by Jordan Marie
“We’ll take the back roads. No interstates,” Crusher grumbles, and his face is tight in anger.
I take a breath of relief as the bike starts up, and I manage to avoid going into a panic attack.
I can do this.
I have to.
I don’t have a choice.
91
Beast
“Funny thing, preacher,” I say calmly, looking at the man who is strung up like a side of beef in a packing plant. It’s only me and Devil here now. Victor and his men gave up hours ago. It was probably a good call, because I’m starting to think this sack of shit doesn’t have any idea where Blade is, and that’s the only thing Victor is interested in right now—revenge for Charlie. Me? I have a morbid fascination with finding out exactly who this asshole is and what the fuck he fed the Dwellers about Hayden. “Do you know that there’s no record of a Pastor Aldin Sturgill? Well, that is up until about six months ago, when he just miraculously appeared out of nowhere.”
“Like the second coming? It’s probably a damn miracle,” Devil jokes. He’s on the couch with his legs thrown back as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. I really could like the fucker. He reminds me of Torch, but not as crazy. Devil is more sarcastic than certifiable, and strangely, I’ve only felt the urge to slap him two or three times.
“Go fuck yourselves,” the man spits out, having trouble talking. It might be because his mouth and jaw are swollen and bruised. Really, there are bruises coming out all over his body. I haven’t really done much to him, sadly. Victor and his men had worked him over pretty good before I ever got here.
“Now, now. Is that anyway for a preacher to talk?” Devil asks. “You don’t want a dark spot on your soul, especially when you’re so close to meeting your maker.”
“End me now! Just fucking do it!” the man growls.
I look over at Devil. I already told him how I wanted this to end. He grabs the two large containers of gas and prepares for work.
“I’m not killing you,” I tell the man, calmly. His one eye that’s not swelled over looks at me with surprise.
“You’re not?”
“No that’d be too good for you. You have a choice—a simple one,” I stress.
“What’s that?” he asks, doubtfully.
“You tell me your connection to Blade and what his plans are, or…”
“I’m not telling you shit,” he growls.
“I have to admit, I was hoping that would be your answer. Tell me, Sturgill,” I begin, unable to bring myself to call him preacher. We both know that’s a lie at this point. “Have you ever burned your hand or felt the flames wrap around the skin so hot you thought your bones would melt?” He doesn’t reply, but then I didn’t expect him to. “Because I have. I even watched while the skin peeled away from my body. It’s like Hell on Earth. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone—”
“What’s he doing?” Sturgill calls out, panic thick in his voice now.
The smell of gasoline hits me, and I know that Devil is dousing the tables and things I had him gather up earlier in the center of the room.
“I said I wouldn’t wish it on anyone—except someone who has messed with what I think of as mine.”
“I don’t even fucking know you,” the guy yells, jerking his bloody hands and legs trying to get free.
“Then let me tell you who I am. I’m Hayden’s man, and I’m also the last face you’ll see.” I take the third container of gas that is sitting beside me on the floor and begin dousing the man with it.
“Don’t do this. You don’t want to do this.”
“Sturgill, if that’s even your name, you’re dying. The only choice you have is if it goes easy, or…not so easy.”
“But I don’t know where Blade is. I haven’t seen him since that day in the hospital,” he argues, panic being replaced with utter terror now.
“How do you know, Blade?” I ask making a trail of gas along the wooden floor, leading it back to the pile of refuse that Devil fixed.
“What? Why does that matter. Listen man, you don’t have to do this. I have money. I can pay you!”
“How do you know, Blade?” I ask him again, throwing the empty gas can on top of the pile.
“Man, come on. You don’t really want to do this.”
“You ever play dominos?” I ask, finally deciding to stop playing. He’s not going to tell me anything helpful, and I’ll eventually hunt Blade down on my own. Maybe he’ll give me my answers.
“Dominos?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I tell him, picking up the huge cage, lifting it half-way off the floor and stopping to stare straight at him. “A fire can be like that. You give it a place to start, leaving a trail of gas for it to travel, and it will follow, perfectly.”
“Fuck. Fuck, man. You have to listen—”
“I’m going to start it at the old shed out front where Hayden was beaten. Then, the trail the fire takes will slowly make its way back to you. You’ll be able to see it coming for you. There’s a certain amount of justice in that,” I tell him, clearing my throat. The more I use my voice lately, the better it’s getting. Even so, with Hayden in my life, seems it doesn’t bother me nearly the way it used to.
“Don’t do this man. Just put a bullet in me if you want me dead. You don’t have to do this.”
“I could, but where you’re going? You might as well get used to the fire. Don’t worry. You won’t be lonely. I’ll send Blade to you before long,” I tell him, following Devil back outside, and ignoring the pleadings of the so-called preacher.
92
Beast
I’ve got the cage over my head, and I have to walk at an angle to get through the door and outside. I put it down on the ground and stare at the old shed in front of me.
“Now what?” Devil asks.
I don’t answer him. Instead, I walk into the shed. The smell of dirt and musty odors hit me. It’s so small in here, I’m almost as broad as the building itself. It’s no wonder that Hayden panics at being closed in. There’s a light fixture half-ass hanging down off the ceiling. I reach up and yank the pull string and dull light floods the area. There’s different tools hanging on the shiplap covered walls—hoes, rakes, pick axes, shovels and even an old axe. The building looks as if it’s one stiff wind from falling over. I grab the axe and decide to help it along. I go retrace my steps going to the outside of the building and finding the wall I want—the one that has the small closet on the other side. The closet Hayden tried to hide in. Then I take the axe and begin swinging it into the old wood. With each hit, the rightness of what I’m doing seems to settle into my stomach.
“What are you doing?” Devil asks.
I continue ignoring him, and instead carry on connecting the axe against the wood, determined to bring the small building down.
“Rainbows and sunshine,” Devil grumbles, before disappearing. “This might do the job better, Sunshine,” he says. I stop mid-swing to look at him. He’s carrying a sledgehammer—one in each hand.
I grunt, dropping the axe as he tosses one of them to me. The minute my hand wraps around the handle, it feels better. One large hit against the wall causes it to collapse. Devil joins in and half the damn building has collapsed in no time. I’m about to start on another section when the sound of motorcycles fill the air.
“Fuck,” Devil growls, stopping his swing and his hand goes to his gun almost as if by reflex.
We look out over the parking lot and shock fills me when Crusher and Dani pull up, followed closely by Trace and Ice. When I see Hayden on the back of Ice’s bike I can’t fucking believe it. I’m going to kill Crusher, and then I’m going to tear Ice’s head off his body.
“What the fuck?” I roar when the last bike is turned off.
“Hey, man,” Crusher calls out.
“Don’t hey me, asshole. What the fuck are you doing here? What the fuck is Hayden doing here?” I growl, anger vibrating through my system. I stomp over to Ice’s bike, ready to rip him off the damn thing
and choke the life out of him. One thing stops me.
Hayden jumps off the bike and wraps her arms around me before I get the chance.
“Hayden, what the fuck are you doing on the back of a bike?” I rumble, hugging her with my free arm. I turn to look at Crusher, tempted to take the sledgehammer to his fucking face. “Why?” I ask him, using just one word, because fuck there’s too much pushing in my brain right now to sort through it all.
“You were late. The women wouldn’t stop until I agreed to come check on you and…Fuck man, you know what women are like. I figured it was safer to have them with me than it would be for them to sneak out on their own.”
“I’m going to fucking kill you later,” I warn him. He shrugs like it’s what he expected—which it should be.
“Just don’t cut his dick off,” Dani says, helpfully, over his shoulder.
“I’m not touching his damn dick,” I growl.
“Thank God for that,” Crusher says and Dani laughs.
“We finishing this or what, Sunshine?” Devil asks.
“I’m going to rip your head off along with his, later,” I tell him, motioning over at Crusher.
“You can try. Let’s get this shit done, can we? No offense, but I’m getting sick of North Carolina. I’d like to get back to Tennessee.”
“He’s got a woman he’s mooning over there.”
“The fuck I do. I don’t moon over a woman.”
“You do when that woman would rather suck any dick other than yours,” Ice jokes, walking toward us.
Devil takes the handle of the hammer and shoves it into Ice’s gut. I think he got off easy.
“Ow! Motherfucker!” Ice yells.
I pull away from Hayden and move her to stand in front of Crusher’s bike. I look down at her, and dare her to move. “Stay here while I finish up,” I order. I’ve barely walked five steps away from her when I hear her following behind me. Crusher and the rest of them are laughing in the background.
“I’m not a dog you can order to stay, Michael. What are you doing?” she asks.
I stop walking, I lean my head back and look up at the sky. In frustration, I let out one long growl.
“Michael!” she demands, trying to get my attention.
“I’m taking out the motherfucking garbage!” I tell her, my voice vibrating in anger. I know it’s harsh because she jumps back at my angry reply.
“Michael…”
“This place almost broke you, Hayden. I want it fucking gone!” I remind her, giving her ultimate honesty. Then I spin around and slam the sledgehammer back in that fucking building with all my might.
93
Hayden
Call it adrenaline, or stupidity, I’m not sure. But it hadn’t occurred to me yet where I’m at. I mean I knew I was headed here. But until this moment, I hadn’t allowed myself to consciously register where I am and what I’m doing. When I watch Michael take a swing at the building, that’s the moment it actually hits me. I’m back at Blade’s home. I’m at the Dwellers. I allow one quick glance, before the sound of Michael’s hammer hitting the building jars me. I jerk my head to watch him and realize that it’s the garden shed. My body feels flushed. A sick feeling washes over me and my body feels cold and clammy, while at the same time making me feel flushed. He’s tearing down the garden shed.
“Michael. What are you doing?” I ask, stupidly. I already know. I just…can’t believe it.
“Stay back, Hayden. I don’t want you near this place again,” his rough voice demands.
“Give me your hammer,” I demand.
“Fuck no. Woman you ain’t ever had a real man in your life before, but you need to start listening to me. Now back the hell away from here and let me finish this.”
“I want to hit it, Michael.”
“You’re pregnant,” he reminds me, but he doesn’t get it.
“I want to know that I helped, Michael. I need that for me and for Maggie,” I tell him, my body vibrating with that need.
“I’m doing this for you and for Maggie,” he responds.
“They almost killed her here, Michael,” I whisper, brokenly, knowing I don’t need to. He knows that and I don’t doubt that’s why he’s demolishing it now. What he doesn’t understand is I need to look back on this and know I helped. I need it for those days when I’m feeling weak, so that it can be like proof that I’m really not.
“Hayden—”
“They beat me, and I thought I was going to die. I said goodbye to Maggie here,” I tell him, my voice and body shaking. I wrap my arms around my stomach as if to protect her. “I want to help,” I whisper, and because I’m feeling desperate, I find myself begging. “Please, Michael. Let me help.”
“Here you go, darlin’,” the other guy that’s helping Michael says. I look up and he’s bringing me a glass soda bottle with a rag hanging out of it. There’s fluid in the bottom that I can only guess is gasoline.
“Damn it, Devil,” Beast growls.
“She can throw this and set the fucking shit on fire. It’s her right, the way I figure it,” he says, and I see compassion in his eyes.
His face is a little blurry, and it’s then I realize I’m crying. I use the back of my hand to wipe the tears away and stiffen up my spine. Today I am strong.
“Thank you,” I tell him.
“My pleasure, darlin’,” he says, with a smile.
“Can I do it now?” I ask Michael, taking the lighter that Devil hands me.
He huffs, but puts his hammer down and walks over to me. “If you get hurt throwing that, I’m going to kill everyone here and spend the rest of my life in jail,” he mutters, and I could almost smile.
“I’ll be careful.”
“Then do it and get it over with. Fuck, I never realized you were so stubborn,” he says.
“Welcome to my life,” Crusher jokes, as he and Dani come to stand beside us.
“Get it over with,” Michael says.
My hand shakes as I work the lighter. It doesn’t work on the first strike, and not even the second. Michael puts his hand over my shaking one. My eyes go to him.
The dark depths of his eyes are like liquid, reminding me of how he looked when he took my body. “You got this, Hayden. Take a breath, and just do it,” he says in his quiet, gruff voice.
Wetting my lips with my tongue, I do as he suggested and just breathe. I work the lighter, and when the flame shoots up, I put it at the end of the cloth. Once it catches, I take a giant step and throw it on the old building. It’s then I realize that Michael or Devil must have already doused the building with gas, because it explodes into flames. The heat of it is so hot that I start to take a step back. I don’t get the chance though, because Michael comes up behind me, wrapping both his arms around me, practically lifting me from the ground, as he pulls me away from the fire and back into his body.
“Can we do the same to the clubhouse,” I whisper, not sure he can hear me over the roar of the fire, and the crackling of wood. I underestimated Michael again though because he bends down, kisses the side of my face gently, before whispering in my ear.
“Already taken care of, Beauty,” he whispers for only me. “Watch.”
I’m not sure what he means until I see flames breaking away from the burning building. It’s like it follows a path and it’s a path that leads straight to the clubhouse and through the open doors. He made a trail of gas. He’s destroying the place of my nightmares. Those two thoughts ring in my head over and over, until they’re drowned out by the one other thought. A thought so huge, so amazing it robs me of breath.
He’s doing all of this for me. To avenge…me.
94
Beast
Being this close to the flames, isn’t fun. It’s the only way I could think of to destroy all this shit. I want nothing but ashes left. I know my decision is right, when I feel the way Hayden relaxes into me. I doubt Hayden would be as relaxed if she knew that the fire that just jumped inside the clubhouse is leading to the death o
f the preacher. I won’t tell her that. Some things are better left unsaid. I almost wish I could watch the fucker burn, but it’s better this way.
“Hey, Sunshine!” Devil calls out.
I close my eyes. I may have to kill that boy. I rub the back of my neck with a grunt.
“How has Diesel let you live this long?” I grumble.
“It’s been a near thing a time or two,” Crusher says.
I slap him on the back of the head. “Asshole. You should have kept the women away from here. And I won’t even start on how you let Hayden ride on the back of a bike—on another man’s bike.”
“You try arguing against two stubborn females, man. It’s a fucking wonder I’m not mouthing gibberish and rocking back and forth in a corner somewhere.”
“You sad-fucks couldn’t get along without me. What do you want done with this thing?” Devil asks, bringing my attention back to him.
“With what?” I ask confused.
“This damn dog cage,” Devil mutters. “Why you had to bring it out here, I’ll never know.”
I feel the minute Hayden’s body tenses up. I know that she realizes what he’s talking about. Son of a bitch. I give her arms a squeeze and pull away from her. “I got it,” I tell him, picking up the sledgehammer. I make it over to him, before Hayden comes out of her trance and takes off running to me.
“No!” She screams, and it sounds like it’s ripped from her very soul. I look up just as she stops beside me. I’m almost ready to swing when her hand grabs hold of my wrist. “No!” she yells again, softer in tone, but still loud.
“Hayden, sweetheart, I want to—”
“Don’t you touch it!” she cries. “I don’t want you to touch it!”