My pres nodded his agreement. There was nothing else we could do today. As soon as possible, I’d make sure Bryce was set free.
“Sidney.”
He was frowning and I knew he wasn’t happy about Bryce either. “I’ll look into it, Pete.”
His word was solid. I knew Sidney would do everything he could to make sure my brother didn’t serve time in prison. I was already an ex con. Bryce didn’t need to go through that shit. He was strong but he’d had a hard life. Striker used to beat him as
a kid. I didn’t know he was my brother back then. If I had, he wouldn’t have been abused for so long and he probably wouldn’t have the scar pulling the skin by his mouth upward toward the right, and stretching the skin that ran jagged across the left side of his face from temple to chin.
“Pete.”
Mack was already walking toward the exit.
Head high, I followed after my father, a piece of my heart left behind with my brother’s arrest.
Chapter 17 – Cara
“No!” I screamed, struggling against Fitz’s hold.
The gun discharged and a bullet pierced R.J.’s right shoulder as he grunted, closing his eyes. Blood began to ooze from the wound as he slumped over and I screamed again, stomping on Fitz’s foot to break free. My elbow landed in his gut as he exhaled, and I ran to R.J.
Ghost, GQ, and Valan were all shouting obscenities and threats but I hardly noticed. My hands pressed to R.J.’s wound as tears slipped down my cheeks. He was unconscious as I called out his name, hoping he would wake up.
Please don’t take him from me, I pleaded. We just found each other.
A cruel laugh seemed to bounce off the hollow walls of the warehouse behind me. “I guess I should have guessed you would have spread your legs for another man as soon as you had the chance.”
Maxwell’s words were meant to tear me down as they had in the past, but they didn’t have the desired effect. I wasn’t the same weak girl. R.J. had given me strength, but it wasn’t him alone. Rae and her courage also showed me that I could be a woman and still be strong.
I was no longer a victim.
“Kiss my ass, Max.”
The room was silent for a few seconds and then laughter followed as I turned my back on him. He wasn’t worth my effort or response. I heard something click and a few shouts, but I didn’t care. If he shot me, I couldn’t stop him. All I knew was that I was no longer afraid.
Resting my forehead against R.J.’s, I pressed a brief kiss to his lips and kept pressure on his wound. “I love you,” I whispered. “Even if we never make it out of this room, I need you to know.”
R.J.’s eyes fluttered and opened as he stared back, his expression pained but a grin lifting his lips slightly. “I knew it.”
Chaos erupted around us. Doors were kicked open and RICO agents poured into the room followed by law enforcement. Gunfire was exchanged as our chair toppled over and we hit the hard concrete. R.J. groaned and I began untying the knots that held him down. Ghost, GQ, and Valan were already free from their chairs, accepting weapons from uniformed officers.
Eyes wide, I was shocked to find the police accepting help instead of arresting the members of the RRMC. I couldn’t tell who was shooting as bullets soared over our heads.
Concerned that R.J. had already been shot once, I began to tug him toward the side of the room. Ghost appeared at my side, helping until we were behind a row of metal cabinets. It wasn’t much protection, but it provided a barrier that prevented any further injuries. R.J. was losing too much blood. His face was pale as he lost consciousness again.
No!
Ghost had his back to us, firing rounds to keep anyone from coming our way. Across the room, I caught GQ and Valan. Officers and agents were returning fire against Maxwell and his men. Satan’s Outlaws MC seemed to join Max’s side. I saw their leather vests and club emblem as they fired back.
It was like a scene out of a movie.
I was caught off guard when I was yanked from the ground and R.J.’s side by my hair. Screaming, I fought against my captor’s arms as I was dragged away.
“Bitch. You’re going to regret making a fool out of me.”
Maxwell hit me over the back of the head with something heavy. Dazed, my arms dropped as I fought the urge to close my eyes. Ringing echoed in my ears. My vision blurred as I shook my head. As hard as I tried to regain control over my body, I couldn’t seem to move.
I was dropped to the ground and moaned, staring up at Max. He was pointing a gun at my face as he lowered down, one side of his mouth curling up into a vicious snarl.