“The fuck you doing on your back, Marine?” Marcus choked on a gasp. “You made a promise to always come back for me, tough guy. I expect for you to keep it.” He mumbled something incoherent, inhaled, then roared like a mighty beast and heaved shakily to his feet. “Now, kick that motherfucker’s ass like he stole something.”
Behind me, I heard shouts of “You can do it, Marcus! Stomp his head in and bite his tiny balls off!” Clover had rallied the other women, and they were all clapping their hands and waving their tiny fists in the air. Hope was the power that sparked the energy around us.
Together as a family, we were unstoppable.
FORTY-EIGHT
Marcus
I THOUGHT MY ASS was dreaming.
Too distracted by yellow canaries flying around my head from almost getting knocked the fuck out to realize I wasn’t imagining that shit. In my entire life, only one person had ever called me “tough guy,” and that was my woman. Maribel’s pleading voice brought me back from the brink of defeat and unleashed the inner savage that lay dormant within me. She wasn’t supposed to be here. Crazy girl disobeyed my order to leave and not look back. Shoulda fuckin’ known better. Maribel never did listen to a damn word I said when it came to her own safety. Fox better have a good fuckin’ excuse as to why he wasn’t protecting her and the rest of the women I heard screaming in the background, or he was number two on my ass-kicking list.
That would have to wait.
Ass kicking number one was still at hand.
My opponent charged full on toward me. I only had seconds to react to his spinning heel kick before he connected with my skull. I rolled sideways, causing him to miss badly, His momentum threw him off balance and left his weak spots open. Knee caps, groin, and ear drums. I struck hard and fast and never let up. He dropped to one knee with a hard thud, but he wasn’t done yet. I had one chance to end this, so I took it. I encircled his neck from the back and grabbed on to my off arm for leverage. He knew what was coming and tried to struggle. The heels of my feet locked into place around his chest to limit his movements while I hunkered down and tightened my grip. He tried throwing me off by flailing his arms, bending forward, spinning in circles, but it didn’t work. There were only a few men in this world who knew how to break that hold, and his bitch ass wasn’t one of them. Buck had perfected that move and taught us boys how to use it when necessary. Once the body lock was in place, you could kiss your ass goodbye.
Poor bastard was finished in seconds.
Game over, motherfucker.
Checkmate.
I rolled off his limp body and lay flat on the ground for a few moments to settle my breath. A dark shadow stood over me with an outstretched hand. I reached for it hardily and stood on shaky legs. Every bone in my body ached with the slightest movement, but that didn’t stop Range from embracing me in a bear hug with a hard pound on the back.
“Took you long enough to stop titty dancing with that fool, numb nuts,” he quipped. “Took ten years off my life fuckin’ around.”He pulled me in for a second time with more force. “Don’t ever do that shit again, brother. You fuckin’ feel me?” he grumbled.
“Yeah,” I heaved. “I feel that shit, man. Damn.”
Range secured my arm around his shoulder and anchored the full weight of my battered body, so I wouldn’t fall over face first. I had a few cracked ribs, which made breathing difficult when I tried to inhale. A heating pad, bottle of pain killers, and Epson salt baths were definitely in my future plans. As of now, I couldn’t hold my own dick to take a piss if I wanted to. I watched Maribel celebrate with the rest of the women. They exchanged high fives, fist bumps, and relieved hugs before rushing over toward Range and me. I’m pretty sure Ashley pulled her pants down and mooned MacCabe and his crew before flicking them off with both middle fingers. Hurt ribs or not, that shit was funny as fuck. Maribel snuggled under my free arm and planted a nice wet kiss to my naked chest. My cock instantly hardened, which in my current state was more painful than those body shots I’d taken. What could I say? I was hurt, not dead. She wrapped her arm around me, and together, we approached our unwanted guests.
“Release Odie now, MacCabe,” I demanded through gritted teeth. “Not gonna ask you again.” He snapped his fingers at the two Men in Black, and they rushed away to do his bidding. The Asian guards were too busy helping their friend off the ground to be a threat. I ignored them for now.
“It wasn’t personal, Mecken… just business,” he tried to minimize his role with a shrug. “Glad to see you came out on top, not that I had any doubts.”
“Yeah, well, you can stroke my dick later. Debt is paid. Fuck you. We’re done.”
“You gonna kill me now that this is over?” He grinned.
“Maybe later, cocksucker. Too fucking tired tonight.”
Yelling and cussing coming from the parked limos caught my attention. Odie had been freed from the restraints and gag just in time to grab one of the MIBs by the balls. The other one was trying to help his friend but was met with a harsh bite to his arm when he tried to grab her. That woman was pissed. Not that I blamed her; she was giving those fuckers all they could handle. Max was in a better position to run interference since he held back to maintain watch, so I signaled for him to go help out.
“Whoa there, Scrappy-Doo.” He approached with his hands held high. “I’m Max, a friend of Maribel’s, and she really wants you to move closer to where she’s standing over there next to Marcus.” He pointed.
“Yeah, just a second.” She held up a finger. “Let me get one last kick in, then I’ll be ready.”
Crack.
Crack.
“Okay, maybe… two kicks.” Odie smirked. “Now I’m ready.”
Max walked beside her over to the rest of us in case those two dumbasses on the ground got any ideas. Odie hissed and cussed the entire way, never once showing signs of backing down once she reached a safe distance. Maribel ran toward her, meeting her halfway, and the two women embraced for several minutes. It was the bittersweet reunion of the two friends that warmed my heart seeing them together, safe and unharmed. MacCabe watched the whole thing play out, his face softened, and his eyes sparked. Was that a look of lust? Longing? Or perhaps regret? Whatever it was, it was short lived as Odie untangled herself from Maribel and slapped him so hard across the cheek, I felt that shit.
“You rotten bastard!” she screamed. “I never want to see you again as long as I live.”
“Now, now, kitty cat. Don’t be like that,” MacCabe schmoozed. “It wasn’t all bad, was it?”
Kitty cat? What the fuck?
“You, you…” Odie averted her eyes and blushed. “I hope your dick falls off,” she spat. “I hope you catch a flesh-eating disease, and it kills you. I hope the hair on your balls—”
MacCabe grabbed the back of her neck, drew her in close, and crashed his mouth down on top of hers mid-sentence. She struggled at first, then her body slackened into a pile of mush and accepted his advance. She came to her senses after a few minutes and shoved him backwards, away from her personal space. I’m no expert on Stockholm Syndrome, but I do know women, and that one enjoyed that kiss way too much from someone she supposedly wanted dead.
“Excuse me while I see my guests on their way out,” MacCabe preened while licking his lips.
He hustled over to the two Asian men while the rest of us stood slack jawed at what had just happened. The three men exchanged handshakes, and MacCabe was handed two large black bags I assumed were the two-mill payout. Odie didn’t owe us an explanation, and she certainly didn’t give one. Whatever happened was between her and the mob bitch. Wasn’t my business. The only thing on my mind was getting my woman alone and thanking her with my dick for saving my ass from getting pummeled.
The Asian entourage loaded up into the back of their limos. Their fallen champion had to be carried by two of the guards. He had nothing to be ashamed of; he’d fought well, just not well enough to beat a man who was trained by the best. Buck Calhou
n. They left as silently as they had come, out the rear entrance in a single file, barely missing…
Motherfuck. What the shit?
Two sets of bright headlights jockeying for position entered the junkyard at a high rate of speed. Beat to hell or not, I grabbed Maribel and Odie and pushed them behind me in order to shield them from whatever new fuckery we might be facing tonight. Sebastian abandoned his hiding place and took up flank in front of the crowd with his weapon poised. Max joined him with his M4, covering the area closest to the women. It took them a minute to find their nut sacks, but the two MIBs slowly drew their weapons and pointed them toward a silver BMW I recognized, and a… Yellow fuckin’ Cab?
“Uh-oh, girls,” Ashley suddenly cried out. “Looks like the jig is up.”
FORTY-NINE
Maribel
FUCKING HELL. COULD THIS night get any more out of hand? Marci jumped from her car carrying a large Louis Vuitton designer handbag, oblivious to the fact that she’d just ruined the front end of her very expensive import. She wore pink sky-high leather pumps, skinny jeans, and a tank top that probably cost more than my week’s pay. Her white-blond hair, long enough to reach her ass, flowed gracefully as she hurried past the rest of us in search of something or someone. The determined look on her face was strange, and her eyes were misty and red rimmed as if she had been crying. I knew that wasn’t possible. You needed a heart in order to feel sorrow, and the golden princesses had lost hers a long time ago. Trouble seemed to follow my sister wherever she went. She coveted it, a beautiful, soulless creature destined to die alone. With everything she had, it was the misery of others that bought her the most joy. I only had to wait to see what fresh hell she decided to bestow upon us tonight.
“Darragh MacCabe, you get your ass over here now!” she shouted hysterically. The semi-amused mob boss took his time before deciding to engage. He maintained his facade of indifference until the very last minute when he stood inches away and in complete control.
“Marci. I don’t recall your name being added to my guest list for this particular event.” Holy shit. They knew each other. MacCabe stepped into her space and towered over her rigid frame. “As much as I enjoy the pleasures your talented mouth can bring to a man, yelling my fucking name isn’t one of them. You’ve got three seconds to amuse me before I lose my patience and decide on a permanent solution to your impudence. Now, out with it.”
Odie’s sharp intake of breath behind me meant she’d heard every word and had a damn good idea what it meant. The two had been intimate, either recently or sometime in the not-so-distant past. She tried to hide her shocked disgust, but I recognized how upset she was by that little exchange between my sister and MacCabe.
It matched my own repugnance in spades.
“Where do you get off threatening my sister over a bullshit two hundred and fifty large? Your shoes cost more than that, you arrogant prick.”
Wait, what?
“Here.” She reached inside her large purse and started emptying out stacks of cash and throwing them at MacCabe’s feet.
“Nobody fucks with a Laine, especially not MY. FUCKING. SISTER.”
MacCabe ignored her little tirade and turned his attention toward Marcus and the rest of us. He snapped his fingers, and one of his men produced a satchel from behind his back and tossed it over to where we stood. It hit the ground with a loud thud, but no one made a move to pick it up off the ground. It was probably filled with his dirty underwear or the bodies of mutilated puppies.
He was that much of an asshole.
“Your cut, Mecken,” he announced. “Find me if you ever want to do this again. Could use a man like you on my payroll. Give it some thought... Unless you decide to kill me, of course.”
He turned, strode to his limo, and drove away.
Finally. It was over, and we were free.
I dropped down in front of my sister and helped her gather the stacks of cash she’d strewn all over the ground. “How’d you know about the betting, Marci?”
“I dance in the underworld, kid,” she boasted. “It’s what I do best.”
Once we had all the money picked up, she turned to leave. I couldn’t let her go just like that. I at least owed her a word of thanks for showing up here uninvited. She’d somehow found out that I was in trouble and tried to save me. That had to count for something, right? Even though she was still a selfish bitch who only cared about herself, she gave enough of a shit to take on a mob boss, putting herself in harm’s way. If I lived to be a hundred, I’d never understand what motivated my sister to do the things she did. Perhaps that was something we could work on in the future, a starting point at becoming better as a family.
“Sissy? I—” She cut me off before I could say more.
“Visit the parents some time, Maribel. They miss you more and more every day.”
“Will you be there?” I implored. “If I come around more often?”
“I’m always close.” She flung her hair away from her face. “Take care, kid.”
Of all the unexpected shit that had happened tonight, I certainly didn’t count on that as being one of them. We had so many years of hating each other under our belt, was it possible to set it all aside for something new? Marci and I were as different as two siblings would ever be, but she was still my sister, my flesh and blood. The path she’d chosen in life was her own. Love it or hate it, she was the one who had to live with it. Perhaps one day, we would meet in the middle. I was willing to give it a shot, for hope, if nothing else.
“You okay, baby?”
I felt Marcus’s strong arms envelope my middle from behind. He stunk of dirt and dried blood, yet there was nowhere else I wanted to be in that moment. I turned slowly, cocooned in the safety of his embrace, and kissed him long and hard.
“I love you, Marcus,” I breathed, inches away from his full lips. “You are my one thing worth fighting for.”
“Same here, baby.” He caressed my cheek with his thumb. “Same here.”
We made our way back to the remaining members of the junkyard family, who were in the middle of some kind of Mexican standoff. Apparently, Mace and his tattooed crew had stolen a city cab minutes after we’d left them on the side of the road in the mountains. They were pissed to the highest level of piss-offed-ness, and Mace was barely holding on to his control. I expected him to yell or scream; that I could’ve handled. But the silent brooding? The flexing of muscles across his chest? The slanted eyes and heavy breathing? Not so much. Mace was a human volcano. Any minute, he was going to erupt and spill his hot molten lava all over the place. I didn’t know him well enough to diffuse whatever alpha beast trance he was in, but Ashley did, so I kindly let her run the show. She tentatively stepped out from behind Sebastian, who acted as her human shield.
“Are you mad, gum drop?” That’s what she leads with? Jeez.
A quick wave and a smile were thrown in for good measure. Maybe she wasn’t the best woman for the job.
“You picked my fucking pocket?” he growled.
“Yeah, about that…” she tried and failed miserably.
“You stole my fucking truck and crashed it into a wrought iron fence?”
“I wouldn’t say stole, more like commandeered,” she hurried through her explanation. “For a good cause, of course… Not personal pleasure.”
“You”—Mace pointed a finger to each of us—“ran away from my protection. Made me break my promise to give my life for yours, without an ounce of fucking regard as to how that shit would affect me or my crew? Men who vowed to sacrifice themselves if they had to, just to keep you all safe?” he roared.
“Mace, I’m sorry. We had no idea…” I stepped toward him only to be met with the stiff hand.
“NO!” He shook his head solemnly. “You DON’T have the slightest fucking idea, Maribel.” He took a deep cleansing breath, eyes closed, as if he couldn’t bear to look at us any longer. “I pray to God you never will.”
This wasn’t about his stupid truck or th
e fact that Ashley had picked his pocket. This was something that went deeper, more traumatic, hidden from the rest of the world. The evidence of his stark fear for our well-being was staring us right in the face. Everything from his disheveled hair from where it had been pulled, to his raspy voice filled with too much emotion. Our actions had forced a hard man to his breaking point. An apology was nothing more than a kick to the balls. Hearing it only hurt him more.
“Brothers.” He paused after addressing the guys, “stay frosty.”
Then he, too, along with this crew, was gone.
It was the end, but also the beginning.
Hope was the victor this time around.
We couldn’t have done it without her.
EPILOGUE
Maribel
MARCUS HAD RECOVERED FROM his injuries fairly quickly. He’d refused to go to the hospital, so it was up to Haven and me to nurse him back to health. He moaned and groaned like a petulant child when he was confined to bed rest, but in the end, I found creative ways to keep him on his back.
We took that time to get to know each other again, explore each other’s bodies, and make plans for our future. We both agreed that the junkyard was our home and we never wanted to leave it again. The fight winnings, as it turned out, were not only the original two hundred fifty thousand that Drew had racked up, but an additional three hundred thousand, which was the fighter’s cut. No wonder MacCabe was such a colossal douche bag. That really was a shit ton of money for one match. Marcus later told me that the money never mattered to him or his brothers. Buck made sure that his boys would always have enough of everything they needed to live on, and that included cash.
Nevertheless, we used it to hire a contractor to expand our playhouse in the woods into a spacious four-bedroom ranch-style home, complete with its own body shop. Marcus planned to use a portion of the land to build custom-built motorcycles as an extension of Buck’s Junkyard. Buck’s Bikes, as he named it, was due to open in a few short weeks, and I couldn’t have been prouder of my man. He’d come so far in such a short amount of time. He credited me with his progress, but I knew better. It was this place, the junkyard that had brought him back to life and given him something worth fighting for. Now, if I could only convince him to retire those damn handguns before the next millennium. It just wasn’t safe for children to be around.
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