“You can choose to disobey the request, but you might as well get a shovel and start digging your grave now.”
Who was he fucking fooling? We both knew that he couldn’t walk out of here with me alive. The message wasn’t for me to bring back to the club; it was for Aubree. I was going to be the first body thrown on the side of the road.
I didn’t want Aubree involved in any of this, and now she was in deeper than most. Fuck.
I took a step toward Anthony and, just as I expected, he flipped out. “I told you not to fucking move!” he yelled, coming at me and, when he was close enough, I headbutted him.
“Son of a bitch!” he screamed out as I rammed into him with all that I had. We both fell to the floor, and I grabbed his wrist holding the gun. I slammed it into the floor, trying to break his hold, but the fucker wasn’t giving up on it that easily.
The gun discharged a bullet, ripping through my wall. Aubree’s screams filled the room as I continued to struggle with Anthony. He punched me in the face, and we rolled closer to the bed. With one hand, I held the wrist with the gun down, and with the other I searched under the bed.
My hand skimmed back and forth across the carpet until the tips of my fingers hit exactly what I was looking for. Anthony tried to knee me in the dick, cheap shot especially considering it was fucking hanging out.
He threw a punch into my side, and I grunted as the pain radiated through my stomach. I rocked back, trying to get my hand around the grip, but it was just out of reach. Anthony reached up and his hand locked on my throat.
He squeezed, blocking any air from getting in. I couldn’t breathe and I could feel myself getting lightheaded, feel the life being sucked right out of me. I wasn’t going to let this fuck win. I struggled against him, using him as leverage to get that extra inch to retrieve the gun and end this. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get it. I used what little strength I had left to slam his hand into the ground, hoping the gun would fly loose from his grip.
My body tried frantically to gasp for air, but I ignored the impending death, and managed to get my hand around the gun just as Anthony shook free of my hold.
A single gunshot echoed through the house. My ears rang, and everything became dim as Anthony’s hold on my neck went limp. My hand was still under the bed. I never had a chance to pull it out.
I looked down at Anthony. A bullet hole right through the top of his head, and he was dead, currently bleeding out on my carpet.
I lifted off of him, and my eyes settled on Aubree. Her eyes were wide as she held Anthony’s gun out in front of her. She was frozen in shock, and I jumped up and went to her, taking the gun out of her hand. I tossed it onto the bed, and took her face into my hands. “I’m so sorry, Sunshine.” I urged her to look at me, examining every inch of her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, and uttered a few sounds, but she couldn’t seem to form a single word. I pulled her against my chest and hugged her tightly. I rocked her back and forth assuring her that everything was okay now. Unfortunately, they were just words. The truth of the matter was, a war was raging on the outskirts of our town and I just brought us to the front lines.
“Is…Did I kill him?” Her voice shook with panic, and I tried to calm her by smoothing her hair, but her body was shaking uncontrollably. “Is he dead?”
I scooped her up and carried her out to the living room. She had already experienced more of my life than she ever needed to know about, and now she had blood on her hands.
I placed her on the sofa, and retrieved my t-shirt from the floor. I draped it over her, and helped her get into it. “Look at me,” I said, taking her face back in my hands. She blinked up at me, her brown eyes full of so many emotions I couldn’t decipher what was going through her mind. “You didn’t kill him.”
“But….But…”
“Listen to me! You didn’t kill him. I did.”
“No!” she blurted, shaking her head. “I can’t let you take the fall. It was self-defense. They’ll understand.”
“No, Sunshine, they won’t. The way things work in your world? They don’t work like that in mine. The cops can know nothing about this, and they will know nothing. Got it?”
“But, what about the body? What are you going to do with him? What if he has a family and they’re looking for him and they figure it out? What if…” Her words faltered as the panic took over.
“Shh.” I held her head against me. “I’m going to take care of it.” I pulled back, urging her to look at me. “Remember when I said to trust me?”
She nodded.
“I need you trust me on this. Okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered.
I took her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “Now, stay here, I’m going to make a few calls, but I’m going to be right here. I’m not leaving you for a single second.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.” I kissed her forehead, and went right to my cell.
I dialed Kade as I pulled my pants on, and he picked up on the third ring. “This better be fucking important,” he answered.
“I need you. Now,” I said.
“Where are you?” His voice changed from sarcastic to serious.
“My place.”
“I’ll be there in ten.”
Next, I called Nick. I filled him in on everything that Anthony said, and everything that had happened after.
“Get the shit at the house taken care of, and then meet down at the clubhouse,” he said. “I’ll pull everyone together. They need to know and we need to figure out a game plan.”
I hung up the phone and went back to Aubree, who had stayed exactly where I left her. She stared off into space, her eyes completely void of emotion. Her hands still shook, and I was afraid she was going into shock.
“Hey,” I said, kneeling down in front of her.
She didn’t respond, just stared down at her shaking hands. I rubbed them between my own, and pressed my lips to the tips.
“I’m a murderer,” she finally said. “I killed a guy in cold blood. I’m a criminal. A murderer,” she spat, like it was acid on her tongue.
“What did I tell you?!” I demanded. “You did not kill him. I did!” I smacked my chest to emphasis my words. “I did, and he deserved to die. He was going to kill me.”
Tears poured over her lids, and slid down her cheeks. “I know. I was so scared.” She reached out to me, resting her hand against my jaw. “When he had the gun pointed to your head, all I could think about was the bullet going through your skull, and never seeing you again. I have never been so scared in my life,” she said, and I pulled her forehead to mine.
“I know, and I’m so sorry you had to go through that.”
The sound of a bike echoed through the night and, a few seconds later, I heard footsteps running into the house. Kade came around the corner, gun in hand, pointed out in front of him.
“It’s alright. You can put the gun down,” I said, and then kissed Aubree gently on the forehead before getting to my feet.
“Hey,” Kade said with a nod of his head. His eyebrows pulled together as he took in Aubree on the couch dressed only in my t-shirt. “Panty girl?” he asked because no matter what the situation, he couldn’t help himself.
“Kade, this is Aubree, but we can have proper introductions later. I need you to come with me.”
He lifted a curious eye, and followed me to my bedroom. I stood in the hall, and nodded toward the door. He peered in, and whistled, as he poked his head back out. “Well shit,” he said. “What the fuck happened?”
I explained the story again for the second time and, when I was done, Kade patted me on the shoulder. “I got this,” he said. “Take your girl and head to the clubhouse. I’ll call Bentley and Hudson to help me get rid of the body.”
“I owe you, brother,” I said.
He smiled. “No, you don’t. It’s what we do.”
He was right. It didn’t matter how fucked up a situation was, because we took care of ou
r own.
* * *
I drove Aubree to the clubhouse while Kade took care of the mess at the house. I trusted him with my life and knew he would do what was necessary to keep me in the clear. Aubree hadn’t said much since Kade showed up.
She had put her dress back on and I gave her a sweatshirt to keep warm. When I carried her in the bedroom, this was the last way I expected to be spending our night. I should have been buried deep inside her ready to go for round two. Worshiping every inch of her body and tasting her delicious sweetness. Instead, I was trying to keep her from going catatonic on me.
I remembered my first kill, and how it affected me. The guilt that consumed me every time I thought about the innocent life that was lost. I never spoke about it. In doing so, I would have showed a weakness that wasn’t fit for the club life. They would have stripped my badge, and then I’d have nothing left.
By the second kill, I had become numb and, after that, it just became a part of my life and I was able to accept it. However, the look in that first guy’s eyes as I took his life away was still burned into my memory. No matter how many lives I took since then, it would never go away. I might have been hardened by the life, but that one thing still stuck out brightly in my mind. I hated that Aubree had to live with that now too. She never should have been there. I never should have taken her home. I never took girls home. Ever. It opened the door for too many questions, and I did everything in my power to keep it shut. But, for some reason, it was the only place I could think to go. She was the type of girl who deserved more than being fucked on my bike in a secluded area. I wanted to give her something better than that. Something to remember. I certainly gave her a fucking night to remember. But, instead of giving her the night of her life and keeping her safe, I completely tainted her pureness. Now, I was worried that I had darkened my Sunshine.
I pulled into the parking lot and cut the engine. I got off the bike and held my hand out to Aubree. She was hesitant at first, but finally slid her hand into mine. We walked into the clubhouse, hand in hand, and were greeted by Nick at the door.
“You okay?” he asked, and I nodded.
Aubree’s eyes scanned the space as if she had never been here before. She had. She came after me that one day and that was what set this whole thing into motion. If she would have just stayed away, we could have remained as what we were meant to be: a one-night stand.
“Why don’t you come with me?” Sienna reached out to Aubree, resting her hand on her shoulder.
Aubree looked at me, and I gave her reassurance with a nod. “Go with Sienna. I’ll come find you when I’m done here.” I gave her hand a comforting squeeze and, when she turned to walk away, I caught Sienna’s eye.
She blinked in understanding. “I got it,” she mouthed, and brought Aubree to the far couch. I watched as Sienna handed Aubree a glass of whiskey. “It tastes like shit, but trust me you’ll feel better once you drink it. Close your eyes, plug your nose, and down it,” she explained.
Sunshine took the glass in her hand and stared it. With a deep breath, she followed Sienna’s instructions and tossed it back. She shook her head at the burn, and Sienna handed her a bottle of water to chase it.
Nick patted my back and guided me away. I was okay with it because I knew Aubree was safe with Sienna. Nick might have tried to keep Sienna away from this life, but the girl was her old man’s daughter with the same stubborn ass attitude. She was also tough as shit, yet she didn’t lack basic human emotion. Sympathy was still very much a part of her and, while many would consider it a weakness, I considered it a strength. I could see why Kade loved her so much.
“You sure it was the same guy that you and Kade dealt with the other day?” Nick asked as we came upon Phil at the bar.
“Without a fucking doubt.” I’d remember that cocky little prick anywhere. My jaw tightened, wishing Kade and I would have finished him the last time. If we did, this never would have happened.
Should have, could have. There was no point dwelling on what couldn’t be changed. All I could do was deal with the consequences of what was and move forward from there.
“Let’s wait for the other guys to show, and we’ll take this discussion to church.” Nick walked behind the bar and grabbed me a bottle of Jack. “You look like you can use this.”
“Don’t even bother with the glass,” I said, putting the bottle to my lips, and letting the liquid burn a path down my throat. It wasn’t enough to numb my mind. I needed to keep my head clear in order to think logically. When we went behind closed doors, I had to tell the story again and this time I needed a solution. I needed to know that the rest of those motherfuckers were not going to come after Aubree. I needed to protect her at any cost. We also needed to protect our turf. There was no way we were stepping aside for those bastards and giving up what was ours.
A little while later, Kade and the rest of the guys showed up. We headed into church, and took our seats around the table. Miles and Dice were still in Florida, so their seats remained empty.
Nick turned to Kade. “Everything taken care of?”
“Like it never happened,” Kade said.
“Good.”
“Not really,” Hudson spoke up, and everyone shifted his attention to him. “In my research into this Gordita bitch, I came across a few FBI files.”
Nobody asked Hudson how he found them because, even if we did, we wouldn’t be able to understand a fucking word he said. His brain was wired differently than the rest of us.
“All her biological sons have a tattoo of an Erythrina, the national flower of Argentina. It shows that they are the divine ones. The highest in her ranks, and the ones that do all her dirty work. They are her prized possessions.”
“What does that have to do with this?” I asked, getting impatient.
“The dead guy at your house had the tattoo.”
“Son of a bitch!” I exclaimed. I fucking knew it. I knew he wasn’t some low man on a totem pole. It was all a fucking front. He had been setting us up since day one and Kade and me were dumb enough to fall for it. And now Aubree had killed him. Her life was in danger and it was all my fault.
No. I refused to believe that. She would be safe, and I would make it my life goal to make sure of it. As far as anyone was concerned, I took that fatal shot. It was on me, not her.
“Well, I shot him. He’s dead now,” I said, making sure everyone was aware that it was me who killed him.
“His people will be on the lookout for him,” Phil reminded me.
“Taken care of,” Kade said. “They’re the ones killing the Montamos, so it would only make sense that the Montamos retaliate. His body was dumped on the side of the road in Montamos territory. It’ll never get back to us.”
I glanced over at Kade, and smiled my appreciation. He took a major fucking risk, walking into enemy territory and arranging the set up. The crazy bastard could have gotten caught, and he could have gotten killed.
“You made sure there was nothing that could track them back to us?” Nick questioned. “Blood, hair, carpet lint? The last thing we fucking need it for the cops to throw us to the dogs.”
“Took the bastard out back, and hosed him down. Gave him a good cleaning. There’s no way he’ll get tracked back to us.”
“That’s one problem taken care of, but the truth is this is only the beginning. That bitch wants our territory, and she’s not going to stop until she gets it,” I stated.
“If she wants a war, then we’ll give her a fucking war. I am not bending over backward while some cunt tries to take everything I’ve worked for,” Nick barked.
“Agreed,” Phil added. “I’m willing to do whatever it takes to protect what’s ours.”
It was unanimous. We were all ready to do what we had to do. The session ended with cheers and an assured determination. We poured out the doors, all going straight to the bar. I, however, went right to Aubree, like I promised.
She sat at a table with Sienna and, when I approached, Sienna stood.
“I’ll give you two a minute. Aubree, I’ll be waiting outside,” she said and left us alone.
“You okay?” I asked, taking her hand in mine, and running my thumb across her knuckles.
“I think so,” she said, and looked up at me with a smile that appeared forced. “Let’s go outside.”
She stood up, her hand still in mine, and guided me to the door. Outside, the air was warm and the earlier rain had stopped.
We were both quiet as I took her into my arms and held her tightly. After a few moments, she lifted her head from my chest and pulled away. “I think you were right.” She blinked up, tears filling her beautiful eyes. “Your life is too dangerous for me. This will never work. It can’t.”
I wanted to argue with her. Tell her that it could work because I would make it. I would find a way, but the only way was for me to leave the club, and that was never going to happen. My life came with a price, and it was one that she didn’t deserve to pay.
The only thing I could do now was let her walk away. I took her face in my hands, and gave her one last kiss, relishing in her taste. “I know,” I said before letting her go.
She got into Sienna’s car, and gave one final look back at me. And, then, Sienna drove away and Aubree was out of my life for good.
Cash
Kade leaned back against a shelf while I tightened a belt on a Dodge Caravan. It had been two days since my Sunshine disappeared from my life, and I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about her. The truth was, she consumed most of my thoughts. I felt like some fucking pussy that let his mind control his dick. That wasn’t who I was, but, as more time passed, my desire to see her, and to make sure she was okay, only grew stronger.
I turned the wrench one last time, and ducked out from under the hood. Kade’s eyes were focused on something in the distance and, when I followed his gaze, I spotted Sienna. She was exactly who I was hoping to see. I wiped my hands on a rag, and jogged out of the garage.
“Where you going, man?” Kade called out to me and I held a finger up to him.
Warrant (Righteous Outlaws #1) Page 9