by L. Wilder
The eyewitness—the person who was willing to put her life on the line to put him behind bars—was Reece Winters, my brother Riggs’s old lady. She was a reporter for the Memphis Metro and had been working on a piece about the cartel. Hoping to get information on Navarro’s brother, Reece had gone to question Jason. When she arrived at his apartment that day, she was surprised to find Navarro and his men were there. From the fire escape window, Reece had watched Navarro kill Jason and reported it to the police. Shortly after, she became their prime witness, and they asked her to testify at his trial. Knowing that she and her son were in serious danger, Gus, Fury’s president, had arranged for us to get her to safety. T-Bone, Gunner, and I, along with Riggs and two of our prospects, Crow and Rider, packed up Reece and her son and headed up to Jed’s cabin in the Appalachian Mountains—a place where we could protect her from Navarro’s watchful eye. While we’d felt certain that Reece and her son would be safe there, I wasn’t taking any chances. As the club’s sergeant-at-arms, it was my responsibility to ensure everyone’s safety. It was a job that I took very seriously, so I’d left no stone unturned as I set up a list of strict surveillance procedures for each of us to follow. The brothers and I would take shifts monitoring the grounds with every precaution to make sure that no one came snooping around.
After living there for over a month, we’d all settled into our routines, and while everything seemed to be going as planned, I wasn’t about to let my guard down. The trial was quickly approaching, which meant Navarro would be even more desperate to track down Reece and end her before she had a chance to testify. There was no way in hell we were going to let that happen. Not on my watch. I was on my way out to relieve Riggs from his post when Gunner came barreling in from outside. As he started taking off his hat and gloves, I asked, “Did you complete the perimeter check?”
“I did.” He removed his thick winter coat and tossed it onto the back of one of the kitchen chairs. “All clear.”
“And what about Crow? You check in with him?”
“Yep. He’s good, as always.” Gunner reached for the coffee pot, then added, “The kid has a knack for this shit. Might be time for us to consider patching him in.”
“Yeah. He’s a good kid. I’ll be sure to mention it to Gus.”
As Gunner headed straight towards the fridge, he asked, “Is there any more of that lasagna left from last night?”
“I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure T-Bone finished it off for breakfast.”
“Damn. We’re gonna have to put a muzzle on that man before he eats us out of house and home.”
“At least we don’t have to worry about having a garbage disposal.”
“You ain’t lying there, brother,” he chuckled. “There’s nothing that man won’t eat.”
“Maybe we should get Reece to cook him up a mess of brussels sprouts and see what he does with those.”
“Hell, yes. And maybe some beets and liverwurst. I’d pay money to see that.”
“Knowing him, he’d scarf them down like there’s no tomorrow.” I pulled on my hat, grabbed my thermos filled with hot coffee, and started towards the door. “I’m gonna go relieve Riggs. Let me know if anything comes up.”
“You know I will.”
Just as I was about to walk out of the kitchen, he tossed his scarf over to me. “You’re gonna need that. The wind is blowing out of the east, and it’ll chill ya down to the bone.”
“Thanks, man.”
I wrapped it around my neck, but it did little to protect me from the arctic wind as I stepped out onto the porch. The fresh fallen snow glittered and shined like diamonds under the light of the full moon, which made the forest look like a winter wonderland. The only sound I could hear was the icy layer crushing beneath my feet as I trampled through the knee-deep white stuff and made my way over to Riggs. When I walked up to him, he looked up at me and smiled. “Before you ask … Yes, I did the perimeter check, and everything’s clear.”
I shrugged. “Wasn’t even gonna ask.”
“Yeah, right. We both know you can’t help yourself,” he teased.
“What can I say?” I glanced back over at the house as I said, “Gotta keep Reece and that boy of yours safe.”
“You got that right.”
Riggs was the club hacker, and with his particular skillset, he was able to get the most updated information on just about anything. Knowing the trial was just two weeks away, I asked, “Any news about Navarro?”
“Not a damn thing.” Concern crossed his face as he continued, “I gotta tell ya, brother … the closer this trial gets, the more nervous I get. Navarro knows that with Reece’s testimony he’s toast. He has to be feeling pretty fucking desperate right about now, and desperate people do some fucked-up shit.”
“I’m sure Reece feels the same way.” I shook my head and added, “She has to be nervous about testifying.”
“Yeah. She’s been trying to put on a brave front, but I know it’s worrying her. I don’t think she’s been sleeping all that well. That’s one of the reasons why I have something special planned for her tonight.”
“Something special, huh? Well, don’t keep her waiting. Get your ass inside.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” As he started towards the house, he handed me the two-way radio. He hadn’t gotten very far when he shouted, “It’s gonna be a cold one tonight.”
“No different than last night. At least the snow has finally stopped falling.”
“You’re right about that. I’ll check in with you in a bit. Try to stay warm!”
The bitter wind howled through the trees, biting at my flesh as I headed towards the back gate. I wanted nothing more than to go back to the cabin and sit by the fire, but it would be hours before that happened. As I tromped through the heavy snow with my teeth chattering and my bones aching, I found it hard to believe that I ever enjoyed a single moment of winter, but when I was a kid, I loved the snow. Hell, I couldn’t get enough of it. There was nothing better than putting on a pair of my old man’s coveralls and heading out into the blistering cold with the kids from my neighborhood. We’d spend the entire day building forts and having snowball fights with our buddies. We wouldn’t head home until our clothes were soaked through and our fingers and toes were completely numb. But now, I was over it, and I was thankful that I’d finally made it to my post. We’d made two enclosures on either end of the property that were similar to deer stands. Each of them gave us a clear view of the grounds while protecting us from the elements. As soon as I’d climbed inside, I reached for the binoculars and started searching the woods for any sign of intruders. I’d been sitting there for over an hour with not so much as a critter climbing a tree when I heard Crow’s voice on the radio saying, “Guys … I think we’ve got company.”
My stomach twisted into an anxious knot as I responded, “What the fuck are you talking about?”
“I’m out here on the west bank of the creek, and there’s a UTV parked back here in the woods.” Everything came to a screeching halt as I listened to the sounds of his feet crunching through the snow. Seconds later, he told us, “And the engine’s still warm. Whoever is out here …”
His voice had suddenly trailed off, and my blood ran cold when I heard a faint gurgling sound in the background. I had been coming down from my post when I heard Riggs shout, “Crow … Crow! You there, brother?”
I already knew the answer. Whoever was out there had already ended him, and if I didn’t move fast, there would be more death to follow. I was racing towards the house when I heard T-Bone’s voice on the radio. “Murphy’s Law.”
Since there was a chance that Crow’s radio had been compromised, we all changed our frequencies, which made it more difficult for the invaders to monitor our conversations. It was a plan I’d implemented for this very reason. Once we were all on the same channel, Riggs ordered, “Everyone to your posts!”
My adrenaline was pumping at max speed as I rushed towards the house. Once I’d gotten ins
ide, I met Gunner at the living room closet, and we started collecting the M249s and the extra ammo. We were both busy pulling everything out when Riggs had come up behind us. “Do you think it’s them?”
“Got no idea,” I answered.
His voice was filled with panic as he asked, “How in the hell did they find us?”
“No way of knowing.” I tried to remain calm as I continued, “You gotta remember who we’re dealing with here, brother. If Navarro hired someone to take us out, he’d hire the best. Someone who knows how to watch for our mistakes. One fuck up is all it would take.”
“We were careful! We played everything by the book!”
Knowing we were wasting time, I ordered, “Keep one of these for yourself and give the other to T-bone. He may need something with a little more punch. He’s out on the front porch.”
Before he walked out, Riggs asked, “Where’s Rider?”
“Out back.”
“Reece and Tate are upstairs in the closet.”
“Good.” With a stern voice I told him, “I know you’re worried and I get that, but brother, we’ve prepared for this. We’ve got to stick to the plan. It’s the only way we’re going to get out of this alive.”
He nodded and headed out the front door. From there, things had gotten interesting. Riggs had only been gone for several seconds when there was a commotion outside and shots were fired. It was clear to see that whoever was out there was getting closer. I didn’t realize how close until Riggs came busting through the front door and announced that T-Bone had been shot. As things started to escalate, we all knew time wasn’t on our side, which made each of us a little rattled. Once we’d tended to T-Bone’s wounds, I sent Riggs upstairs to guard Reece and Tate. After he was gone and in position, I grabbed two rifles and headed for the roof. One way or another, I was going to find the asshole who’d just put a bullet in my brother. He had to be dealt with before another one of us was taken out.
I crawled out of one of the upstairs’ windows and carefully stepped out onto the snow- and ice-covered roof. After taking several treacherous steps, I spotted Crow’s body sprawled out in the snow. He was planted face down with blood pooling around his neck and chest, leaving no doubt that he was dead. Anger surged through me as I scanned the woods, searching for the man who’d killed one of our most promising prospects, but my view was obstructed by the low-lying branches that were weighted down with snow. I eased forward and adjusted my footing in the snow and then lifted my rifle. As soon as I looked through the scope, I saw a slight movement coming from the west side of the creek. I zoned in on the area, and just as I noticed a branch start to quiver, the gunman stepped out into the open and started shooting several rounds towards the rear of the house. He was aiming for Gunner and hadn’t noticed that I was on the roof. Taking the opportunity, I aimed for his head and quickly took the shot.
A sense of satisfaction washed over me as I watched the motherfucker’s lifeless body drop to the ground. I was checking to see if there was anyone with him when Riggs’s voice came over the radio. “What’s happening out there?”
After one last look around, I answered, “I just got him.”
“You sure?” he asked sounding hopeful.
“He’s got a bullet between his eyes, so yeah, I’m sure.” I was just about to tell him that we still needed to stay vigilant until the grounds were checked when the radio clicked over, letting me know that he was no longer listening. I cursed under my breath as I radioed over to Gunner, “We need to do another perimeter check before we head inside.”
“You got it, brother. Jed’s just showed up to give us a hand. I’ll take him along with me.”
“Good.” Remembering our fallen prospect, I ordered, “Rider … tend to Crow. Don’t want him left out there alone.”
“I’m on it.”
I turned and started back towards the window, and just as I was stepping inside, I heard several rounds of gunfire followed by the sound of shattering glass coming from beneath me. My blood ran cold when I realized there was a second shooter, and he’d made his way into the house. Fuck. Horrified that either Riggs or Reece might’ve been hurt, I hurried through the window and raced down the stairs. I was almost to the second floor when I heard more shots being fired. Panicked, I continued towards Riggs’ room, and just as I was about to come up on his door, I ran into Gunner. It was clear from his expression that he was just as worried as I was. “Any word from Riggs?”
“Nothing.”
I eased over to his door and listened for any sounds coming from the other side. All I could hear was silence, so I took a step back and kicked the door down. Gunner and I charged into the room but stopped dead in our tracks when we found Riggs on the floor. A man dressed in all black was lying next to him with a bullet wound in his head. I wasn’t sure how it had all played out, but Riggs had managed to kill the second shooter on his own. As soon as we realized the second shooter had been taken out, we quickly turned our attention to Riggs. He’d been shot numerous times, and it was clear from all the fucking blood that he was in pretty bad shape. I said a silent prayer as I knelt down beside him and placed my hand on his arm. “It’s gonna be all right, brother. Just stay here with me.”
Gunner walked up next to us and asked, “How the hell did he get up here without us seeing him?”
“He must’ve crawled up the side of the balcony. I should’ve known something was up when I noticed the light was out.”
“Not on you, brother,” Riggs tried to comfort me. His voice was weak as he continued, “I should’ve been watching for him.”
My chest tightened when Riggs closed his eyes and groaned. Unable to hold back any longer, Reece tapped on the closet door and asked, “Murphy? Is that you?”
“Yeah. It’s me.” I motioned over to Gunner, giving him the okay to open the door. I heard Reece gasp as soon as she saw Riggs, and when I turned to look at her, she was as white as a ghost. Fearing she’d pass out, I told her, “You’re gonna have to keep it together, Reece. I know this looks bad, but Riggs needs you to be strong right now. You got me?”
She nodded and lowered herself down on the floor next to Riggs. As she wiped the tears from her eyes, she whispered, “I need you to stay with me, Jackson. Do you hear me? You can’t leave me.”
He tried to reach for her, but simply didn’t have the strength. “I’m right here, beautiful … I’m right here.”
There was no denying that they both loved one another. Hell, you could almost feel it whenever you were in the room with them. I’d accepted the fact that a love like theirs wasn’t in the cards for me, but that didn’t stop me from feeling a little envious from time to time. At that moment, though, jealousy was the last thing on my mind. Instead, I felt nothing but remorse for them both. I sat there silently and listened to them whisper back and forth, telling each other those little things that needed to be said in this difficult situation, and as much as I knew they needed this time together, time wasn’t on our side. We were out in the middle of fucking nowhere with very few medical supplies and no fucking doctor, and if we didn’t tend to Riggs’s wounds, we were going to lose him. Reece had been pleading with him to hang on when Jed came barreling through the door. “Just did another check. No one in sight. You boys got ‘em all.”
“Thanks, Jed.” I looked behind him and asked, “Rider with you?”
“He’s still taking care of your boy, Crow. Sure am sorry you lost him like that.” Then he stepped towards Riggs and said, “Looks like we might lose him, too, if we don’t get moving quick. We need to get him downstairs, now, before he loses any more blood.”
We all gathered around him, and as we lifted him up, Riggs said to Reece, “Tell Tate about me … tell him how much I loved him.”
Reece didn’t like that one bit, and she let him know it as we carried him downstairs. Jed motioned us towards the kitchen, and once he’d swiped everything onto the floor, we lay Riggs down on the kitchen table. As Jed started to survey his wounds, he said, “He
’s losing a lot of blood. I need one of you to run and get Sue Ellen. He’s gonna need a blood transfusion, and since I don’t know his blood type, we’re gonna need Sue.”
“Why do we need her?”
“She’s O+ blood type, so she’s compatible with anyone. Blood transfusions are usually done with packed red blood cells and not whole blood, but this is our best option.”
“How the hell do you know all that?”
“I’ll explain later. For now, we need Sue.”
“I’m on it,” Gunner told him as he rushed for the door.
Before he ran out, Jed shouted, “Tell her to grab my medical bag out of the closet.”
Just as the door closed, T-Bone came shuffling into the kitchen. He was still holding the blood-soaked towel to his chest as he looked over to Riggs. “What the fuck?”
“Riggs was shot.”
“Yeah. I can see that, Murphy.” He stepped towards him as he said, “He looks like he’s barely hanging on.”
“That’s because he is.”
“Then, what the fuck are we gonna do about it? We can’t just let him lie here and die.”