Lexi's Justice

by Renee Shearer

  He shook his head with a sad look in his eyes, I couldn’t stand it, he caught my arm as I tried to brush past him and forget this ever happened. I shouldn’t have snapped at him, but my pride wouldn’t let me apologize right now.

  “Did he ever hurt you, Macushla?” My eyes snapped to his as he lightly grazed his hand down my face.

  I closed my eyes, shaking my head slightly, “Not physically. I think he would have started, had I stayed with him. No, it was just verbal shit, that I told myself at the time didn’t bother me a damn bit. But I’m realizing now that maybe it did and I just didn’t see it or acknowledge it. Whatever it was, I don’t have to worry about that now.”

  Colter nodded solemnly, heading to the table, I missed our usual banter as we ate in silence. After we ate, we left to go do some more shopping, still not saying a word. It’s been awhile since the phone call and I could tell that he was brooding over something in that sexy head of his. I didn’t want to interrupt his thoughts, I hated when I was trying to solve a problem and everyone and their mother bugged me to pay attention to them. So I would leave him be, for now. But he had better start talking soon or I was going to lose my shit.

  The silence grew so loud I felt like screaming by the time he started talking again as we made our way out of yet another store. I never thought I would say I was getting tired of shopping. But here we were.

  “Let’s head home. I promised the guys I would have you back by noon.” We walked slowly to the car.

  “What? Like, Cinderella.” I glanced sideways at him, catching his smirk. My panties were immediately damp again. Sweet baby Jesus, I was going to have to start going commando and wearing skirts for easy access.

  His deep baritone voice pulled me out of my dirty thoughts. “No, she had till midnight.”

  “Touché.” I replied as he opened my door for me. I smiled and settled into my seat. Colter’s hand was warm and rough on mine as he held it on the drive home.

  Thirty-Two

  It didn’t take me long to figure out the bitch was still alive. She thought she was so clever, surrounding herself with four men like the whore I always knew she was. It was probably her idea to fake her death to try and throw me off the trail. But it didn’t work, it would never work. Just like it didn’t for her sister.

  Following Lexi these last couple of days has been too easy. For supposed military men they sucked at covertness. Or spotting danger. I had a buddy of mine look up their records, decorated marines and good soldiers. But, I’m better. I’m not just good, I'm great.

  They won’t see what hit them. I resist the urge to rub my hands together in manacle glee. I’m not some villain. No, I am the sword of vengeance. The avenger of evil. I will rid the world of their evil temptations.

  I perk up and watch avidly as she comes striding out of the shop they went into not long ago. My hungry gaze eating up her striking figure. Her long beautiful legs eating up the distance quickly. Her boy toy following her like a loyal dog that he is.

  The bitch always was good at twisting men around her little finger. Just like her sister, Roxy. One bat of those lashes and men panted after her like a bitch in heat. Now Lexi, was the same way. I couldn’t have that.

  No, I have to put an end to the men suffering and her womanly temptation. Just like I did her cunt sister.

  This time the whoring bitch will die. Too bad I won’t get to see it this time. Oh, well. The memory of her falling off that cliff will just have to keep me warm until my next mission comes along. Besides, I will always have the memory of Roxanne crying to her sister on the phone in between bouts of puking up blood, her last wheezing breath she takes as Lexi screamed into the phone.

  I adjust my growing erection as her perfectly toned ass slides into the passenger seat of the car. I chuckled to myself as I stood up, whistling a jaunty tune. I’ll have to thank Brittany when I get back for her loose lips.

  Not that she knew I was listening in. But still I will find a way to thank her.

  I blow a light kiss at the retreating car, won’t be long now. Poor little Lexi. Such a sad tale, dying before her time. Again.

  Thirty-three

  Shane

  “Sit down Hawk, I’m sure everything is fine. Quit acting like a worried mother and stop fucking pacing!”

  I growled at Thorne, I could feel it in my bones, something was wrong. They were only 30 minutes late but I knew something was wrong. I felt this way just before our last mission that went sideways. I didn’t listen then, but I sure as shit was going to listen now.

  “I’m telling you, Thorne. We need to go search for them. Something is wrong. Neither one is picking up their phones.”

  “They probably decided to have lunch before coming home and lost track of time. Or Colter’s balls deep in her. I wouldn’t answer my phone either if I had Lexi’s legs wrapped around my waist as I pounded into her. Right, Shane?” Thorne smirked at my obvious discomfort.

  “Naw, Colter would answer just to torment us.” Connor said, striding into the living room from the kitchen. “I agree with Hawk, Thorne. Somethings wrong. My twin sense is going crazy.”

  “Oh for fucks sake. Fine, If it will appease you two mambi pambi’s, let's go.” Thorne threw up his hands, getting off the couch.

  I chuckled as I walked out, making sure to check that my handgun was secured at my back. I grabbed it earlier out of the hall safe, but now I was regretting it. My skin was itchy and I had electricity flowing in my veins. Now that we were doing something, my churning gut settled down, but I was still alert for anything.

  I didn’t miss the fact that Connor was twitchy and packing enough heat to take out a small village. Thorne wasn’t packing but he grabbed his emergency medical kit.

  I scrambled into the bed of Thornes’ truck. “You’re seriously going to ride in the bed of the truck?” Thorne shook his head at me like I’d lost my marbles. Maybe I had but that didn’t stop me.

  “Faster response time from here in case I’m right.”

  ‘We’re right.” Connor said his voice tight with worry.

  I nodded in his direction and settled in; my eyes peeled to the side of the road. If they were driving there was only one way Colt would drive. As much as we tried not to be, we were all creatures of habit.

  As we took off, dirt flying behind us, my thoughts drifted back to the gun stashed at my back, even as my eyes searched the forest. I haven’t touched a gun in two years, four months, one week, and three days. But who’s counting. My skin felt like ants were crawling under it, and my palms were sweaty. Why I grabbed the fucking thing was beyond me. That’s how much I’m willing to risk for Lexi. My eternal soul. If that didn’t tell me anything about her then there really was no hope for me.

  I swore to god I would never pick up another gun after the incident yet here I was, eye’s wild, breathing labored, adrenaline pumping, itching to unleash hell. The guys always knew when I got this way to watch the fuck out because I was about to fuck some shit up, usually with my fist or knives. I have always been dangerous with a gun in my hand. Grandad always said I would be a serial killer or a damn fine marine.

  I hated how holding a gun made me feel, like a damn god one minute holding someone's life in my hands, them never knowing what hit them. Then a complete wreck as the guilt set in. I was guilty of taking someone’s son, brother, husband, and father away from them. Most of the time we had to conveniently forget that the enemy were people too. With families and lives of their own, that they were fighting for their way of life. Or an ideal. Just like we were. Too many damn wars were fought over religion, or way of life. Everyone wanted to be right and if they were right then everyone else was wrong and had to be converted. I just didn’t get it. If people would just stop trying to have everyone be the same, then war would practically be non-existent.

  I was more of a lover than a fighter now, but back then...I shuddered, pushing the thought away. But the past wouldn’t be ignored today and it reared its ugly head again, forcing me to look at it
again.

  It wasn’t the first time I had to fire my weapon and kill, but it was a lot of people that day. The day I walked away from someone else's war. The thing that made me drop my gun for good no matter how much the guys pleaded with me to use them for hunting, was the village. Our last mission. I don’t think even the guys knew what I did. I’ve never told anyone. Not even in my incident report.

  I smacked myself in the face to get the fuck out of my head and into the here and now. I had to find Lexi; not laminate over a damn past I couldn't change anyways.

  Standing up, I placed my hands on the roof of the truck, spreading my legs for balance as we raced down the road towards Boston.

  Please, let them be okay. I had no idea who the fuck I was praying to, I lost faith in the Almighty Father a long time ago. But I couldn’t help to send the plea up to the heavens. Hoping someone would hear it and respond. If anything happened to either one of them, I would lose my shit and probably go on a killing spree. Then I would prove Grandad right, twice.

  I squinted my eyes, “I SEE SOMETHING! KEEP GOING, STEP ON IT!” I screamed, the wind snatching my words and carrying them away.

  I don’t know if Thorne heard me or if he saw the same thing I did. Smoke in the distance. Getting closer, my heart froze in my chest, the car was engulfed in flames. It’s Colter’s car, I would recognize that plumb purple color anywhere. I used to razz on him when he first got it for the color. It was almost as bad as Connor’s baby blue Prius he used to drive.

  I gripped the roll bars on top of the roof hard to keep from flying forward as Thorne screeched to a halt. Connor and I hit the ground running at the same time, Thorne not far behind us.

  “Colt? Lexi?”

  “Answer us, damnit!”

  Thorne and Connor’s voices blended to become one in the hot afternoon sun. I stayed quiet, listening for any sounds, any signs that they were still alive. I tried to get close to the car to see if there were bodies inside but the heat was too much. I would’ve risked my flesh searing off if I hadn't heard a rustle in the woods, followed by faint sobbing. My gun was in my hand before I blinked, in the next moment I was running about 50 yards from the car. I could see Lexi, pulling something.

  I stopped short when she leveled a gun at me, she was shaking so bad I was afraid the damn thing would go off before I talked her down. Her pale blue eyes were wild, darting everywhere, looking for a threat. Her beautiful jet black hair was singed, and she had blood running down her face. I noticed all the bleeding cuts on her hands and arms, probably from the glass breaking.

  But what stopped my heart was Colter’s form lying on the ground at her feet. She was standing over him protectively, he had blood everywhere and his breathing was labored.

  I needed to calm her down so we could look at him, or at least get the gun away from her before the car exploded and spooked her into shooting.

  I didn’t feel like dying today.

  “Lex? Sweetie, It’s Shane. You’re okay, put down the gun.” I talked to her like I would an injured animal at the clinic. Calm and sweet. “You did so good getting Colt away from the car. I’m so proud of you, but I need you to lower the gun now okay, mi Pequeño Guerrero. Just give me the gun, you’re safe now. I promise I won't let anything else happen to you.”

  The tears in her eyes, and the heaving sobs that escaped from her perfect mouth shattered my heart as she let the gun drop. I flinched; a gun could easily go off once it hit the ground accidentally shooting someone. It’s how most accidental shootings happened. I leapt forward and grabbed her around her waist as she sank to the ground. Not wanting her to see as Thorne rushed in and started checking Colter.

  My blood started boiling, this should not be happening. We survived 4 tours in Afghanistan and Iraq. Only to be brought down by a car accident. No, he had better be alright or I would find a way to kill him myself. I looked at Thorne over the top of Lexi’s head as she sobbed into my chest and hung on for dear life.

  He nodded his head slightly, confirming that Colter was alive and would be okay. I released the breath I was holding. It would be okay. Lexi was alive and relatively unharmed and Colter was alive. That was all that mattered. At least until I got my hands on the son of a bitch who did this.

  I tried to breathe normally, but the more Lexi clung to me and the more Thorne worked on Colt, the redder my vision became. I needed to get a fucking grip on myself or I was going to lose it. Frantically, I searched for Connor, thinking he would have been right here with us. Instead I saw him with a fire extinguisher trying to battle the flames of the car. What the fuck was he thinking?

  Once again my heart stopped beating. I knew the car was going to blow, we had seen it many times. “CON! GET WAY FROM THERE!”

  Connor threw the extinguisher to the side and started running toward us, just as the car exploded. The force sent him flying, I saw it all in slow motion. The shockwave grabbed his body and lifted him into the air, pushing him towards a massive tree. His body slammed into the tree with such force I thought for sure he was dead.

  The wave rolled over us bringing with it the searing heat, and smoke to coat our lungs making us cough. Thorne had thrown himself on top of Colt, protecting him, while I tried to curve as much of my body around Lexi as I possibly could. Lexi screamed and pushed me away to jump out of my arms. I scrambled to hang onto her, but she was determined. She sprinted towards Con, screaming his name. Getting to my feet I followed after her, first making sure Colt and Thorne were okay.

  “Lexi! Wait!”

  My heart was pounding in my chest, ice started to slide through my veins as she fell to her knees beside him, gently brushing back his hair.

  I don’t know who called in the emergency, but sirens suddenly filled the air, and flashing lights lit up the forest as I reached Con and Lexi. She was clutching his chest and sobbing.

  “Oh god.” Was all I could say as I looked at his battered face, and broken body. Sliding to my knees, there on the forest floor, the memories came rushing back. I clutched my head and screamed. This was not happening; I can’t lose another brother.

  Thirty-Four

  Lexi

  My world was crashing down around me, once again going up in flames. I couldn’t stop crying and refused to let go of Connor, the paramedics had to pull me off of him. He was in stable but critical condition and was being taken to Salem General Hospital. The paramedics tried to make me go when they saw all the blood on me. I refused, choosing instead to ride in Thorne’s truck as he anxiously sped behind the ambulance to the hospital.

  Both brothers were in surgery now. Connor had a broken leg, and cracked ribs, he was lucky there wasn’t more damage done. Colter was in stable, but serious condition, with a nasty gash in his forehead, 3 broken ribs, a broken arm, and a piece of glass had stabbed him in the abdomen. Last we heard he had lost a lot of blood, that was hours ago.

  Thorne was terrorizing the nurses for any information, his captain finally told him to shut up and sit down. Shane was in a state of shock or something, he wouldn’t speak to anyone and his eyes had this faraway and glassy look to them. Everyone was giving him a wide berth, leaving him to his own thoughts. I didn’t know if that was wise of them, but couldn’t bring myself to go over to him either.

  Pacing back and forth in the waiting room, I once again looked out over the sea of faces. I was amazed at the amount of people that were here for the brothers. They all came so quickly. Thorne had made a couple of calls on the way to the hospital and some were here before we even got here.

  There was their own crew, from their business and a lot of Thorne’s buddies from the station were here. My head snapped to the door as it whooshed open again, I kept waiting for Britt to walk in the door. I had called her, but she never answered. It wasn’t like her and I was afraid something happened.

  I could feel it in my gut, something still wasn’t right.

  It wasn’t Brittney that rushed through the doors and immediately found me to wrap me in a hug. It was the twin�
�s mom. I briefly noticed that their dad had a file folder in his hands. This was all so surreal, we had left them not 48 hours ago and here we were in the hospital as their sons fought for life.

  “I’m so sorry!” I sobbed into their mother's shoulder, as her husband greeted Thorne and Shane.

  Susan pulled back and wiped the tears from my eyes, “Love. It’s not your fault. Accidents happen, lord knows my boys always were the type to head into danger rather than from it. It’s why they were so good in the military. It gave them that adrenaline boost they seemed to crave.” She shook her head, a wiry smile tugging at her lips.

  I tried to hold it back and just nod, but once again there was no stopping the word vomit. “Bu...But.. It is my fault. Someone is trying to kill me, I brushed it aside before but I don’t think I can anymore. I can’t ostrich this, I can't keep digging my head in the sand farther and farther just because there is shit I don’t like. I’ve always done that, but not anymore. The brakes failed on the car, I’m sure someone tampered with them, brakes don’t just suddenly stop working. And the little light thingy on the dashboard said we had low brake fluid just before the curve. He tried to slow down but couldn’t break, then we were hit from behind, as the car lurched to the side. The next thing I know we are spinning out of control and he’s yelling at me to hold on. Everyone around me dies, I should have known better then to get close to anyone. Christian was right. I’m a walking disaster. First Roxy, then Mom, then Grams, lord knows, Dad walked out and was never heard from again. Hell he’s probably dead too. and now Colt and Connor are fighting for their lives because I refused to face the fact that someone wanted me dead.” I shook my head at her incredulous face, “No, I’m sorry. But this is my fault and I need to fix it. Tell them not to come after me.”