Determination outweighed the anger, and I set off after them. Just as they pushed through the doors, Kade came in. He pointed over his shoulder. “Was that panty girl with the doctor?” he asked, but then the laugh lines around his face dissolved. It took one glance for him to know shit wasn’t okay.
“He’s her father,” I muttered.
“Oh fuck,” Kade said. “Talk about fucking irony, huh?”
“What about we don’t talk about shit?” He got the gist of it, and I was done, ready to move on. The desire to rip Aubree from that prick’s arms was a fleeting memory, and lost to the red-hot anger coursing through me again.
She made her fucking choice, and I was done being second rate. If she wanted me the way I wanted her, she would have fucking stayed. Instead, she chose security and familiarity, and I guess I couldn’t fucking blame her. Why would she want me when she could have Daddy take care of her?
Funny, if she only knew the truth. Knew what type of man her father really was. Knew that if it wasn’t for the club, the house that she grew up in would have been seized, and everything she loved inside would have been auctioned off to pay his debts.
I protected her when I didn’t even know her. Helped preserve her pureness, and that familiarity she was heading back to now. I took care of her when her father couldn’t.
I could go run after her and blow up the doc’s spot. Give him exactly what he had coming to him for years, but fuck it. I was done. Girls were complications, and there was a reason I never let them get too close. I fucked up when I let Sunshine get to me, and it was a fuck up I wouldn’t do again. I was done. Through with the bullshit.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I growled as I flung the door open. Kade followed behind me to the parking lot. The crowd had thinned, and the booths were wrapping it up. Looked like everyone was ready to call it a day.
The guys met us by our bikes as I pushed my sunglasses on. My eyes spotted Aubree getting into the back of her daddy’s Range Rover, and that fucking prick sliding in beside her. I imagined for a second what my life would have been like if I wasn’t born into the club. If the doc would have accepted me as he did that preppy douchebag. If Aubree and I would have gone on actual dates where someone didn’t wind up shot dead with a bullet hole to the head. Then, my sanity kicked back in. Why the fuck would I ever want that life? I may have been born into this life, but it was my decision to stay. I was an outlaw through and through, and nothing not even a sweet pussy like Sunshine’s could change that.
The Range Rover drove away, and I snapped my attention back to my brothers.
“Pretty successful day,” Nick said, grabbing his helmet from his handlebars. “Now, why don’t we all go have a drink back at the clubhouse? Well, except for Phil. He has some new family members to bring home.” He nodded across the way, and we all turned to see Phil and his old lady put two puppies into the backseat of her car.
“You owe me money, brother,” I said, pointing to Kade.
“Pussywhipped, bastard,” Kade muttered, as he slapped a twenty into my hand.
I shoved the money into my pocket and straddled my bike. I revved the engine before pulling out into formation, and leaving Aubree behind me where she belonged. Unfortunately, she was still in my fucking head, torturing me.
I could still taste her sweetness on my lips, so, at the next traffic light, I lit a cigarette. I took a long hard drag, letting the nicotine spread through me, but it did nothing for my rattled nerves. If anything, the rage inside of me was building with each passing second.
I was so over this day. The faster I got to the clubhouse, and had some Jack, the happier I would be. We continued on down a back road that didn’t get much use. The sky was overcast, and I suspected it to rain at any second. Halfway down the road, a line of bikes blocked the path in front of us.
Nick slowed his bike down, and raised his hand for us to do the same. I squinted, trying to focus on their cuts. It didn’t take me long to realize it was the Montamos. What the fuck did they want? My guess was they figured out we framed them for Anthony’s death.
Before any of us could dismount our bikes to ask questions, gunshots rang out. Bikes swerved and cut to the side of the road, and we took cover where we could. I dove behind my bike, using it as a shield, as I grabbed for my Glock.
A bullet whizzed by my head, and I ducked down. Son of a bitch. Nobody shot at my club and me, and got away with it. I was sick and tired of people thinking they were better than me. That I would just sit back and let them take the reins. That wasn’t who I was, and I was done acting like it.
I got to my feet, a fury inside of me taking over, and causing my surroundings to go dark. A stupid fuck pointed his gun at me, but, before he could make the shot, I took him out with a bullet to the goddamned head.
I walked out from behind my bike and just started shooting. I didn’t care about the bullets coming at me, or the fucking bastards who were shooting them. All I cared about was proving my worth. Showing these pieces of shit that I was unstoppable. That I wasn’t some pussy who would lie down while they shot at my brothers and me.
If they wanted a war, I was ready to bring one, and I wasn’t going to stop until every one of these fucks were dead.
“Cash! What the fuck are you doing?” I heard Kade yell out behind me, but I ignored him and kept walking. Kept shooting. “Fuck! Cover him!” Kade’s voice drifted past me in the wind. After that, I didn’t hear anything except for the whizzing of bullets and the blood rushing through my ears.
Blood burst from heads, as each one of my targets collapsed to the ground. I lost count as body after body disappeared from my view. Rain began to fall, but it didn’t stop any of us.
As I got closer, I realized it was only the beginning. They had called in reinforcements, and they had other charters here. Good. It was about time every last one of them knew that the Righteous Outlaws weren’t to be messed with. That, if they came on our territory, they would fucking die or I would die protecting my own.
I wasn’t scared of death. It was inevitable. We were all ticking time bombs; it was just a matter of when. At this point, I had nothing to lose. If it was my time to leave this world, then I was ready to do it. Going down in a blaze of glory for my club seemed like the best way to go.
Pain exploded in my arm, and my body jerked at the force, just as I was tackled to the ground. The fog in my head dissipated, and the scene in front of us cleared. Kade was on top of me.
“How many times is that now?” Kade asked. “Two, three?” he asked, as he took a few shots and then dragged me back behind his bike. “I think I’m going to have to start charging to save your life. I can make a fucking fortune.”
“I’ll give you the twenty you gave me earlier, and we’ll call it even,” I joked, but then winced at the sharp twinge shooting through my arm.
Kade jumped up and took a few more shots. “You okay?” he asked, as he came back down next to me.
“Fucking peachy,” I answered as the twinge turned into raw excruciating pain. “Fuck me.” I rested my head against the cool metal of the bike.
“Let’s end this,” I heard Dice yell out, just as a flaming bottle of booze flew through the air. “Take cover!” Kade and I stayed put, ducking down and watching the bottle soar through the air. It hit one of the Montamos’ bikes, igniting it like the fucking Fourth of July. Screams echoed through the late afternoon as bodies dove out of the way.
Flames spread up one of the Montamos, and he ran around in circles as the fire grew. Stupid motherfucker. Hadn’t he ever heard of stop drop and roll?
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” Nick yelled, and all the guys hopped on their bikes and took off.
The rain picked up, turning from a light drizzle to a steady stream. The fire would die down soon, and we needed to be as far away as possible for when it did. “You okay to ride, man?” Kade asked.
“Rain or shine, we ride,” I said, forcing a smile through the pain.
“Nowhe
re in there does it say with a bullet hole,” he pointed out.
“I should be fine.” I pulled a bandana from my pocket, and, with my teeth, made a tourniquet. “Ride by my side just in case.”
“You got it, brother,” Kade said, mounting his bike and waiting for me to lead the way.
It was a fucking bitch trying to steer with one goddamned arm, but somehow I managed. I got the bike back on the road, and we burned rubber, leaving the burning mess in our wake. The rain had slowed, but that didn’t matter. The ground was slick and making it even harder for me to keep it straight.
My place was the closest, and I just needed to get there. Once I did, I could take care of my arm. Get the fucking bullet out, clean it up, and be as good as new again.
“How you holding up?” Kade yelled over to me.
I gave him a nod, and continued on our path. It was only a few more blocks. If I couldn’t make it, then I sure as hell didn’t deserve to.
My house came into view, and I gunned it until I was in the driveway. I went right inside, holding my arm and trying to ignore the growing sharp aches. I had taken care of bullet wounds before, and didn’t think this one would be much different, but, as I attempted to get the bullet out, it was apparent that it wasn’t going to be easy.
I bit into a leather belt as I searched the wound, trying to find the bullet. Kade kept me numb with a bottle of Jack, and, while the Jack helped with the pain, it wasn’t helping to keep my head clear.
“I don’t give two shits what you’re about to say, but we’re going to see the doc.”
“No!” I growled. Over my dead fucking body would I ask that shithead for help. Hell, he’d probably spit in my face now that he knew I was fucking his daughter. There was no way he would help me. I was on my own, and I was fine with it.
I’d survived worse.
Blood poured from the wound, and I wondered if I nicked something I shouldn’t have.
“Despite what you may think, you’re not a doctor,” Kade tried reasoning with me.
“I don’t care. No doctor! Fuck him. I don’t need him. I can do this on my damn own.”
I held the tweezer to my arm again, but I couldn’t focus on the wound. The room began to spin until I couldn’t keep my eyes from closing. I popped them open, determined to get this shit done.
“Sorry, brother,” I heard Kade say, just as pain shot through my face and the blackness consumed me.
* * *
Sounds rushed through my ears, but I couldn’t make any of them out. I tried to open my eyes, but I couldn’t find the strength to do so. Slowly, things started coming back to me. Bits and pieces from right before the lights went out.
“You will do it.” Kades voice broke through the fog in my head, then the sound of a gun cocking. I forced my eyes open, and saw the black barrel of Kade’s gun pointed at the Doc’s head.
“You know this isn’t how it works in the real world,” the doc said.
“Isn’t it? You’re a doctor, you help people. So fucking help him.”
“I’m talking about the gun. You can’t just go around threatening lives. You aren’t God. You don’t have the power to give and take life.”
Kade pushed the barrel of the gun harder into the doc’s head. “My gun here says differently.”
“Put the gun down,” I managed, and pushed myself up against the wall. Kade looked at me with annoyance. A stupid smirk settled on Kade’s face. “Look who decided to wake up.”
“You knocked me out, you fucking bastard.”
“You didn’t give me much more of a choice.”
“No you didn’t. And now I’m not giving you one. Put the damn gun down.” I reached into the waistband of my pants, and pulled out my gun, pointing it at my best friend.
He rubbed at the scruff on his chin. “I’m taking care of it.”
“If he doesn’t want to help me, then fine. I told you I didn’t want his fucking help anyway.”
Kade stared me down, but I didn’t waiver. I kept my hand as steady as I could, refusing to put the gun down until he did.
“Alright,” Kade groaned, dropping his arm. “Do whatever the fuck you want. But just so you know. You die and so does he.”
Kade slammed his hand into the door and shoved it open, disappearing into the hallway.
“Sorry about him,” I said. “He’s a little gun happy.”
The doc didn’t say anything. He got up from his chair, and propped himself up in a corner, arms crossed against his chest.
“How is she?” I asked, because despite everything: Aubree choosing him over me, being ambushed by the Montamos, and being shot, I cared. I didn’t fucking want to, but I had no control over it anymore.
“Don’t talk to me about my daughter. Don’t ask about her. Don’t even use her name in my presence. You got me?” he seethed.
“I just want to know if she’s okay.”
“It’s none of your fucking business. She’s none of your business. You will never talk to her or see her again.”
“That’s all I needed to hear.” I pushed off the doctors table and headed for the door. My hand went for the knob and missed. The world tilted, and I grabbed the wall to keep my balance. I just needed some sleep. Once I got that, regained my strength, I’d be able to take care of my damn self.
I didn’t need the doctor. He could keep his expensive education and shove it up his yuppy ass. My hand slipped, and I used my shoulder to keep from tumbling to the floor.
“You lost too much blood. Sit down,” the doc spat. “Before you go down.”
“Why?” I questioned. “You actually going to help me?” I laughed, feeling like I was on the verge of losing my damn mind.
“I haven’t decided yet, but I don’t need you passing out on my floor and bleeding all over my carpet.”
“Why? Don’t have enough money to replace it?”
“That’s none of your fucking business.”
I wanted to say fuck you and leave, but my energy levels had plummeted and it was getting increasingly harder to hold myself up. I plopped back onto the table.
Kade poked his head in. “What’s going on? He helping or not?”
“I’ll help on a two conditions.”
Kade came into the room and closed the door. It was after office hours, and there was no one there. It didn’t matter whether the door was shut or not, but it was habit. “We don’t bargain.”
I held my hand up to Kade. “Let him talk.”
Kade let out a loud rush of air. “This is fucking ridiculous. Talk, pretty boy. We don’t have all night.”
The doc sat down and rested his foot on his knee. “First, I want you to promise you will stay the fuck away from my daughter.”
“I can’t promise that,” I mumbled, and he stomped his foot down.
“Then you’re on your own.”
“Cash, you couldn’t just fucking lie?!” Kade barked.
I shrugged and forced myself to sit a little straighter. “She already made her decision. She chose you. But, if she ever came back to me, there is no way in fucking hell I would turn her away.”
The doc jumped up, his chair toppling over. “She is too good for you. She has a future!”
“Getting knocked up by that polo-wearing douchebag.” I took a deep breath, trying to make the lightheadedness go away. “Letting that education you paid for go to fucking waste because she gets stuck being a stay at home society mom. Yeah, because that life is so much better for her.”
“At least she’d be safe and out of harm’s way.”
“Safe. Yeah she’d be safe alright. Safe from ever having a real future. What you envision for her is to satisfy your own agenda. I know who that guy is. What his company is. He’s fucking loaded. Makes you look like a goddamned pauper. If she marries him, you’ll never have to worry about money again.”
“If she marries him, I’ll never have to worry about her again. She’ll be taken care of, and I’ll be able to sleep easy at night. If you care for her, really
care for her, like you say you do, you know it’s the best choice for her.”
“Even if it is,” I said, resting my head back and trying not to let my eyes slip shut. “You can’t force her into it.”
“Maybe not, but forcing her away from it shouldn’t be an option either. Can we both agree on that?”
I took a moment to ponder it, but it didn’t take long for me to come to a conclusion. “Fine.” At least then it would be her choice to make. “What’s the other thing?”
“I want out. I’ve paid my dues twice over, yet I still keep getting roped back into your shit. I take care of you and you let me out.”
“Deal,” I said.
“Whoa!” Kade intervened. “That is not your decision to make, Cash, and you know it. It’s a club decision. It needs to be brought to church.”
“And, we need a majority rule. You’ll vote in favor, won’t you?”
Kade and I never stood divided. We made a pact a long time ago that we always stood together. I knew I could count on his vote.
“Even if I do, the others won’t agree to it.”
“I’ll find a way to make it happen. After today, the Righteous Outlaws and me are through with you. I give you my word.”
Aubree
Today was a total nightmare. Dad came to dinner at the club, but he wouldn’t even look at me. He barely spoke to me and, when we got home, he didn’t even acknowledge my presence. I thought that, by choosing him over Cash, it would fix things, but it didn’t. If anything, it made everything worse. I would never be Daddy’s girl again. His little princess. Funny, how I always wanted to be more than that, but, now that I lost the title completely, I just wanted it back.
Dad had never done anything to disappointment me. He always had my best interest at heart. He only wanted me to be happy safe, and secure. How could I have faulted him for that? I needed to fix this. Fix us. I needed to repair all the damage I caused. Make him see that who I chose to be with doesn’t change who I am. Who I have always been. I’m still me. And I am still his daughter, regardless of what I’ve done.
Warrant (Righteous Outlaws #1) Page 13