by Wilder, L.
“Fuck you, asshole.”
“I’ll let him know you send yours in return. Now, where is the girl?”
“She’s not here.”
“We both know that’s not true.” He glanced around the room, and when he wasn’t able to see anything in the dark, he turned on the light. He looked under the bed, and when he didn’t find her there, he stepped into the bathroom, quickly searching for any sign of her. I eased my hand behind me, reaching for my pistol, but froze when he came back into the room. Growing impatient, he stormed back over to me and said, “I’ll find her. You know I will. Make it easier on us both, and just tell me where she is.”
I motioned my head towards the closet door and told him, “She and the kid are in here.”
“See. That wasn’t so hard.”
Before heading to the closet, he turned his gun towards me, shooting me once more in the side. I groaned in agony as he pushed me away from the door. Once I was no longer blocking his path, he turned and reached for the door knob. Knowing it would be my only chance, I used what was left of my strength to take my pistol from its holster. I took in a deep breath as I aimed it directly at his head and pulled the trigger. Blood splattered against the bedroom wall as the bullet penetrated his skull and exited out the other side. A feeling of satisfaction washed over me as I watched his lifeless body drop to the ground with a deafening thud. I lowered my hand, letting my pistol fall to my side as I looked down at my wounds. Fuck. I knew it was bad, really bad, and I hated the thought of Reece and Tate seeing me like this. I could hear her pounding on the door behind me, but I couldn’t move. I could only lie there and wait. Thankfully, it wasn’t long before Murphy and Gunner came crashing through the door.
As soon as he saw me, Murphy knelt down at my side and said, “It’s gonna be all right, brother. Just stay here with me.”
Gunner walked over to the shooter and barked, “How the hell did he get up here without us seeing him?”
“He must’ve crawled up the side of the balcony. I should’ve known something was up when the light was out,” Murphy growled.
“Not on you, brother,” I assured him. “Should’ve been watching for him.”
I let my eyes fall shut as I tried to block out the excruciating pain I was feeling, and when I opened them once again, Reece was hovering over me with tears in her eyes. She was trying her best to keep it together, but the sight of all the blood was more than she could take. With the palm of her hand on my face, she whispered, “I need you to stay with me, Jackson. Do you hear me? You can’t leave me.”
I tried to reach for her, but I couldn’t will my arm to move. I could only lie there as I muttered, “I’m right here, beautiful … I’m right here.”
She looked over to Murphy as she cried, “We’ve got to do something! We can’t just let him stay here and die!”
“You know … I thought people were crazy when they talked about love at first sight … I just didn’t believe it was possible to fall in love after just one look.” I gazed up at her and said, “But then I saw you … I never felt love like that with anyone but you. I want you to know that.”
“And I’ve never loved anyone the way I love you. That’s why I need you to hang on. I need you to stay here with me, Jackson. Please.”
Her words where still lingering in the air when Jed stepped through the doorway and said, “Just did another check. No one in sight. You boys got ’em all.”
“Thanks, Jed,” Murphy answered. “Rider with you?”
“He’s taking care of your boy, Crow. Sure sorry you lost him like that.” Jed took a step towards me and said, “Looks like we might lose him, too, if we don’t get moving quick. We need to get him downstairs, now, before he loses anymore blood.”
As they all lifted me up off the ground, I turned to Reece and said, “Tell him about me … tell him how much I loved him.”
“Jackson Reed, don’t you dare give up on me! If you want Tate to know about you … if you want him to know how much you loved him, then you stay here and tell him yourself.”
“Let’s move, boys,” Jed ordered.
I was falling in and out of consciousness as they carried me into the kitchen and laid me out on the table. The room was spinning out of control. I could hear Tate crying in the background, and I tried to focus on the sound of his voice as they started to remove my clothes. I was cold, so fucking cold, and even though my eyes were closed, I knew Reece was standing next to me. She was talking, and while I couldn’t make out the words, I knew she was pleading with me to hang on. I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to stay there with her and Tate, and I was trying with every ounce of strength I could muster. But the fight was futile. I could feel myself falling into the darkness. It was pulling at me as I heard Jed shout, “We’re losing him!”
Reece pressed her lips on my cheek as she kissed me softly, and just as the darkness took its hold, I heard her say, “You’re the love of my life, Jackson. Now and forever.”
CHAPTER 20
Reece
As I sat there on the stand, I couldn’t stop staring at Josue, the man whose life weighed in the balance as the jury listened to my testimony. I couldn’t believe how much he reminded me of my uncle. He had the same dark, beady eyes and confident demeanor, seemingly unfazed by the fact that he was on trial for first degree murder. I wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off his face. God, how I hated him. I hated everything about him—what he’d done, what he represented—and I prayed that after hearing everything I had to say, they’d put him away for the rest of his life. It’s what he deserved after the pain he’d caused so many people. When his attorney commenced his line of questioning, I started to get anxious, worried that I might say the wrong thing, and without even realizing what I was doing, I found myself looking out into the crowd. I was searching for him, needing to see his green eyes staring back at me, but they weren’t there. This time, he wasn’t here to stand with me as I faced Navarro, but I found solace in knowing that his brothers had come in his place. They all sat in the back row with their leather cuts and fierce stares, letting everyone know they were a force to be reckoned with.
My attention was drawn back to Mr. Yates, Navarro’s slime-ball attorney, when he said, “You stated that you are a journalist for the Memphis Metro. Is that correct?”
“Yes, sir. That’s correct.”
“And you have been working there for how long?”
“Just under two years.”
He glanced down at his yellow notepad before asking, “Would you say that you are happy with your position at the paper?”
“Yes, sir. I am.”
“Are you hoping that at some point you will be able to broaden your career in the future?”
“I’m not sure what you mean?”
“Let me rephrase. Over the past year, you’ve written articles about local events such as weddings, pet shows, and new roundabouts. At some point, do you hope to write about more meaningful topics?”
“Well, sure, if the opportunity arises.”
“Is that why you were at Mr. Brazzle’s apartment on the morning of October 14?”
I glanced over at Myles as I answered, “I’ve already stated that I had gone to Jason’s apartment to follow up on an interview I’d had with him earlier in the week.”
“Yes, you did state that, but you didn’t clarify what the interview was about.”
“I don’t see why that’s relevant.”
“We need to establish purpose for why you were on the premises, Ms. Winters.”
“I had gone to follow up on some questions I had regarding Mr. Rodrigo Navarro’s presence at Jason’s apartment complex. I was hoping that he could follow up on a lead I had,” I answered with hostility.
“And why was Mr. Navarro’s whereabouts so important?”
“I needed to know for an article I was writing.”
He crossed his arms as he asked, “What was your article about, Ms. Winters?”
I hated the way he said
my name in that self-righteous tone, like he was talking down to me, even though he was the one defending a murderous coward. My nerves were replaced with anger as I answered, “The cartel. I was writing about the influences of the Mexican cartel, and seeing that Rodrigo Navarro, along with his brother, Josue, are cartel bosses, it only made sense to follow up on that lead.”
“Don’t you mean alleged cartel bosses, Ms. Winters? You do realize that all suspects are considered ‘innocent until proven guilty.’”
“Yes, Mr. Yates. I’m well aware of that, but it is my job to seek out the truth. I had a lead, and I was following up on it.”
“But isn’t it true that you weren’t just seeking the truth. You were hoping to further your career by finding some piece of evidence that connected Rodrigo or his brother, Josue, to the cartel, even if that meant setting them up?”
And there it was. I knew Yates was up to something, but I had no idea that he’d try to twist the events of that day to make it look like I had something to do with Jason’s death. The very thought of it infuriated me. My eyes drifted over to Alejandra. Like everyone sitting in that courtroom, she’d been affected by not only her father’s actions but her uncle’s as well. She’d not only lost her mother, she’d lost her best friend. Hell, she’d even lost her birthname and was now called Alex. She’d been through so much, and Josue and Rodrigo were the men behind it all. As I thought back to that day on the fire escape and the moment I watched Navarro pull the trigger, there was no doubt in my mind that he was a cold-blooded killer. Josue, and Josue alone, was responsible for Jason’s death, and the very idea that his attorney would try to imply something otherwise made me sick to my stomach. I looked back over to him and tried to swallow my rage as I replied, “There was no way I could set that up. Josue Navarro was the man holding that gun, and he himself pulled the trigger.”
“That’s what you’d like the jury to believe.”
“They should believe it, because it’s true!”
“I need you to take a moment to collect yourself, Ms. Winters.”
I leaned back in my chair with a huff. I knew I was letting Yates get the best of me, but I couldn’t help myself. Whenever I thought about the things Navarro had done, I simply couldn’t contain my emotions. There was too much pain and anger bottled up inside of me. As I sat there, my eyes slowly drifted over to Josue Navarro. Just the sight of him had me thinking back to that night at the cabin, the night Jackson had asked me to be his wife—the night he’d sent those hit men to kill me.
And just like that, I was back in that closet. I heard the sound of the bullets crashing through the windows, followed by the thud against the door when Jackson’s body was thrown against it. Even though I knew what was happening, I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to believe that the man I loved with all my heart and soul had been shot while trying to protect me, and there was nothing I could do about it. I felt so helpless, so utterly helpless as I remained locked away in that closet with Tate, listening as the footsteps grew closer. I was terrified that Tate and I would be found, but thankfully, Jackson didn’t let that happen. Instead, he put his own life ahead of ours, stopping the shooter dead in his tracks.
It was all I could do to keep myself from losing it as I thought about the moment I saw Jackson lying on that floor with blood-soaked clothes, fighting to keep consciousness. It was a sight that would haunt me for the rest of my life. He was fading so quickly, but even then, instead of worrying about himself, he was thinking of me and Tate. I couldn’t imagine loving him more as I watched the life drain from his body. The memory of that moment was simply too much to bear. My heart just couldn’t take it. I wiped the tears from my face and turned my attention back to Yates when he asked, “Are you ready to continue?”
“I am.”
“Okay, good.” He glanced down at his notepad again, then asked, “Camilla Fields is your aunt, correct?”
“Yes.”
“She was married to Josue’s brother, Rodrigo Navarro, correct?”
“Yes. They were married.”
I wanted to lash out and tell everyone in the room how he’d had a hand in her death, but I knew that’s what Yates wanted. He wanted me to lose control and use it against me, but I wasn’t going to let that happen. Yates slipped his hand in his pocket and tried to look casual as he asked, “Is it true that you believe that Rodrigo had something to do with her death?”
“The charges against him were dropped.”
“I’m aware of that, Ms. Winters, but that didn’t answer my question. Do you or do you not believe that Rodrigo was involved in Camilla’s murder?”
“What I think is not important, but I’ll admit. I had my suspicions.”
“Yet another reason for your vendetta against the Navarro brothers.”
With that, Ms. Roswell stood up, and I was relieved when she announced, “I object. This line of questioning is getting us nowhere. Mr. Yates is fishing. None of this has anything to do with whether or not Josue Navarro killed Jason Brazzle on the morning of October 14.”
The judge looked over to Mr. Yates as he said, “I have to agree with Ms. Roswell. It’s time to move on from this line of questioning.”
“I disagree. It’s essential that we—”
“Either move on, or dismiss Ms. Winters from the stand, Mr. Yates,” the judge ordered.
“That is all. Witness is dismissed,” Yates answered with a huff.
I got up and walked back over to my spot next to my parents. As soon as I sat down, Mom reached for my hand and gave it a squeeze as she whispered, “You did really good, sweetheart.”
“You think so?”
“I certainly do.”
I turned back to the front of the courtroom, where Roswell and Yates were giving their closing arguments. Once they were done, the judge released the jury to deliberate. Before he went back into his chambers, he warned the people in the courtroom that it could be hours or weeks before the jury returned with a verdict and suggested that we remain patient. With that, we were dismissed and everyone started to leave the room. Once we were out in the hall, Myles came over to me and asked, “How ya holding up?”
“Good, but I’ll be better when this is finally over.”
“I know right now isn’t the best time to ask, but have you thought any more about finishing your article?”
“I really haven’t had the time to think about it, Myles.”
He nodded as he said, “I know you’ve been through a lot, but I really think you should consider finishing it. Your story deserves to be heard.”
“I’ll think about it.”
After a quick hug, he looked down at me and said, “I’m here if you need me.”
“I appreciate that. I’ll let you know what I decide.”
“I hope that you will.”
Just as Myles started to walk away, Gus came over to me and said, “You were really something up there today. Jackson would’ve been proud.”
Tears filled my eyes as I replied, “Thanks, Gus. It means a lot for you to say that.”
“There’s no way they’re gonna let Navarro off. Not after that.”
“I really hope you’re right, yet I can’t help but worry.”
“Think of it this way … worrying is like sitting in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”
Mom came up behind me and said, “He’s right, sweetheart.”
“I know, but it’s hard. I want him to pay for what he’s done.”
“We all do,” Gus assured me.
It had been a long morning, almost an hour since the judge had dismissed us, and we were all still chatting amongst ourselves. I knew my folks were tired of hanging around the courthouse, especially when they were surrounded by so many people they didn’t know. I figured they’d be ready to go home, so I was surprised when my mother said, “Honey, you need a break. It’s going to be a while before we hear anything, so why don’t we all go grab a bite to eat?”
&nbs
p; “I think that sounds like a great idea,” Gus answered. “Corky’s is just down the street. How does that sound?”
“That sounds like a wonderful idea. Don’t you think so, Reece.”
“Sure, Mom. That sounds perfect.”
We all headed out to the parking lot, and I was just about to get into my parents’ car, when my cell phone rang. I looked down at the screen and was surprised to see that Ms. Roswell was calling. “Hello?”
“Hi, Reece. It’s Angela Roswell. I was calling to let you know that the jury has already returned with a verdict.”
“You’re kidding me! It’s been barely been an hour.”
“I know. Let’s hope that it’s a good sign.”
We all rushed back into the courtroom and waited for the judge to take his seat. He started to speak, but I couldn’t make out a word he was saying. I was too busy studying the jury, searching their expressions for any sign of what was to come, but none of them revealed any clues. I would have to wait for the head juror to announce their decision. Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long. After several minutes of rambling on, the judge finally turned to them and asked, “Does the jury have a verdict?”
An older man in a business suit quickly stood and answered, “Yes, sir. We do.”
The judge looked over to Josue and said, “The defendant will stand and listen to the verdict of the court.”
Once Navarro was standing, the judge looked back over to the jury and ordered, “Please announce the verdict to the courtroom.”
I inhaled a deep breath, and with my parents and Jackson’s brothers at my side, I listened to the man say, “We, the jury, find the defendant, Josue Navarro, guilty of first-degree murder of Jason Brazzle. We, the jury, find the defendant, Josue Navarro, guilty …”
Everything else they said was just a blur. After the words “guilty of first-degree murder,” nothing else mattered. While it didn’t come close to erasing all the pain he’d caused, I felt a sense of satisfaction as I watched the smile fade from Navarro’s face. He knew what was in store. If he managed to survive that long, he’d spend the next forty to sixty years behind bars, and I was proud that the club and I had some small part in making that happen. I smiled as I looked over to brothers of Satan’s Fury. Like Jackson promised, they were there when I needed them. They put their lives on the line for me and Tate, and never once complained and certainly never hesitated. Even though, I owed them all so much, they never once treated me as such. Instead, they treated me like one of their own, like I was a part of their family, and I loved them for it. They had become an important part of Tate’s and my life, and I had no doubt that they would continue to be for years to come.