by Kat Cameron
Now I would be there because I was going to be the one questioning Hailey. She would regret ever siding with JP. Although, knowing him, he probably spun a nice little story for her and she thought she was helping him. I never took Hailey for an awful woman before now. Since she had part in taking my woman away from me, I could not care less if she was on fire. I wouldn’t even try to put her out.
Walking downstairs, I saw she was indeed tied to a chair. She was screaming behind her gag and there were tears coming down her face. Her makeup was all over the place. Unfortunate for her, since this would be the last time anyone would see her alive.
“Cut the shit. I am going to take your gag off and you are going to tell me why you helped JP. The easier you make this, the quicker your death will be,” I growled. I didn’t have any patience left. I just wanted fucking answers.
“You are going to kill me? I didn’t do anything wrong. JP said he was protecting his girlfriend. That you guys kidnapped her and she needed help. So I let him know you were at the diner. There is a door right next to the bathrooms that leads to an alley. I made sure no one was coming when he took her. He said you guys were seriously hurting her. I didn’t know he was lying,” she confessed.
“That’s all you have to say for yourself? Are you even sorry you helped a psychopath take my woman?” I grounded out. My anger was hitting the tipping point and if this didn’t hurry up, I was in serious danger of doing something I never wanted to do.
“I am fucking sorry, damn it! I didn’t know. Why can’t you just let me go and he will never know I told you anything?” she begged.
“Can we shut her the fuck up yet?” Lexi droned. She was in the corner with her foot kicked up on the wall, checking her nails for something that probably wasn’t even there.
“Yeah, we are done here,” I told her and the gunshot rang out signaling the end of someone's life. We didn’t like to take people's lives but when it was necessary to make a point, there was no choice. Now that she was taken care of we could get Riley back.
We planned to go at night when JP would hopefully be sleeping, but even if he wasn’t we had a backup plan for that too. All of us except for Snake, Tank, Cash, and the two probates would be going. That left Crow, Rage, Grinder, Buzz, and me to go get my woman back. We were to park our truck a mile away from the house and walk the rest of the way there. The house was in the middle of nowhere so the truck was going to be in the middle of the woods. We had night vision goggles from Lexi; She was a bit of a loner survivalist type. She had shit for everything.
Along with the nightvision, we had bullet proof vests and weapons strapped all over us. There was no way JP was going to get away or come out of this alive. I understood after this I would have no living relatives left, but at this point I did what I had to for the family that actually mattered.
Rage was in the front seat with me, driving, while the others were in the backseats. We ended up taking the blacked out Toyota Highlander we kept for these types of reasons. There was nothing but silence in the vehicle until Rage spoke up.
“Did you know they are my half sisters?” he asked.
“Yeah, Riley told me,” I replied.
“Stana has no idea. She might be pissed when she finds out,” Crow answered too. I never thought when we got our women they would turn out to be sisters.
“Our mom told me when we were locked in that fucker’s basement. She told me she slept with his best friend and then came me. That was why we were treated the way we were; He didn’t want anyone finding out. She also told me not to tell my sisters because she wanted to tell them herself. I remember the one time I saw Riley at the bottom of the stairs. I never felt fear like that before. I was afraid of what that monster would do to her. I wish I could have protected both of them better and had a relationship with them. I wanted so badly to find them when I got away but I just couldn’t break my mother’s promise. Knowing what I know now, I wish I would have. Maybe I could have saved them from the lives they had to live,” he told us. Crow’s hand came out of nowhere and punched him in the shoulder which made Rage grimace.
“Don’t fucking talk like that. I don’t like what my woman went through either, but if she hadn’t then I would have never met her. I am almost a hundred percent sure I could say the same for Bullet. Who knows if you would have came into the club with us if you would have told them. Everything happens for a reason, brother. You can’t live in the past. If you do, you will never be happy in the present,” Crow spoke up.
“I can agree with that. Live for the present, brother. Looks like we are about twenty minutes out now. Get your shit ready boys.”
Riley
Something felt off. I didn’t know what it was but there was definitely something wrong. JP was angry. I could see it in the lines of his face. There was something that had happened when he went out, because before he left there was nothing but pure happiness radiating from him. I found it odd I was trying to please this man at every turn, but I didn’t know what else to do besides try to gain his trust.
We were sitting there watching something on his computer. It wasn’t at all the way I wanted to spend my nights, but it was better than being carved into with a dull knife or being chased down like an animal. He was staring off into space when I whispered, “JP? You okay?”
This proved to be a huge mistake on my part if the hands around my throat were anything to go by. He wasn’t choking me but his hands were tight enough to stop just enough air flow that I was starting to panic. What the fuck could have happened to make him react to just a simple question?
“Why did you have to mean so much to him, huh? He looked like a lost little puppy looking around for you. Did you know he passed this house last night looking for you? Oh, does it hurt knowing he was so close, yet he drove right on by? He won’t get you, Riley. There is no going back to him. He will never get you unless its in a fucking bodybag.” His hands were getting tighter the angrier he got. My vision was getting spotty now and I was trying my hardest to peel his hands off me. Nothing was working
Trying another tactic to get my body the oxygen it so desperately needed, I moved my hands from his and traced them along his face. His hair was a bit shaggy and hung a little in his eyes. I ran my fingers through his hair and little by little his hands loosened on my throat. Thank fuck. I don’t know why I decided to do it but the way he was going, he looked like a scared, little boy that was lost in this big world.
“Shit. I’m sorry, Riley. I didn’t mean it. I just get so angry with Axel sometimes. Before you I used to take it out on other women. They didn’t mean anything to me but you do and I don’t want to hurt you,” he said. I made sure to tuck away that information about other women in the back of my head for later.
Realizing this man was absolutely batshit insane, I made it my mission to get out of here sooner rather than later. I didn’t know how I was going to do it but I was. I would find my way home to Axel, one way or another.
Later that night, as he fell asleep, I laid there hoping he wouldn’t wake when I moved to get up. The past two nights he has been wanting to sleep next to me so I sucked it up and laid there, tossing and turning all night. But this night I just couldn’t handle it anymore. The bed creaked when I went to roll over and get out. Sitting up, I peeked over my shoulder, making sure he didn’t wake. I heaved a sigh of relief when I saw he didn’t move.
Standing in the kitchen with the light on over the sink, I looked through the window and wondered what the hell I was supposed to do now. I was lost in my thoughts when I saw a shadow pass the window. What the fuck was that? Or more like, who the fuck was that? Last time I checked we were out here in the middle of nowhere. I heard a groan of pain come from outside. My heart was almost beating right out of my chest; I didn’t know what to do.
On one hand, I wanted to go out and jump for joy because someone was finally here to help me. On the other, it terrified me that there was someone out there that could be worse than JP. At least we were at a middle gr
ound that didn’t leave my flesh hanging off my back.
When the shadow ran across the window again I got a knife from the drawer, and stood next to the front door of the house. My suspicions were confirmed that there were more than two people outside. It was so quiet I could hear the twigs crunching on the ground underneath the people’s feet.
All of a sudden there was a crash in the bedroom that had JP in it. Shit! This was not good. I wanted to get out of here so badly I could feel myself dropping my hand to the handle. I was this close to freedom, but something was stopping me. My feet had minds of their own when I found them moving toward the bedroom where the crashing came from. When I opened the door, I found JP going at the intruder. He was smashing his fist into his face when he was suddenly flipped onto his back.
The man that was on top of him was covered in what looked like army gear. I flipped on the light switch and was stunned by what I saw. They were so alike in so many ways but the lightness in Axel’s eyes stopped me instantly. My feet were frozen to the carpet. My mind didn’t believe what I was seeing. But then everything moved into slow motion when I saw JP grabbing his gun from under the bed where he kept it and aimed it right at Axel’s temple. The knife fell from my fingertips in shock.
“Get the fuck off me!” JP yelled at Axel. Axel, not having much of a choice with a gun being aimed at his head did as he was told. He sat on the floor on his knees with a defeated look on his face. He looked up at me and it almost looked like he was saying he was sorry with his eyes.
JP’s eyes were on fire, burning with a hate so bright it somehow illuminated his eyes. I needed to get his attention on me somehow, so I could talk him out of doing something crazy, like shooting his twin. The love of my life was not going to die if I could help it.
“JP? Can we talk for a minute? Before you do anything you might regret.” I spoke lightly, hoping he would look at me. That was all I needed because I knew the face I had painted on was one of sincerity for him. “JP, look at me. Just focus on me, please?” I begged.
Finally he turned to look at me, and when he did I almost flinched. The terror that was raining down behind his eyes was terrifying. I did my best to hide my reaction from him because I honestly believed he wasn’t going to back down for anything or anyone. There was one thing that I knew calmed him. Hesitantly I took a step towards him. I think I was the only one in this room that would be able to get him to calm down.
When I got to him, it felt like I was looking into the devil’s soul. His intentions were written all over his face; I just didn’t understand what made me different. Why didn’t he want to hurt me the way he wanted to hurt everyone else? I put my hand up to cradle his face to make sure he was looking at me and said, “You don’t have to do this, ya know? We can run away and be free together. Isn’t that what you promised me? That we could live a life of freedom?”
He seemed to mull that over. The whole time I was Axel’s shield. There would never be a time that I wouldn’t put his life before mine. In the meantime, I had to figure out a way to get the gun out of his hand. I traced my fingers down his hand and got my fingertips just touching the gun when he pulled away.
“Do you think I am fucking stupid, Riley? I know you don’t want me. I think I have known it all along but I just wanted to believe in something good for once. Believe that someone wanted me just for me. Now because of you, I have to go and kill you both. This is all your fault, Riley. You only have yourself to blame for this.”
Axel growled behind me as I got in front of him to make sure he didn’t get hurt. I knew JP was on the verge of doing something crazy. His breathing was getting heavy while his eyes were darting back and forth between Axel and I. He started pacing back and forth, muttering to himself under his breath.
The featherlight feeling of something touching my hand made me jump. It wasn’t enough for JP to notice, but the feeling of Axel being there with me in that moment had me breathing a little sigh of relief. Standing there like a statue wasn’t going to accomplish anything, so I tried talking to JP again.
“You realize if you get caught you are going to jail, right? There is no getting out of this. When the cops come, you won’t get away from this.” I spoke lightly not wanting to spook him. Too late for that. He heard the front door creak open and that was when all hell broke loose. JP moved lightning quick and shoved me in front of him using me as a human shield.
I almost cried in relief when I saw the faces I have come to know and love like brothers over the past few weeks. Rage was last to come in the room and the face he gave JP was not one I would ever want to be on the receiving end of. As it was, we were in somewhat of a standoff at the moment. Until JP spoke.
“You all must want to die over a fucking woman. What the fuck kind of sick joke is that? Is she one of your cherished whores that you pass around the clubhouse?” He cackled. He was really losing it here and not that I didn’t trust each of these men with my life, but I mean, there was a gun aimed at my temple now. But strangely I wasn’t scared. At least if I died none of the men were going to get hurt. I felt at peace with what was about to happen.
Are you out of your fucking mind? We are not fucking dying, you asshole! You have a life to live with Axel. He needs you. Fucking look at the man. He will be ruined if something happens to you, Riley.
My eyes opened even though I didn’t realize they had closed. They went straight to Axel. His eyes told me so much in a single glance. They said the words that were never uttered that I so badly wanted to hear before I left this earth. His eyes went wide when I gave him the slightest of nods and a smile that was sad but accepting. Reese was right, I couldn’t die without hearing those words first. I didn’t have to try hard for the tears to come so I spun around so quickly that no one anticipated it.
JP’s face turned into surprise. I would like to say this was a horrible idea of mine. That this idea played out exactly the way I wanted it to. Unfortunately, it didn’t. Grabbing JP’s face, I smashed my lips into his. His moment of surprise didn’t last nearly as long as I thought it would because all too soon his gun went off and there was a burning sensation in my right leg. They both buckled and to the floor I went. Momentarily stunned, I laid there bleeding and begging for someone to end all of this before someone ended up dead.
I hit the floor at the same time a gunshot rang out and this time JP was the one hitting the floor. Axel was standing over him with his finger still on the trigger, breathing heavily. Hearing a groan from my left, I looked over to see Rage on the floor right next to me. I didn’t realize how bad he was shot until I saw the blood pooling on the floor underneath him. It was slowly growing bigger and bigger, inching its way towards me. I watched in horror as his eyes slowly closed and his body went limp.
“Rage!! Don’t you fucking dare. You don’t get to leave me alone!” I screamed. I dragged my sorry ass the rest of the way to him so I could slap him across the face. That worked in the movies, didn’t it? Just so happened that it wasn’t my luck because it didn’t fucking work.
“Rage, damn it! You don’t get to leave us! We just found you and you haven’t even gotten to meet your niece or nephew yet. You don’t get to leave!” I cried. I felt his neck for a pulse and though it was hardly there, it meant his heart was still beating. “Axel, we need to call an ambulance. Axel, god damnit! Snap out of it, my brother is dying!” I was on the verge of a mental breakdown. Everything that happened in such a small amount of time making me slightly unhinged.
“Axel… please, get Rage… to the hospital…” Then the darkness swept me under like a tidal wave pulling me into a sea of night.
Bullet
The smell of the hospital was something that stuck with someone forever. It smelled like bleach and death. If you could even describe death as a smell. My nerves were frayed since we got here. What with Rage being in surgery and Riley getting her leg sewn up since it was just a flesh wound, I was pacing a hole in the fucking waiting room of the hospital. I couldn’t fucking wait any longer.
Making my way over to the nurse’s station, for the twentieth time I asked how they were doing.
“Riley is just about done. She should be out in about five minutes. I will check on Declan in a couple minutes for you, but as I said sir, there isn’t much more information I can give you since you aren’t immediate family.” I gave her a nod and headed back to the waiting room where everyone else waited with me. I took a seat and shut my eyes thinking back on everything that happened tonight.
Riley was saying goodbye with her eyes. I could see it before she kissed JP. Then he shot her and she hit the floor. While I watched her body fall to the floor, JP took that time to shoot Rage and when he fell to the ground lying next to Riley I knew then what I had to do. I had to kill my brother. He was so far gone there would have been no way for him to survive like a normal human being.
After I shot him I heard Riley begging Rage not to leave. It took me a couple seconds to realize she was begging him not to die. I didn’t realize how bad a shot to the shoulder could actually be. His loss of blood scared the shit out of me and then Riley passed out. I didn’t actually know what the fuck to do. Situations never got this out of hand. All I knew was neither of them could die.
Crow had already called the cops at this point. Since we were tight with the Little Creek Police Department and a few other departments in the surrounding areas, they didn’t ask questions. When they got there, Crow went with Rage and I went with Riley. They took JP’s body away and told me they would be in touch. Not that I gave a fuck. If it were up to me I would’ve told them to burn the motherfucker and dump his ashes into the garbage. But that wasn’t what my mother would have wanted and I couldn’t shit on her memory like that. So I gave them my info while the EMTs were getting Riley on the stretcher and into the ambulance.