by Jenika Snow
“Can I ask you something?” Lila asked.
“Of course.” Bunny had a feeling she knew where this was going.
“You left all that time ago, without saying anything to Brendan or me. Why?”
Bunny was silent for a moment, and although she’d already talked about this with Tank, she wanted Lila to know, as well. “I loved your brother, Lila.” She paused. “I love your brother.”
“I know,” Lila said and smiled sweetly.
“He told me he loved me back then, and I freaked out, only seeing my father telling me that as he burned me with his cigarettes.” The sympathy on Lila’s face was tangible, but Bunny pressed forward. “I knew I was too fucked up to ever be good for Brendan, or at least that’s how I felt. I left him behind, left you behind…” She shook her head. “I left the only two people that gave a shit about me because I couldn’t handle what your brother wanted to give me, and I was a coward, weak.” Bunny wiped away the tears that rushed to the surface.
“You’re not a coward. You were just trying to survive the only way you knew how.” Lila had her arms wrapped around Bunny instantly, and the two just held each other. They’d both had fucked up families, struggled to live decent lives, but look at them now. It could have been laughable if the situation wasn’t as dire as it was. They might not have had ideal situations while growing up, but they were alive, and things would work out. Bunny knew that with every part of her.
It was when Bunny pulled back and smiled that she heard the first round of gunshots being fired. She felt her eyes widen and her heart stop, and instinct kicked in. She and Lila were off the bed and moving toward Faye. Lila scooped up the baby, and Bunny pushed them toward the bathroom attached to the room.
“Do you think Spike found us?” Lila whispered, tears already streaming down her face as she held onto Faye.
“I don’t know, but if he did he’s not getting to you guys. I’ll die to protect you.” And Bunny would. She was done being a coward, done running. This was her family, and she’d die for them to make sure they were okay.
Chapter Thirteen
It was the sound of gunshots right outside the clubhouse that had Wrath and Tank both standing at the same time, weapons out and pointed to the front door. Tank was out of the meeting room in an instant, his gun drawn, his focus alert. He heard Wrath cocking his gun behind him. The MC was alive with activity as the Patches and prospects all were standing, their weapons in hand.
“What the fuck?” one of the Patches said.
Lucien was striding down the hallway, his shirt unbuttoned, his hair a mess. It was clear the president of the club had just woken up from the sound, but was still ready to start some shit like the rest of them.
“Get some guys around back. I want all entrances to the club locked down and guarded.”
The club whores started scattering around the room, screaming, and chaos broke out. Several Patches were already heading toward the front doors, but just as they reached it wood splintered forward. Malice and Tuck were shoved backward, knocking into a few of the other men. Tank had his gun up and aimed, and the fucker that walked through the door had his blood pressure rising, and rage filling every part of him.
Spike started shooting up the place, and several of the MC guys moved forward. But there were several of Spike’s men rushing forward, too. Shots rang out, men were being tackled to the floor, and blood and violence were filling the air.
“One of us needs to go to the women and baby, make sure they’re okay.”
Tank nodded after Wrath spoke. “Go, I can handle these motherfuckers, and I know you’ll look after my girls,” Tank said and pushed Wrath in the direction of the rooms. “Last door down the hallway. Hurry.”
Tank lifted his weapon again and shot at an asshole coming toward him. He got him in the shoulder, and the man fell back, grunting in pain. Tank wanted to be with the women and Faye, to make sure they were safe, but he knew Wrath would handle it until Tank could get there. He also needed to stay and fight with his brothers and make sure these fuckers were taken down once and for all.
Wrath didn’t have to be asked twice, as he was already making his way to the women, but a fucker came forward, slamming Wrath against the wall. The two men fought, with Wrath changing right in front of Tank in the most primal of senses. Tank saw the way the other man’s face became hard, enraged. It was like watching a beast emerge, hungry for blood. Wrath pointed the gun at the guy’s head and fired. The asshole fell to the ground, blood pooling around him from the whole in his skull. Wrath disappeared down the hallway, and Tank focused on kicking some ass, and watching the blood cover the floor.
****
Bunny’s heart was beating painfully in her chest, but she kept herself in front of Lila and Faye. She’d managed to grab a baseball bat that had been against the wall, and although it would not stop a bullet, it was better than having nothing to protect themselves.
“I’m scared,” Lila said softly.
“Me too, but everything will be okay,” she whispered. God, I hope so. The sounds of guns being shot were so loud, so real, that Bunny’s hands shook. She looked over her shoulder and saw Lila holding Faye close to her chest, the fear on the other woman’s face clear. “Hey. It’ll be okay. Tank won’t let that prick get to you.”
Lila shook her head. “I’m not afraid for myself, but for Faye, for you and Tank. I’m afraid for everyone that will get hurt in all of this.”
Bunny turned and wrapped her arm around Lila, pulling her close, but keeping her focus on the door. It was then she heard someone trying to get into the room. Her body tensed, everything inside of her coming alert, ready to fight.
“Get in the bathtub,” she whispered, and pushed Lila into the tub. Pulling the curtain over so it partially hid Faye and Lila, Bunny turned back around and moved closer to the bathroom door. Bunny held the baseball bat up, heard whoever was trying to get in finally do just that, and everything in her stopped, waiting for them to come through. Another second passed of silence filling the space between them. She heard the sound of the person walking around on the other side of the bathroom door, and Bunny knew that she might very well die tonight. But she’d make sure to go down fighting and protecting the people she cared about the most.
The doorknob started rattling as the person on the other side tried to get in. Bunny held her breath, tightened her grip on the baseball bat, and held her breath.
“Bunny, Lila?”
The male’s voice on the other side of the door was deep, harsh almost. It was also familiar.
“It’s Wrath. Open up.”
She breathed out and went over to the door, unlocking it and pulling it open. The man on the other side was like a shot of the past. He stood over six and a half feet tall, his body corded with muscles, and his expression sharp. He looked her over.
“You’re okay?”
She nodded.
“Lila?”
Lila came out from behind the curtain, holding Faye who fortunately was still asleep. For a second the air thickened, the room heated as the two looked at each other. Bunny didn’t know what that was all about, but just as soon as it had happened it was gone.
“Where’s Tank?” Bunny asked, her heart in her throat as she thought of Tank hurt.
“He’s out there holding the assholes back. I told him I’d come here and make sure you three are okay.”
“He’s safe, though?” Bunny asked, her whole body tense. “He didn’t get hurt?”
“He wasn’t hurt when I left, but there’s a lot of assholes out there. They are shooting the place up.” As if his words conjured it up, the sound of guns going off came through again.
Wrath pushed Bunny further into the bathroom, left, and shut the door behind him. “Don’t come out of there no matter what, understand?”
She nodded, but realized he couldn’t see her. “Yes, I understand.”
How many people would die tonight? You wasted so much time not being with Tank, and look at how it cou
ld all end.
Chapter Fourteen
Tank’s heart was beating fast, and his blood pumped through his veins, making his muscles thicker, bigger, and getting him ready for the fight of his fucking life. The women weren’t in the main fray of it all, and he was at least thankful for that. Club whores or not, they were innocent in all this shit, and they didn’t need to be involved and hurt.
Blood covered his face and chest, the few guys he’d shot lying on the ground bleeding out. He’d lost track of Spike when a few guys have come after him. The sound of Tuck grunting had Tank looking at the other man and seeing the gunshot wound in his leg. But Tuck was a big fucker, and kept shooting, kept holding his own. Lucien and Malice were fighting a couple of guys over by the pool table, the green felt splattered with blood.
“Motherfucker,” Ruin hollered out right before the sound of flesh hitting flesh rang through.
Tank threw a punch at the guy he was fighting, the asshole looking like he was about he was ready to keel over. But Tank wasn’t done with him yet, not when he was still standing.
“Fuck you,” the guy spit out, blood and spittle spraying from his mouth.
“Fuck me?” Tank said in a harsh voice. “No, fuck you, motherfucker.” Tank reared his hand back and slammed his knuckles into the guy’s face so hard his head snapped back and cracked against the wall. He was out cold, and just as he was about to shoot the asshole a bullet tore right through his arm. He clenched his teeth and turned around, feeling the burn from the bullet as it went right through. Standing no more than a few feet from him was one ugly motherfucker.
“I’m going to assume you’re Lila’s brother,” the fucker sneered out. “You resemble the cunt.” He charged forward before Tank could put the prick in his place with a bullet between his eyes. They slammed against the wall, grappling for supremacy. The guy wasn’t as big as Tank, but he had a bit of strength behind him. It wouldn’t matter because he’d be dead soon enough.
They punched, slammed each other around, and just when Tank thought he had the fucker right where he wanted him, just when he thought he could get a lethal shot in, someone cracked a beer bottle on the back of his head. Tank’s ears rang, and he turned and saw one of Spike’s men standing behind him right before the bastard cold cocked him. That was the last thing he remembered before he dropped to the floor.
****
Wrath was ready for any motherfucker that came into the room. He stood, his gun in hand, his focus on the bedroom door. He was relaxed, ready for anything. And then there was a gunshot ringing out, a bullet tore through the wood, and he felt the searing pain of it moving through his shoulder. But he gritted his teeth, held his stance, and trained his gun on who was about to come forward. Before he could fire off shots of his own the front door was kicked open, and some crazy asshole was charging forward with another prick following close behind, this war cry coming from them. They slammed back into the wall, and Wrath threw out a punch, connecting with the prick. The fight lasted several seconds, although the asshole had to be on something to have this kind of strength. He was also grunting, making off the wall comments between fighting, and Wrath knew a tweaker when he saw one.
He pushed Spike away, punched him in the face a couple of times, and glanced to where the other man was standing. He kept twitching, his eyes looking wild, and the knife in his hand hanging loosely at his side. Just as Wrath was about to pull the trigger Spike grinned and fired off another shot in Wrath’s leg.
Wrath grunted from the pain, but he stayed upright.
“Dirt, I’ll let you have some fun with this one. He’s looking like he might drop soon anyway.” Spike took a step back and the other man came forward. He was grinning, his teeth yellow, crooked.
Wrath felt the blood coming out at both gun wounds, but he’d had worse, and no way was he going to let some crazy motherfuckers hurt these women.
The man named Dirt charged forward, the dirty knife in his hand raised. He pushed Wrath up against the wall, his strength surprising given his frame, but then again Wrath was losing a lot of blood.
The fucker stabbed him in the side, but Wrath pushed him away before the blade went in fully. Wrath lifted his gun, his vision starting to double, and the feeling of blood freely coming from the gunshot wounds feeling warm before chilling.
“Time to let the darkness take you away,” Dirt said and laughed.
For one second that expression on the insane bastard’s face, and what he’d said, had Wrath stilling, had his body going in and out of consciousness.
No. I won’t let this fucker take me down.
It was as if they lifted their hands at the same time, Wrath holding his gun, and Dirt holding the knife. Dirt charged forward again, pushed Wrath up against the wall, but Wrath moved to the side just as the knife would have gone right into his gut. The blade slipped and plunged the blade into his outer thigh instead.
Wrath lifted his hand, gripped Dirt’s neck, and looked at the fucker in the eyes. He brought the gun to Dirt’s temple, and while still holding his stare pulled the trigger. The gunshot rang through the room, causing the baby to start to cry louder. Dirt fell to the ground, and Wrath pushed him away. He took a step closer, trying to go toward Spike, but his vision was so blurry now he couldn’t make out much. He fell to his knees, his whole body lighting up in pain. But he couldn’t go down like this. He looked up and saw Lila staring at him, her eyes wide, tears tracking down her cheeks.
“Wrath,” she mouthed his name, or maybe she’d said it. He couldn’t hear anything anymore aside from the rush of blood in his ears. And then just like that the darkness rose up and pulled Wrath into its icy embrace.
****
Ruin was on the ground unconscious, and Tank quickly moved toward him. Tank was bleeding from his nose and a nasty fucking cut above his eye, but he was alive, and he needed to make sure the girls and his Brothers were okay. He let out a breath of relief when he checked Ruin’s pulse and found it there, but slightly weak. Tuck and Malice moved up behind him, Tuck bleeding from his leg, but pushing off any concern.
“Come on, this shit needs finishing.”
The other Patches followed behind him as he made his way toward first Bunny’s room to see if Wrath had taken Lila there. When that came up empty he rushed toward Lila’s room, the door hanging from the hinges, and blood covering the floor.
Spike was sitting on the edge of the bed holding Faye with Lila right behind him. His sister was crying as she glanced from Faye, to Wrath who was on the floor face down, blood coming from several wounds on his body and covering the floor. Tank looked over at Bunny, his breath seizing when he saw the love of his life on the floor as well, unconscious, bloody, and bruised. Blood surrounded her, but it was hard to see if it was hers. Spike had a handgun in his free hand, his arm wrapped around Lila, a grin on his fucking face.
The sound of guns being cocked behind him told Tank the Patches were ready to throw down, but Faye and Lila were by this prick, and he didn’t want them hurt. He looked at Bunny again, his rage rising that the asshole had hurt her. He could see she was still breathing, and he sent a thank-you up to whoever was listening and looking out for her. But his sister and niece needed help, too.
The smell of blood and violence filed every part of Tank. He clenched his hands at his sides, trying to focus, to stay calm when all he wanted to do was get this fuck, wrap his hands around Spike’s neck, and twist.
“I thought of just killing Lila and bringing this little beauty back to Thorne. I could raise her up real good, make her know how to be a good little bitch.”
Tank took a step closer, but Spike tsked and lifted the gun toward Lila’s head.
“Careful.”
Tank froze.
“Call the fucking guard dogs off, or the girl gets it.”
Tank bared his teeth, but lifted his hand to have the other Patches step back.
“You want what is rightfully mine, but it’s not going to happen. I won’t let you take what belongs to me.�
�� Spike grinned.
“Let us take him out,” Malice said.
“Watch it, motherfucker, or I’ll not only kill Lila here, but the other three bodies in this room, too.” Spike looked Tank right in the eyes. “Tell the assholes to leave us alone.”
This guy was one fucked-up psychopath. That much was clear just by looking at the bastard. Tank waved the MC back.
“Shut the fucking door,” Spike said, pulling Lila in closer to him. His sister started crying hard, but when Spike shushed her she stilled, her eyes wide.
Spike was still grinning, but didn’t say anything even now that the door was shut.
“I don’t know what in the hell you think to accomplish, but you’re not taking Lila or Faye.” Tank took a step closer. “You fucked with the wrong people.”
“You have the balls to keep her here like she’s yours? This baby, this bitch … they are both my property.” Spike looked over at Bunny and grinned wider. “Hell, I might even take the cunt over there and break her in real good, having her a cowering, bloody mess at my feet when I’m done with her.”
It took everything in Tank not to go after the fucker right then and there, but he held Faye, had the gun still pointed right at Lila, and he couldn’t risk them getting hurt.
“That’s my sister, my niece, my fucking woman I’m in love with. When some asshole hurts them, threatens them, I’m the one you answer to, motherfucker.” Tank didn’t move after he spoke. He kept glancing at Lila, Faye, Bunny, and Wrath. He wanted the women to be safe, to be out of harm’s way, but he had to be smart.
“That’s where you’re wrong, asshole. Lila and this little brat are mine, and I get to say what happens to them.” Spike growled out, and before Tank could react Spike put Faye on the bed, pushed Lila away, and charged toward him. But Tank was ready for him. He briefly saw Lila pick up Faye and go over to where Bunny was, but he had to end this, and do it now.