“You won’t survive this time. I never wanted to marry you. That was my father’s idea. Couldn’t stand the idea of fucking you.” He lifted a booted foot and stomped on my stomach.
Coughing, I tried to roll away, but my head was throbbing.
“I won’t miss your whiny voice or pathetic existence. Goodbye, Cara.”
The gun in his fired three times. The first hit my left leg and I screamed. The second hit my right shoulder in almost the same spot as R.J.’s wound. The biting pain was almost more than I could handle. My cries of agony echoed in the air as I tried to crawl away. All I saw was crimson. Blood was everywhere. The final bullet left his gun as our eyes met, aimed directly at my heart.
Blinking, I didn’t move. There was no way to fight him. If death was coming, it was my time. I accepted that I was powerless to fight off the will of fate.
There was a roar that echoed in the middle of all the bedlam. R.J. appeared, stumbling as he threw his body over mine, landing across my chest a second or two before the impact of the bullet entered his back and jolted both of our bodies . . .
Edge
MACK PULLED UP TO THE warehouse behind the multiple RICO vans, police cruisers, and motorcycles. I jumped from the company van we drove in case any of our guys were injured. Beckett had called within minutes of my release. He warned that RICO agents had closed in on the SOMC and the connection between Maxwell Forman and the dummy corporation that served as a front for multiple criminal organizations, not the least of which was the SOMC and Devlin’s association with the meth distribution in Providence. Seemed the police had joined with RICO and set their sights on the Outlaws. The only issue was the known rivalry between the clubs and a single individual who had ties to both.
My brother. Bryce Hutchinson.
His appearance earlier today was proof that he was their main source. I didn’t know what that meant for my brother. Would he be able to cut a deal? Did he narc on his brothers? On Devlin?
That shit had serious blowback, even if he was justified. I didn’t know what connection he had with the guys in his club. Maybe they all planned a certain transparency together and Bryce was taking Devlin out without the rest of the club. It was smart. Betray the bastard that worked with his father and contributed to his abuse. Devlin should have died with Striker six months ago. Perhaps he would finally get what he deserved today. I wanted to be there to see it when it happened.
Gunfire was popping off everywhere as Mack and I pulled out our weapons and entered the warehouse. RICO agents had the SOMC pinned against the far side of the building. I saw their cuts even from a distance.
Where were my brothers? I knew Ghost, Valan, and GQ were inside with R.J. My stomach did a funny flop and I suddenly felt ill. Placing a hand against a nearby wall, I shook my head and took a couple of deep breaths. What the fuck was that?
A shrill scream caught my attention as I ran into the next room, gun aimed high to take out any motherfucker stupid enough to stand in my way. Mack nearly collided with my back as I stopped in my tracks, shocked to find Cara on the ground, bleeding from multiple wounds. A single man stood above her and laughed, aiming the gun at her chest. I was just about to pull the trigger and shoot when R.J. came out of nowhere.
He was covered in blood, stumbling as he roared. He threw his body over hers as the gun fired.
A cry of agony left my throat as I watched the bullet hit R.J.’s back and the impact tossed their bodies a few feet away. In that few seconds, I never felt such complete and total horror as I did in that moment. Mack recovered from the shock faster than I did. He shoved me to the side and shot the man – who must have been Maxwell Forman – right between the eyes.
I ran for R.J. and Cara, terrified they were both dead.
As I slid to my knees, I searched for a pulse and found a weak one in each of their necks.
Fuck!
Mack was dialing 9-1-1 as I looked his way helplessly. “They’ll make it.”
Blinking, I could hardly comprehend his words.
“Isn’t that sweet?”
Snarling, I spun and aimed my weapon at Devlin. The fucking coward finally showed his ugly face. “Glad you could join us. I’m about to send you to hell, you sick motherfucker.”
He laughed, holding his side. Blood was soaking into his clothes. Either a bullet or a stab wound. “Wish Rae was here. Would have made this moment perfect.”
“You’re going to die,” I responded calmly, rising to my feet. “I’ll be happy to tell Rae your ugly ass is finally dead.”
Devlin shrugged, lifted his gun, and fired at the same time I pulled back on my trigger. His bullet was headed straight for my heart. I wasn’t sure why I could see it traveling my way. The possibility defied logic.
Green mist swirled around my body just a second before the bullet tore open my chest.
I never had time to move, blink, or shout.
A single form appeared in front of where I stood, the soft features and gentle smile one of protectiveness and love. Long blonde hair swirled around her shoulders. The same green eyes that were burned into my memory stared back, an echo of my childhood.
“Mom?” I whispered.