by Forgy, M. N.
“Well, well, well,” the familiar voice of Cross sounds as he exits a polished newer model SUV parked to the side of the chaos. I didn’t even notice it from all the excitement.
“Cross,” I grit, my trigger finger feeling suddenly heavy. I want to empty this entire clip into his body, then slice his throat and watch him drown in his own defected DNA.
His eyes fall on Raven, the way he looks at her makes the hair on my neck stand. Her skin instantly grows cold, her spine straightening.
“She’s not going with you.” I raise a brow, challenging him to come at me.
“Oh no?” Cross asks amused, cigar in his hand.
“She doesn’t want anything to do with you, just let her go.” I lift my chin, and I can feel the heat of Zeek and Felix staring at me. I’m releasing my adoration for the enemy right in front of my brothers. My betrayal as thick as my devotion for this club.
“Is that true, Raven?” Cross looks at her with a tilted head, his fucking dark eyes staring her down.
I rub my nose along the crook of her neck, smelling her into memory. The feel of her soft skin against mine. I just want to take her back to the bunker, in a world of just us.
“Tell him you’re done,” I whisper into the back of her neck, but she doesn’t say anything. My pulse hammers furiously in my neck that she won’t fucking say the words.
“Say it!” I grit, my jaw tight.
“Let her go or I shoot your man,” Cross informs, snapping his fingers to the guy holding Mac.
Raven tenses beneath me, and turns to face me with a hard look in her eyes.
“Did you really think you could fix me? Change me?” she mouths. My eyes widen, and my grip on her tightens. My forehead begins to sweat as my gut twists. I put everything I had on the line for her.
“What?” I ask with a frown, hoping I fucking heard her wrong. I put her before my club, doesn’t that fucking mean anything to her.
She smiles like the fucking devil and I know then I’ve been played. I betrayed my club for a second chance at love and got burned. Again. I fucked up.
This was all a game to her. Growling, I push her arm away from me and aim my gun at her head. My heart slams in my chest and rage pours through my limbs like lava. My hand shakes, my nostrils flaring with unbearable rage. I begin to pace, and just as she looks at me with those fucking eyes all I see is she and I alone in that bunker.
I stop my pacing, lower my head and glare at her.
“Run, pet. Fucking run!” I growl, aiming the gun right at her pretty little head. I want to pull the trigger so bad so she can feel what the fuck I’m feeling. When she doesn’t move, I fire my gun into the ground, a bullet slamming into the dirt. She doesn’t budge, just slowly turns on her heels and begins to walk toward the man she really wants. Cross.
The man with the gold teeth lets Mac go, shoving him to the point he nearly falls on his face.
Anger. Fury. Hurt. It all swirls in my chest as I watch the second woman I’ve ever loved turn their back on me. I’m an animal and I am meant to be alone, I wish I could just accept that.
“Let’s go,” she tells Cross, climbing into the expensive car.
“Who knew all I had to do was put one of my girls inside your club just to tear it apart?” Cross chuckles to himself following Raven into the car.
His men retreat into their busted ass SUV, and they drive off into the desert. The only thing to be seen are taillights and dust.
Fists clenched, head bowed back, I howl to the sky, needing to extinguish this agony in some fucking way. I need it out of me now. The smell of her, the feel of her, the defiance. It will always be with me.
Felix runs after them firing his gun into the night like he’s actually going to hit his target. Some bullets hit the bumper, others lost to the darkness.
Zeek slaps me upside the head and I close my eyes knowing repercussions start now. I’m going to lose everything because of Raven.
“What the fuck were you thinking? Is this what you were doing with her the whole time? Getting your dick wet?” he yells, his voice beyond angry. He pulls his weapon, shoving it in my chest.
“I screwed up, brother, she got under my skin and I let her,” I mutter, my eyes on him.
Just like the fucking demon Lilith. The seductive bitch, making me see her for something other than the goddamn devil.
“Gatz is dead because of her,” Felix juts his chin at me, and my chest fills with anger.
“She didn’t have anything to do with that, she didn’t even know where Cross was!” I point at him. I can’t believe these assholes are judging me. Zeek shoves the gun in my chest to keep me from getting close to Felix.
I shake my head, glaring at my president.
“I’m not a fucking traitor,” I growl, and he squints his eyes. “You know, I never turned my back on either of you when you guys decided to fuck a sheriff and a cop! Hell, there was a time Jillian tried to purposely take our club down and I still stood behind you.” I step up toward Zeek, and he drops his arm aiming the gun at me. He and Felix should know better than anyone that you don’t get to pick you who have feelings for.
“You put our club at risk,” Zeek defends.
“And being with a sheriff didn’t?” I rebuttal, and he scoffs.
“He’s got a point,” Mac shrugs, gaining heated eyes from all of us. “Look, we can fight about bitches all day, but it ain’t going to settle anything.” Mac shakes his head, the only one of us that hasn’t found his dick stuck in a pussy that’s tearing the club apart. Yet.
I turn, rubbing my beard trying to calm myself. My chest hurts, and I’m so mad I want to fire my weapon into the air just to feel the release of the trigger against my fingers. I fucked up, and it’s not a good feeling.
“What about the GPS?” Mac informs everyone, and Zeek looks to him confused.
“Machete put a GPS on her.”
Zeek looks to me with heated eyes. “At least you fucking her, paid off for something. Let’s go get Cross and end this shit.”
“You don’t think it’s a trap?” I ask, knowing last time we saw Cross, Zeek was worried about us following him into an ambush.
Zeek scoffs. “I don’t really fucking care anymore. I’m tired of this hide and seek shit. We’re doing this and now. Let’s hope your girlfriend doesn’t try and get in the fucking way or I swear to God I’ll kill her.”
Chapter 13
Raven
Sitting in the cool air conditioner of the SUV, the leather seats stick to my sweaty legs. Cross’s cologne is overpowering and makes my stomach knot, or maybe my unease is just from what the hell just happened. The look of mistrust on Machete’s face killed me. I wanted to turn and wrap my arms around him, tell everyone in that circle that this was the man I wanted to be with. But it wouldn’t be smart. It would be suicidal.
Looking out the window I mindlessly grab the bat around my neck and stare at Machete as we drive away. I asked myself what would Machete do? The answer was simple, he’d go with Cross if he had the power that I do.
“Do you have feelings for him?” Cross asks, his tone holding a bite to it. He’d make sure Machete dies if I say yes. That is what Cross does, he ensures misery, so you have nothing and nobody left but him.
“No,” I lie. “I can’t stand him.” The words are hard to push out and taste sour on my tongue. I didn’t want to come with Cross, but I’m the only one who can bring him down. Can’t the Outlaws see that? Cross trusts me, and I will be the only one that can get close enough to kill him. To end not just my pain, but everyone else’s that walks within his shadow.
No matter how hard the Outlaws try, they will never get to him, he’s much too smart and has too many people in his pocket.
Glancing down, I spot a pencil rolling about on the floor carelessly. I want to grab it and slam it up Cross’s nose to kill the shadows that haunt me. Impaling him with it will distract him enough for me to attack the driver and flip this motherfucker. Then I can finish the job and run back
to Machete. Hopefully it’s not too late. Hopefully he doesn’t hate me.
“You know, if you really want to hurt Machete, I have something that will do the trick,” Cross informs and my head whips in his direction. The look on his face is vindictive and crass. He’s trying to get in my head. It’s working.
“What do you mean?”
“Take us to the shed,” Cross taps his driver’s shoulder before dark beady eyes look my way. “You’ll just have to see it to believe it,” he laughs wolfishly. I mask a fake smile and look the other way. I hate this man so much I can’t even fathom how I haven’t killed him in a fit of chaos yet. Machete broke the shell Cross put around my reality, making me see who was the true villain of my story, and I’m going to be the one to end this nightmare. Even if it kills me.
The hairs on my neck stand and my hand drops from my necklace as I look out the window.
Pulling up to an old metal shed in the middle of nowhere, an old lamppost stands beside it. It’s inconspicuous and oddly placed out here in the middle of nowhere.
The driver gets out, opening Cross’s door like he’s a fucking king. I grab the pencil from the floorboard and slide it into my shorts before getting out of the car myself.
Opening the shed door, a concrete staircase leads underground. The sound of crying making my heart skip a beat and my feet halt where I stand.
I know what this is. It’s just like the place he held me and dozens of other kids in when we were taken from our parents.
Cross looks over his shoulder.
“You coming?” He lifts a brow in knowing. I swallow a hard lump in my throat and force my feet to move.
I have to do this, it involves Machete and I need to know what Cross has on him.
Down the stairs, damp dirt hits the bottom of my feet as I’m not wearing shoes. It smells moldy down here and it is cold. Following Cross farther in, lights are placed along the ceiling in metal looking cages protecting them. There are spider webs along the floor and walls, mice squeaking along the floor. I grab at my back necklace pulling strength from it to keep control of my fear. Going further down I notice there aren’t a bunch of cages, there’s just one.
Cross heads to one big cage in the back and hunches down. A man stands next to it with a rifle, keeping guard.
“I got it, go take a break,” Cross waves him off, and the man scurries off. I try to look over Cross’s shoulder to see what’s in there but all I see is a blue blanket and a toy boat. Cross pulls a key out unlocking the thick bolt keeping it closed. He dips inside the cage and pulls out a damn kid.
All the air in my lungs are sucked from the gasp that spills from my mouth when I get a good look at the little boy. A little red-headed child looks back at me and he looks just like Machete. Is he his brother? Kid? Family member?
“Who is this?” I push the word out, fighting the tears back.
“Machete’s son,” he informs with disgust in his voice, holding the child under the arms like he’s a wild animal rather than a little baby.
“His son?” I repeat, my head starting to ache putting everything together.
“His wife brought this little guy to the club wanting to start a new life with her new boyfriend. Machete didn’t know about him because she told Machete she got an abortion, only she didn’t and had the kid. I took the boy and didn’t tell Machete. I figured it would come in handy one day,” he informs looking the kid over like he’s an object rather than a person. Like he did me and Alessandra. “Machete went off to kill his wife’s lover, leaving her alone and with nothing. So … she got depressed and offed herself.” He laughs like it’s no big deal and I feel the sudden need to throw up. The letter she left when she died. “I gave you everything.” It makes sense now. She gave Machete their kid. The kid squirms in his hold, his little green eyes filling with tears.
“You’re hurting him.” I hold my hand out, my instinct to protect him coming forth. He needs me to save him. I have to save him. I’m all he has down here.
Cross gives me a concerned look before setting the kid down on the dirty ground.
He’s covered in muck and has no diaper on.
“I want you to be his handler,” Cross informs, pulling a cigar out and beginning to light it.
My eyes shoot to his, my heart skipping a beat, I lose my breath for a second.
“Why me?” I frown.
“Why? Because I want the best outlaws to do my dirty work, and you know the game as well as anyone,” he shrugs like it’s a no brainer but inside I can’t shake that he knows I have feelings for Machete, and showing me this kid is getting to me. He knows it and is toying with me. Hurting me. “I didn’t come save your ass for nothing,” he sneers. I close my eyes. I knew it, I’m just a tool to Cross.
Turning away from him I place my hands on a wooden table, lowering my head I try to catch my breath. Trying to get a hold of myself and my next move.
“How, how many kids are here?” I ask with as strong as voice as I can muster. Not sure I can handle the answer.
“For now, just him. But that will change,” he informs with a mouth full of smoke. I cringe, knowing I have to be the one to stop this. He took my childhood and killed any chance of me being normal. This little boy will have a life, he will collect frogs and skin his knees riding a bike, and I will see to it.
“Sir?” A man steps down from the stairs, gathering Cross’s attention. Taking the opportunity, I step over to the little boy, he can’t be older than three years old and hunch down in front of him. I push a red curl from his forehead and he looks up at me with the greenest youthful eyes I’ve ever seen. Looking over my shoulder, I make sure Cross isn’t watching me before looking back at the boy.
“Hi there,” I smile and he smiles a toothy grin. He’s making my black heart bleed red, Lord help me.
“Can you play hide and seek?” I ask, and he looks at me with a confused look before sticking his dirty fingers in his mouth. Hmm. “What about peek a boo?” I ask cheerfully. He lights up and I nod in excitement. “Good, you close your eyes and don’t open them until I say ‘boo’, okay?”
I grab his little chubby hands and place them over his eyes and he holds them there. Standing I grab the pencil from my waistband and turn where I stand.
“Let’s go in case the Outlaws followed us,” Cross states. “We can talk strategy in the car.”
My chest rising and falling quickly I remember everything this man has done to me. Starving me, hurting me, depriving me of having a family. Living a life of terror and anger so he can play God of Vegas.
“Why did you pick me?” I ask, looking at the floor.
“Excuse me?”
I lift my eyes, glaring at him.
“You heard me, why did you pick me to do this. Why did you come back for me years ago, but not Alessandra?”
Cross laughs, sauntering up to me like prey in the night.
“Because you’re strong, numb, and very stupid.” I suck in a breath, my fingers curling around the pencil. “I knew your grudge for Alessandra was too great to see that I was the one you should have hated. You were too numb to go out there and live like the rest that escaped. You needed me, to hide from your fear, Raven,” he seethes every word, and each one strikes me in my chest like a bullet.
“You took everything from me,” I growl with closed eyes. My pain radiating through my veins.
“I did, and you will never have a life. Nevermore!” He hisses the last word, and adrenaline rushes into my chest so fast a blood-curdling scream rips up my throat. My face blistering red with rage, I race at Cross with the pencil held high in the air. His eyes widen, his cigar falling from his mouth to the ground. He reaches for something inside of his pocket, but I’m quicker, and in one quick move I slam the pencil right up his left nostril.
His eyes widen to saucers, his mouth ajar as I smile at the sight before me.
He screams a high pitch scream, falling to his knees his hands cupping under his nose in a frantic manner. The pencil is lodged s
o far up his nose you can barely see the eraser. Blood pours out of his nostrils and down over his lips, his eyes rolling in the back of his head.
Taking a step back I kick him in the face right where the pencil is, and he instantly quiets as he falls to the ground like the sack of shit he is.
I tap him with my big toe and his fat ass just rocks.
Quickly, I crawl on top of him and search him for a gun or something to protect myself.
“Yes,” I whisper, finding a holster on the inside of his suit armed with a gun. Making sure it’s loaded and ready I turn to see the little boy with his eyes still covered. God, he’s cute. Stepping over to the fallen cigar I grab it and toss it on some blueprints on the table. Instantly smoke rises as they catch fire.
Hunching down in front of the boy I whisper, “Boo,” and he moves his hands to the side with a smile.
I pick him up and set him on my hip like I’ve seen other woman do with their kids, and aim the gun in front of me. Anyone could have heard the commotion and might be headed this way.
Smoke fills the room and little man starts to cough from it, so I hurry toward the stairs. When my foot hits the bottom step the driver opens the door from the top. His eyes widen and he reaches for his gun. Shit.
“Let’s play again?” I whisper to the kid, and he hides fast.
I pull the trigger and a bullet slams into the man’s neck. He gurgles, drowning in blood as he falls down the stairs. I jump over him and continue up the steps as quickly as I can. Reaching the exit, cool air hits my lungs and I inhale a big breath to clear the smoke from them.
“RAAAAVEN!” The familiar voice of Cross calls after me from down the stairs. Getting away from the shed, I set the boy down who looks up at me with lost scared eyes.
“We are going to play one more time okay?”
The color of fire wafts up the stairs as a silhouette stumbles up the stairs; Cross.