Ruthless (Dark MC Romance)

by Vanessa Waltz

  But Cain cared nothing about rules.

  We all listened as Cain went over the ambush, laying out a map on the table and pointing out where our positions were. Cain would lead the line of assault.

  Good, hopefully you’ll get killed.

  According to Cain’s sources there were several hundred thousand pounds of Red arriving at the docks. It would make the club rich beyond their wildest imagination.

  “Julia, you’ll be waiting in a car.”

  “What?” It was Tank who spoke.

  “We need a driver,” he said in poisonous voice.

  A stunned silence followed his words. Even Pike looked doubtful.

  “She’s an old lady. This is club business. They’ve no place in a fucking raid.”

  There were more than a few murmurs of agreement until Cain sent his icy stare down the table. “She is my old lady and I’ll decide what I want to do with her. If you insult her, you insult me. She is more than capable of driving a fucking car.”

  “It’s not about whether she can drive a car. That ain’t her place. It’s too dangerous for a woman.”

  Fuck you, Cain. Hatred boiled in my stomach.

  He was twisting the knife in my side. He was too busy sneering at me to see the looks of contempt thrown his way. We all filed out after the meeting. Julia hung back deliberately and I walked to her as the last members filtered out.

  “Julia, this is nuts. He can’t involve you in this.”

  She crossed her arms, staring outside. “This is an opportunity.”

  I still shook with rage. Why couldn’t she understand how risky this was? She had never been in a firefight before. I could see her face crumpled in pain as bullets burst through her body. I wouldn’t be able to handle it. I would never forgive myself.

  Her blue eyes narrowed. “Spike, I’m more than capable—”

  “I will never be able to live with myself if you get hurt.”

  I felt a deep tug in my chest that became almost painful when she brushed her fingers over my hand.

  “Why?”

  Why? “Because I’m in love with you.”

  It burst from my mouth before I realized what I was saying. Stunned by my own admission, my heart raced. At the same time, I felt it down to the marrow of my bones. Only love could make me feel so much pain and joy at the same time. From the moment I met her, I knew I would never be the same again. For her, I would do anything.

  The corner of her mouth twitched and her eyes slowly filled with tears, but she shook her head. “We can’t—this isn’t the time.”

  Terrified, she glanced outside where Cain waited. Her lips trembled and she furiously blinked them away. Dropping my hand, she whisked around and stalked outside. The terrible ache in my chest throbbed again.

  * * *

  The convoy of bikes roared through the sleeping city like a horde of angry bees. The docks were in the southwestern part of town. Behind them all was Julia’s inconspicuous convertible, roaring like a loud-mouthed redhead. She split up from the group as we neared the docks and I leaned into my bike to follow her. I was charged with guarding the western exits, with only one other guy to back me up. If Cain was trying to get me killed, he was making it remarkably easy.

  I sped past Julia’s convertible as she parked down the street. If anyone was injured, it was her job to drive into the blazing gunfire to save them.

  Maybe he’s trying to get rid of both of us.

  I couldn’t stop the dread from climbing up my throat like bile. We were riding into a firestorm, but so far nothing happened.

  We should be getting shot at. We were deep in Tiger territory on the day of their massive shipment, and they hadn’t closed the blocks? Something’s not adding up.

  I made a decision at the last minute to pull into an empty alley, shutting off the lights as Boomer followed me inside. I brought two shotguns with me, along with a sidearm, and a pistol with a sight.

  “What are we doing here, Spike? I thought we were supposed to go a few more blocks?”

  Boomer, a big fellow, slid from his bike with a little less grace. He was a good shot, but he’d be hopeless in a hand-to-hand fight.

  “I don’t know.” I leaned against the wall and looked down the street. There was nothing but the wink of streetlights. “It’s too quiet. I’m going to scout the place.”

  A fire escape led to the top of the apartment building. I stepped on the first rung of the ladder. “Stay in sight. Give me a shout if you see anything.”

  Boomer nodded and flattened his back against the brick wall to stare at the streets and I turned back to the ladder. Wind whipped my jacket as I climbed higher, passing by darkened windows as I climbed the next level. Finally, my head peeked over the top of the building. The rooftop was deserted so I climbed over, my legs shaking a bit with the strain of climbing so quickly.

  Looking down from the roof, I could see everything. I saw Julia’s car parked at a safe distance, half-hidden in the shadows. Traffic was nonexistent. The docks bobbed in the dark water as a giant shadow slowly drifted closer and closer. A procession of bikes blocks away sped towards it like bullets—Cain’s crew, most likely. Then I saw a bright flash out of the corner of my eye and heard yelling in the distance.

  A few blocks ahead, River and his group screamed something as glass exploded from the store behind them. They ducked inside and fired back.

  Where the hell are they?

  The crack of gunshots snapped through the air. I looked on the streets and couldn’t see a goddamn Tiger anywhere. Something moved ahead of me, a dark huddled mass on the buildings next to me.

  Fuck.

  Tigers were hunched over, completely swathed in black as they sat near the edge of the rooftops, picking off Dragons milling in the streets. They knew we were coming. Of course, they knew. The man I interrogated had plenty of time to warn his people, and they set up an ambush for us.

  I squinted in the dark, trying to make out how many there were. Fuck, I couldn’t see shit from my building. They were well hidden. I needed to get down to tell the others.

  “Boomer! They’ve got the whole place staked out.”

  “Fuck.”

  Climbing down the staircase, I hit Cain on my cellphone. As much as I wanted Cain out, I couldn’t let my brothers die from his arrogance. I froze, thinking of Julia in her car, horribly exposed on the street.

  “What?” Cain’s malicious voice cracked into the speaker.

  “Cain, the Tigers are staked out on the rooftops. They’re picking us off.”

  “So what the fuck are you doing calling me? Take them out!”

  “We should pull out. We’ve walked into an ambush.”

  “Either get rid of them, or don’t bother coming back.”

  The line went dead. So that’s how it’s going to be, isn’t it? My instincts told me that it was hopeless. That I should get Julia and leave, but I couldn’t stomach it. I wouldn’t desert my brothers. Boomer watched my face anxiously.

  “I’m going to take them out. You’ll stay on the bottom and cover my exit.”

  “Spike, that’s crazy! You’ll never be able—”

  “I don’t have a choice.”

  River and his team were pinned down. I could only pray that they managed to take him out. Another loud gunshot made both of us duck. I dialed Julia as we walked back to our bikes.

  “What is it?”

  It was somehow hard to talk to her. “Listen, whatever you do, stay back. They’ve snipers on the rooftops and they’re taking us out.”

  “Shit.”

  I might not make it. “Julia, I—” I couldn’t tell her I loved her. She would know something was wrong. “I’ll come back as fast as I can.”

  “Okay. Be safe.”

  Her last words echoed in my head as I slipped the phone into my pocket. We hugged the walls, deciding that it would be safer to walk the two blocks to the snipers. Boomer’s red face streamed with sweat as we prepared to round the corner. I hoped to God the men on top
wouldn’t hear the gunshots.

  Boomer nodded and I crouched down near his legs, ready to lean over the corner.

  “On three,” I whispered.

  “One…two…three!”

  We whipped around the corner. For a moment, I only saw darkness in the corner and then I saw two men standing near the fire escape, heavily armed. I blasted the one on the left and Boomer took out the one on the right. The snipers on the rooftop might have heard the loud blasts if it weren’t for the constant rat-a-tat of gunfire. We streamed into the alley, kicking over the bodies to make sure they were dead. The man I shot had a giant hole in his chest and his young lips were tinged with blood. He was much younger than I was. No more than a teenager. His eyes still stared with a mild expression of shock.

  He probably still lives with his parents.

  Lived.

  I gritted my teeth and grabbed the first rung. “Stay behind and keep a lookout.”

  “Okay.”

  It was hard to climb with a shotgun in my hand, but I managed somehow. Screams sliced through the night air like a knife, urging me onward.

  Tigers must be stretched thin if they have men guarding every exit.

  I was halfway up. Suddenly, a man leaned over the side and looked directly at me.

  Fuck.

  I reached for my sidearm and swung it at him. Pop. Pop. The first two rounds sunk into the building. He recoiled backwards and screamed. A third shot zipped through his head and his body fell out of sight. I ran up the remaining flights of stairs. The snipers would be alerted.

  Run. Just get there and start shooting.

  Pain exploded into my shoulder, nearly making me flip over the railing as I peeked over the edge. I’m going to die.

  My instincts took over completely. Aim. Shoot. One man stupidly decided to stand over the edge and shoot, I sank two bullets in his stomach and he hurtled over the building. My head ducked behind the wall as fragments of brick exploded around me.

  Shit.

  My left shoulder throbbed, but I shoved it out of my mind. I swung myself over again. Shooting the men hiding behind the vents. Their cries of pain filled my ears as each bullet struck home. I leapt over the top, sprinting to a door, which led down the building. Horribly exposed, I rounded the corner and saw two more men. The muzzles of their guns flashed in the night.

  Something punched my leg and I dropped to the ground. Both of them went down and finally the rooftop was silenced, or perhaps the rush of blood in my brain drowned out the noise. I tried to step forward, to investigate the roof, but I fell over as if my feet didn’t work. Oxygen and energy poured out of me. I glanced down and saw dark blood gushing from the wound.

  No, I can’t. I have to get back to her.

  I somehow dragged myself back to the fire escape and crawled down the stairs. Boomer screamed something but I couldn’t make it out. I just focused on the sound of my ragged breaths.

  Stay alive. Keep breathing.

  I crawled on my stomach. My shoulder burned and my leg—I couldn’t think about it. My hand looked like a red glove when I uncovered it. Another flight. Just one more. Finally, I dropped from the fire escape and slammed into the ground.

  “Spike! Holy shit!”

  Boomer’s wide face hovered over me as I struggled to draw breath.

  This is it, then.

  “No! I have to—let me up.”

  BANG.

  Suddenly, Boomer’s face crumpled in pain and he fell to the side. River stood several feet away, his face twisted. His gun smoked. I didn’t hesitate. I raised my good arm as bullets sprayed the ground around me.

  A roar like an engine filled my ears and River had barely enough time to scream before a red convertible slammed into his body. He careened over the hood and flew into the air before crumpling to a heap on the ground. The car smashed into the building, and a dazed Julia fell out of the driver’s seat.

  Julia.

  Struggling to my feet, I limped forward as she turned around and emptied her clip into River’s body.

  “Spike!”

  I planted another foot forward. Perhaps I was dead and she would show me the way to paradise. My legs gave out and I crashed into blackness.

  JULIA

  He fell face first into the ground with a sickening thud before I could catch him.

  Oh my God.

  I sank down beside him and grunted as I heaved his shoulders and flipped him over. My heart seized when I saw how pale his face was. Blood pulsed from his leg as his heartbeat thrummed. His shoulder was hit, too. Fuck.

  The moment I heard gunshots, I turned on the engine and raced towards the sound, unable to waste another second sitting in the dark. I saw a man in Dragon colors aiming into the alley where I knew Spike was. I floored it and slammed into River’s body, his back cracking the front windshield. His body flew ten feet in the air and landed on the street like a bag of meat. It was the first time I ever ran someone over and my nerves were still on fire.

  “Stay alive, Spike.”

  There was no time to think about what if. Spike walked into an ambush and River was going to finish him off.

  Cain planned this.

  A spasm of fear shook my body. What could possess him to murder his most promising member unless it stemmed from jealous rage? Boomer was dead and I allowed myself a small sob for the man who died only because he helped Spike. I grabbed Spike’s leather cut and pulled, dragging his heavy body to my car. I pulled him upright against my car and flung open the door. He offered no resistance. It was as if he was already—

  No, he’s not dead.

  With a herculean effort, I managed to shove him into the passenger seat. Then I raced around the car and backed out of the alley, wiping away tears as I drove the fuck out of there. I peeled away from the madness and floored the car. His head lolled from side to side.

  “Spike, dammit, stay with me!”

  I clutched his clammy arm and careened down the streets, heading for his apartment. We couldn’t go to a fucking hospital—not with gunshot wounds. I slammed my palm against the horn as I blazed through red lights. I just wanted to keep going. To drive all the way out of this fucked up place.

  He wanted to leave, but I said no. This is all my fault.

  My car almost slammed into the garage as I pulled in his place and shut the engine. Spike looked paler than ever, but his lips moved soundlessly. His face contorted painfully as I flung his arm over my shoulder. We walked slowly towards the door and I remembered when Spike got beaten in the pool hall. No matter what I did, someone always got hurt.

  Where should I put him?

  Bathroom. Plenty of water and easy to clean.

  “C’mon Spike.”

  With my hand around his waist, I walked forward. Spike’s knees buckled twice, he seemed to be floating in and out of consciousness. His leg was drenched with blood and the more he walked, the more blood gushed out. Finally, I sat him on the edge of the bathtub and carefully lowered him into the tub.

  I ran outside to gather, tape, gauze, scissors, and towels—anything that would help me.

  “You’re okay Spike,” I said more to reassure myself as I slipped a pillow behind his limp head.

  Using the scissors, I slashed through his jeans and cut them off his body, exposing the wound. Pouring water over it made him hiss with pain, and when I bound the gauze around him, he groaned.

  I hesitated before I slipped the scissors around his jacket and cut that, too, discarding the ruined leather on the floor before I cut through his soaked t-shirt. Both wounds were free of gunshot fragments. He was fucking lucky. I wrapped his shoulder up and watched him as if I expected him to magically get better.

  But he didn’t. He was way too pale.

  A crushing feeling robbed my lungs of air as I watched his still face, which was completely devoid of life. I smoothed the curls from his face and a sob shook from my throat as I kissed his clammy skin and lips.

  “I’m so sorry.” I held his hand and pressed my lips agai
nst his knuckles. “Please don’t leave me. Please. I won’t be able to go on without you.”

  He didn’t respond and my eyes welled with fresh tears. My fingers pressed into his neck and found a weak pulse. His body was so still and his skin was waxen.

  My eyes burned as I dissolved into tears, clutching his face. His bandages were already soaked with blood and I cried even harder when I wrapped more around him.

  I draped another towel over his body, which was freezing to the touch. I tucked the corners around him.

  “Ridge.”

  My neck snapped so quickly that I pulled a muscle. “What? Did you say something?”

  His lips moved. “Fridge.”

  Fridge? What the hell did it mean? I stood up and ran to the kitchen. Was he hungry? I wrenched the yellow refrigerator door and saw packets of blood sitting on top. A strange feeling swept through my stomach. Spike expected that he would be hurt—he prepared for it.

  I lunged forward and grabbed two of them. Tubing and needles for the blood sat on the kitchen counter and I took those as well. My hands shook as I slid Spike’s arm over the tub and prepared for the transfusion. I knew how to find a vein because of my reckless teenage years, snorting blow and shooting up heroin.

  I never thought I would be grateful for my drug abuse until now.

  Spike offered no resistance as I slid the needle into his vein and taped it down. I lifted the blood onto the sink and the dark red liquid spiraled down into his arm. He shivered slightly as it went inside him.

  His cheek was ice-cold. I pushed him forward so that I could climb in the bathtub behind him because he was freezing and the porcelain was cold. I let his body slump against mine. My cheek pressed against his freezing face as I tried to warm him. I rubbed his arms.

  “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so fucking sorry.”

  Please be okay. I won’t be able to live with myself if you never wake up.

  I tightened my arms around him, my body suddenly weary with everything that happened. It must have been three or four in the morning. What if Cain stopped by?