned wolf sitting across the table from them. �I believe you may already know Mr. Binetti's Beta, Mr. Giancarlo?� �Oh, shit! Gianni! I didn't see you there, man!� Jake exclaimed, rising up from his seat, before reaching over the table to shake paws with the red wolf, who smiled and gave him a nod of acknowledgment in return. �So, is that new coke any good?� �Oh, I'd dare say that more than half of the patrons here are finding it to be quite enjoyable, Jakob.� The maned wolf replied with a slight smirk. �In that case, go ahead and add a few sample lines to our order. I'll have the weed rolled into joints, as usual.� Jake motioned towards Hector, who turned to repeat the order to the cheetah. �Very well,� The large rodent responded, as the feline hurried away to retrieve their 'refreshments.' Reaching for a fresh deck of cards, he smoothly peeled away the plastic covering the pack, before dumping the cards into his large paws, and began to expertly shuffle the deck. �The ante for each hand is two-hundred. The minimum bet starts at one hundred dollars. Are we all ready to play?� A chorus of affirmative nods and shouts quickly filled the air as everyone seated immediately deposited two crisp, hundred-dollar bills onto the center of the table. Sweeping the pile of cash into a stack in front of him, the capybara began to deal out the cards. ------Three Hours Later....------- �Hah! What'd I tell ya, kit! That's how you do it!� Jake let out a howl of pure joy as he watched R�my reach forward to retrieve a large pile of bills from the center of the poker table. �Winner, full house; fives over deuces,� The dealer noted, eliciting a slight groan from the other players as he reached out to retrieve everyone's cards. �All antes up for the next hand?� The large crowd which had started to gather around the high-roller's table began to whisper among themselves as the five players still remaining in the game reached forward with their money to buy into the next hand. Shaking his head, with an ocean-wide grin drawn across his muzzle, R�my laughed proudly as he drew the pile of cash towards his area of the table, before quickly separating the bills into three different stacks based upon denomination. Nodding towards Jake, he motioned to the small, rectangular mirror which had been placed in front of the coyote. �Think you've had enough of that yet?� he asked. �Hell no!� Jake responded, before reaching for the piece of drinking straw which had been graciously provided with the mirror, and lowering his muzzle down to snort up another one of the thin, white lines. �What part of 'we're here to have fun' did you not fully understand?!� R�my chuckled slightly as he shook his head, before downing his latest drink and gesturing towards the straw. �In that case, can I take the last one?� �Fuckin' have at it, little bro',� Jake nodded, offering the fox the straw. He watched as R�my lowered his snout to the mirror and took the final line. They must have gone through at least a dozen drinks and a full gram between them during the last couple of hours; neither of them was keeping count. It didn't matter; they were both enjoying themselves. Reaching a paw into his back pocket, Jake retrieved his cigarette pack, sticking one into his muzzle before offering a smoke to R�my, who took it into his two first claws and actually managed to successfully replicate his father's trick of flipping the paper tube into the air, before catching it by the filter between his teeth. �Nice. Did your Dad teach you that?� Jake remarked as he took the mirror from the Fox's paws, before handing it over to the dealer, who placed it on a small shelf located underneath the poker table. �Nope,� R�my responded, snorting loudly to clear his sinuses. �I saw him do it once, five days ago. I thought it looked kinda cool, so I figured I'd give it a try just now.� Jake did a double-take as he lit up his smoke, before offering the flame to R�my, who did the same. �You're tellin' me--� he started, sniffing loudly, �-- that you saw your dad pull that trick off one time, and you managed to do it right on your first try? That's actually pretty impressive, kit.� �Ehh, I've got good reflexes,� R�my quickly replied, dismissing the coyote's obvious suspicions with a wave of his paw. �Anyway, ante up! We're holding up the game, man!� Jake quickly tossed his money into the pile as the dealer began to shuffle the deck of cards once again. �Ain't gotta tell me twice! Let's see the flop!� The crowd hushed slightly as Hector, the dealer, casually tossed two face-down cards to each player, before slamming the deck down onto the table. �Check, or bet?� he nodded towards R�my. Taking a second to lift up the corners of his cards, the young fox shrugged his shoulders, before knocking his fist onto the table. �Check it is. Next player?� Hector called out. A chorus of knuckles rapping against the wooden poker table was his response. The capybara nodded his head, burning the top card on the deck, before flipping three cards into the center of the table with a practiced ease. Three of Diamonds. King of Hearts. Six of Spades. �Next bet goes to Mr. Klaus,� Hector noted, waving an arm towards the German Shepherd, who was now on his fifth Rum and Coke, a long, thin cigarillo smoldering between the first two claws of his right paw. Grumbling under his breath, he quickly shuffled through his stacks of cash, before depositing four bills onto the table. �I bet four hundred,� he muttered, taking a puff from his smoke as his eyes scanned over the other players seated at the table. �Call.� came the voice of the well-dressed Tiger, who spoke with an Indian accent. �I'll call as well,� Giancarlo nodded, depositing his cash atop of the Shepherd's. �May as well let it ride,� Jake shrugged, as he pushed his money forward as well. �I raise.� R�my announced, placing the four hundred-dollar bills in front of him, before adding three more. �Seven hundred.� A round of grumbles filled the air as each player proceeded to call the bet, in turn. When it came back around to Jake, however, the coyote surprised everyone by folding his hand. �Yeah; that's not happening,� he shook his head as he pushed his cards towards the dealer. �I'm not having a very good day, apparently.� �And now, we come to the Turn,� Hector nodded, burying a card before flipping the next card onto the table. �Queen of Spades,� he called out, before motioning towards Giancarlo. �Any bets?� �Five-hundred,� the maned wolf nodded, tossing the bills into the center of the table. �I call,� R�my responded, adding his own money to the growing pile. �I fold,� The tiger shook his head, pushing his cards forward. �I will see your five-hundred and raise you five more,� The German Shepherd grinned widely as he slid his money forward. Looking towards Jake, R�my tilted his head to one side, asking silently for advice. The tall coyote simply shrugged his shoulders, motioning with a paw towards the cards on the table. �It's your game, kid.� Letting out a sigh, his tail flicking nervously behind him, R�my reached out a paw towards his cash as he opened his muzzle to speak. �I raise again. Two-thousand.� �That's far too rich for my blood,� Giancarlo shook his head as he pushed his cards towards Hector. �Very well; I call,� Klaus sneered, pushing forward an equivalent amount of bills. Glancing between the two of them, the dealer simply shrugged his shoulders as he proceeded to bury the top card on the deck, before flipping the final card next to the others. �Two of hearts. Any last bets?� R�my shook his head, before knocking a fist against the table. The shepherd nodded as he did the same. �Very well, gentlemen. Please show your hands.� Klaus went first, flipping over his two cards with a smug grin. �Two pair; Kings and threes,� he confidently exclaimed. Across the table from him, R�my shook his head sadly as he let out a short, yip-like bark of laughter. Slipping his claws under his cards, he flipped them into the air, causing them to land near the row of cards in the center of the table. �Trip threes. Sorry, but I win this one!� Hector, the dealer, appeared flabbergasted as he reached out to line up the cards of both hands. �Mr. Silver is correct. Three-of-a-kind threes, Diamonds, Spades, and Hearts.� Jake's loud howl of laughter could have likely been heard by passerby on the streets outside. �Hahahahaaa! That's right! Nice win, kit!� he grinned excitedly, slapping R�my on the back with a paw. �You just took a nice stack of money from that old prick!� �Fuck you!� Klaus roared from across the table. �After everything you and your family have done, you've got the balls to insult me?! Do you know who I am?!� �Lemme think; give me a sec....� Jake muttered as he teasingly ran a tattooed paw over his chin. �It's right there; I think it's starting to come back to me... Oh, yeah! I remember you, now! Your name is Hunter, isn't it? Hunter Klaus. You run one of those pure-bred Germany-based crime Families that's made their place on the Southeast side of the city, right? In fact, you currently sit on the Council of Canines, like Marco does! But... Well... The last time I ever saw you, I'm pretty sure I was watching you running with your tail tucked between your legs after Marco, my Dad, and Victor embarrassed you in front of all of your boys at that fight at the docks two weeks ago!� The coyote's entire demeanor seemed to flip on a switch as he suddenly went from swaying and slurring his words to standing rigidly erect, a look of death drawn across his face as he continued to stare the older Shepherd down. �How's the Council been doing these days, Hunter?� �You're just like the rest of your family, fucking half-breed Clayton MUTT!� Klaus snarled between clenched teeth as he pushed his cards away with an angry shove of his paw. Rising up from his chair, he drew in a deep breath, before leaning over the poker table and letting out a thick wad of spittle, which landed directly in the center of the coyote's black tank-top, drawing gasps and mutters from the surrounding crowd. �I Challenge, right here, and right now! Forget about the money; I want blood! Both for your insult and that cheating farce of a fight two weeks ago! A fucking Silver?! I KNOW that you and your father had planned something from the start!� �KLAUS!� Giancarlo snarled from his seat at the table, � You've been warned about fighting in this club!� �Fuck that, Giancarlo! I am sick and fed-up with this half-breed junkie bastard acting as if he is one of US! I will have satisfaction!� Jake heaved a sigh, shaking his head sadly as he reached out a paw to take hold of a handkerchief which was quickly being offered by Hector. Breathing in heavily through his nostrils, he began to wipe away the stain near the middle of his chest, before tossing the square of crimson-colored fabric across the table and turning to face R�my. �Well, I guess you're in for a treat today, kit,� he sneered. �First time out with me and the boys, and you're already gonna get to watch me kick someone's ass!� He snarled in Klaus' direction, baring his fangs as his paws began to curl into tight fists. He was about to march around to confront the Shepherd, when he nearly tripped over the tail of the young Gray Fox, who'd calmly stepped out in front of him. �You just said that you'd declared a Challenge, is that right?� R�my intoned coolly, holding out an arm to stop Jake from moving around the table. �That's right, pup,� Klaus snarled,peeling away the outer coat of his expensive suit, before placing it on the back of his chair. �I may not know what your association is with this mutt, but he owes me and my Family a debt in blood! More than HALF of the Council has abandoned our codes, and it all happened after that mutt's Human father and that damned Silver humiliated us!� �In that case,� R�my stated, holding up a single claw, �I think it might be better for all of us if I were to answer your Challenge, then, Herr Klaus.� R�my relayed the words with a slight grin. �After all, you've just insulted MY Family, and if I understand the rules of this place correctly, any feuds get settled on the floor, right?� �Yes,� The Shepherd growled, as he began to unbutton his silken undershirt, exposing his wide, scar-covered chest. �But who are you to Challenge me, pup? As far as I am concerned, my business lies with that half-breed standing next to you!� �Hi. I'm R�my Silver; it's nice to meet you,� The young fox sneered. �That Silver that you just mentioned? His name is Victor, and he happens to be my father.� �That's impossible! Everyone knows that there's only one Silver left, and that old Fox's days are numbered!� �Ohh, Hunter, you have no idea how badly you've just fucked up,� Jake shook his head, raising his paws into the air as he began to take a few steps back from the fox, whose hackles had begun to visibly raise. �He may not have the fancy-looking steeled claws, but you can take me at my word that that kit you just insulted?� He extended a claw towards R�my, �Is indeed R�my Silver, and he's Victor's son. As a matter of fact? I've changed my mind; I'm not gonna be the one to kick your ass tonight. No; I'm gonna back off, and find a nice spot where I can sit and watch you get put in your place. Hey, kit?� he called over to the young fox, who tilted his head and gave a flick of his ears in acknowledgment. �Blood is fine. A knockout gets you the win. No killing.� �I can live with that,� R�my nodded his head in response, before reaching down to pull off his white Polo shirt, revealing his lithe chest, before carefully folding it up and turning around to hand it off to Jake. �I don't want to get any blood on it,� he quickly explained, as he turned and strode around the poker table, meeting up with the taller German Shepherd on the center aisle which divided the Poker and Blackjack tables. �So, you're really a Silver?� Hector called over. R�my nodded his head once more, the corners of his muzzle twisting up into a slight grin as he continued to stare up at Hunter Klaus. �The name that's printed on my birth certificate is 'Remington Devereaux.' But the name that my father gave me is R�my Silver.� �Well, then...� The capybara raised a large paw, causing the crowd to back away from the pair. �That changes the odds a bit. All bets are now being taken! Two minutes until the Challenge begins! Both of you, take four steps backwards!� The pair instantly obeyed without any further provocation, as several of the other dealers who'd been working the tables quickly guided the crowd to a safe distance, and moved in to form a makeshift 'ring' around them. �A Challenge has been declared!� The large Capybara shouted, loud enough to be heard over the crowd. �Hunter Klaus, one of the four current Heads of the Canine Council, has been challenged by R�my Silver, the only surviving son of Victor �Two Moons� Silver, of the Silver Clan of thieves and assassins! As the Challenger, young Mr. Silver has the choice of whether to use weapons, or to fight Mr. Klaus unarmed!� �No weapons,� R�my called out with a shake of his head. �You said that blood is fine, and a knockout means a win, right?� �That's correct,� came the voice of the cheetah who'd delivered their drinks and drugs, who'd taken up position at the edge of the living 'ring' that the dealers had formed. �All feuds are to be settled on the floor.� he repeated the same line that Jeremy, the door guard, had used earlier. �...And we can place bets on the fight?� �Of course, Mr. Silver.� �In that case, let's say that I wanted to take my winnings from the poker table, and put it all on myself to win this fight...� �That won't be a problem,� Hector called over, as he used one of his thick arms to sweep the fox's stacks of bills towards the center of the table. �You can consider yourself to be all-in at two-to-one odds.� �I'll take it.� �Mr Klaus? Would you like to match the current bet on this fight?� �Fuck it all. This kit claims that he's a Silver? Fine; I'm all-in. I'll show everyone that this pup is just flapping his jaws!� �Very well then; your bets have both been accepted. Please take a moment while we continue to collect from the spectators.� Robert and Henry suddenly appeared, shoving their way through the growing crowd, the panther snarling as he noticed the younger fox standing in the center of the ring. Trying his hardest not to explode, Robert marched solemnly up to R�my's side, before leaning over to whisper into his ears. �A Challenge? Really?! I know that dog; he's one of the Council heads. Are you sure you're up for this, kid?� The younger fox turned his head to face Robert with a confident grin drawn across his muzzle. �Like I told Jake a few minutes ago,� he began, sighing as he stretched his arms and rolled his shoulders in preparation for the fight to come, �I'm a Silver. We don't fucking lose. Now, watch this, Bobby...� ---END CHAPTER 18