I make a run for it. It’ll be dark soon and hopefully I won’t get lost along the way as I use the cloak of the trees for protection. I should be trying to keep track of where I’m going but fight or flight has kicked in. My lungs burn as my legs propel me forward, further away from the cabin.
“You can run, but you can’t hide. There’s nowhere to go,” she howls, the wind carrying her voice over the trees. My hair clings to my face and my nose starts to drip from the cool early autumn air. I dare to glance behind me as I navigate through the trees, but I don’t see her. Needing to take a break to catch my breath I dip behind a large tree and drop to the ground resting my back against the thick trunk. I hear the ground squish and leaves rustle as she grows closer to my location.
The ground is still wet and marshy from all the rain and it’s seeping through my pants. Chill bumps fan over my body and I hug my middle. My hand is hurting again. That throbbing pain that continually pulses has returned.
“Wrath knew Diego wouldn’t go through with killing you. So he sent me to finish the job. There’s a big paycheck waiting for him when you’re lying on a cold metal slab. You were right that I used to want Diego, but I moved on. Set my sights higher. Once Diego goes down for your murder and his mother grieves herself to death or finally stops being a pussy and kills herself, I’ll be Wrath’s Old Lady.”
I know I need to move. Any second now she’s going to be right up on me.
Headlights flash through the trees. Diego must be back or Taty called for backup. I can either run toward them or away from them. I decide to take a chance on faith.
A chance on hope that it’s Diego and that he will save me again. Right now, he is the lesser of two evils. Despite how I want to hate him, he could have killed me but chose to save me. He staged my murder. If that’s not some sort of fucked up version of love…I don’t know what is. My heart swells at the realization. I have something worth fighting for too.
I zig and zag running as fast as I can toward the headlights. I get cracked across the back by something hard like a tree branch. I drop to my knees, all air whooshing out of me.
“Prepare to say goodnight, Sybil White,” Taty hisses in my ear, shoving me forward with her foot planted in the middle of my back.
I grunt and try to crawl forward, trying to catch my breath. The pain in my hand radiates up my arm, mingling with the ache in my back, and I feel defeated. Like this could be the end.
“Diego won’t save you. You were right. His mother is fine. I set him up. Those headlights you saw were probably someone bringing his body to dump in the grave with yours. No one will ever find you. Either of you.” She laughs manically.
Chapter 19
—Diego
All these years, I’ve been planning for the day that I’d take Wrath out and be able to look into my mother’s eyes and tell her it’s over. That the bastard was dead, and she was finally free. That I kept my promise and avenged my father. Now, I don’t get that chance. I can’t believe that this is how it ends. I guess I should have known deep down that this was going to happen sooner rather than later. My mother has endured so much heartache. It was only a matter of time before her body gave out to all the abuse.
Shit is fucked. I feel perfectly numb right now. I flick my ashes out the window of my truck and hope I make it there in time to tell her it’s okay. That I understand. That I forgive her. I know when my old man died, she did what she felt she had to. She was alone with Wrath breathing down her neck making promises he never intended to keep. Sorry fucking prick. I used to blame myself and wonder why I wasn’t enough for her to want to live. I know better now but it still hurts all the same. A cut still bleeds the same no matter how deep the wound.
I’m halfway to the hospital when my cell phone vibrates with a call from Jericho.
“Lo,” I answer and take another drag off my cigarette.
“Where are you?”
“On my way to the hospital, why?”
“Someone sick?”
“Shit you ain’t heard? Mom…Taty said.”
He cuts me off. “What about your mom? Winnie was just over there about an hour ago. They was having their book club or wine tasting some shit. You know how they are. That’s why I’m calling. Winnie insisted I call you. You know how she gets when she has a vision.”
“She’s okay?”
“No crazier than usual. What’d Taty tell you?
A bad feeling filters through me and settles low in my gut. I cut the wheel and do a U-turn. “Nothing important.”
“You know that girl you were with is all over the news”
“Tell Winnie not to worry. Sybil is fine. I gotta go. I’ll check in with you later.” I end the call and step on the gas. Fucking Taty. I shake my head. Fucking bitch set me up. Wanted me out of the cabin. I dial her cell and it goes straight to voicemail. I’m going to kill her if she touched a hair on Sybil’s head. Out of all the people to fuck me over I never woulda thought it’d ever be her.
Betrayal is a mean bitch, but I’m meaner.
I make an hour drive in half the time. I barrel down the road to the cabin at warp speed, my truck bouncing all over the damn road. When I pull up behind her car two things strike me. The front door is wide open and Sybil nor Taty are anywhere in sight. I exit my truck and go to the cabin, though I know it’s empty.
“Sybil? Taty?” I call out into the cabin.
No response. Fuck.
I rush back off the porch and spin around searching for footprints. I am mostly seeing my own but then I see two sets going toward the trees and that’s when I hear Taty’s laugh echoing through the woods. I slink silently toward the sound. I know this land. I came here often as a child. Sometimes Taty and her family came too. The thought of her betraying me cuts deep, but I’ll deal with it when I find her.
It takes me a couple minutes, but I see them. Taty is standing over Sybil. She’s trying to crawl away. “Taty,” I bark out her name and when she turns to face me, I see the surprise in her eyes. She wasn’t expecting me.
I have my answer of why when she says, “Where’s Wrath?”
I shake my head. I lick my lips, sucking my lip ring into my mouth. “You cunt.” I train my gun on her.
“What are you doing? Diego? You’ve known me all your life and she’s been in the picture for what a few days? Who are you going to choose? Me and your cut…or some bitch you don’t even know.”
Sybil is on her back now gaping up at us both. I see the terror in her eyes, but she doesn’t need to fear me. I point the gun at Sybil and Taty smiles. “I knew,” she doesn’t get to finish her sentence because while she’s gloating, I reset my sights on her and pull the trigger. One bullet between the eyes.
Sybil screams as Taty drops to the ground. I secure the safety and tuck my gun in the back of my pants. I go to Sybil, dropping to my knees next to her. Her arms go around my neck, and I scoop her up as she sobs into my shoulder.
“I got you, Princessa,” I whisper into her hair, carrying her toward the cabin. “I got you.”
“I thought…” she trails off.
“Told you, baby. You’re mine. I take care of mine.”
I get her inside and sit her on the kitchen counter. “It’s over. I’m fucking done with this shit. I’ll call it in.”
“They’ll arrest you.”
“I know what will happen to me.”
“Diego…I don’t. I don’t want you to go to prison.” Tears shine in her eyes.
“Don’t worry about me. This ends tonight. Taty could’ve killed you and that’d be on me. It’s time I take responsibility for what I set in motion.”
Sybil is quiet for a few minutes.
“I need to know the truth. All of it. Tell me everything before you make that call.”
“Shit, baby. I don’t even know where to start.”
“The beginning is always good.”
I chuckle. “Good point.”
‘Tell me about Wrath and how we are all connected.”
“You didn’t know me.”
“I felt like I did. Then we went out and you came back here and gave me the best thing in the world. You gave yourself to me. Open and raw. You bared your secret and I bared mine. You gave me your body, and I knew I’d do anything to keep you. If that meant setting up Jesus. I didn’t care.”
Sybil swallows hard. “You spied on me. Went through my things. Then you pretended you didn’t know me and brought me here knowing you were supposed to kill me.”
“Yes.” I meet her gaze locking my eyes on her. “I never wanted to hurt you, Sybil.”
“But you did.”
“Yes.”
“You think you’re in love with me.”
“I don’t think, Princessa. I know. You think I would have taken you out and been seen with you. Introduced you to my friends if I were going to take your life? What good would that do me?”
“I think you should make that call now.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“It is.”
I pull my cell phone out of my back pocket. Sybil grabs my wrist, stopping me from dialing.
“You kept asking me to trust you. I need to know, Diego. Do you trust me?”
“With my life.”
“Good.” She reaches around me and takes my gun.
“What are you doing?”
“You trust me or not?”
“Yeah.”
She turns off the safety and points the gun at my chest.
“Give me your phone.” I place it on the counter.
“Thank you. Now walk to the porch and don’t do anything stupid.”
“Sybil…I…baby—”
“Stop talking and move,” she barks, sliding off the counter, marching me backwards out the door of the cabin. “Now. Stay there.” She keeps the gun pressed against me. I could take it from her, but I’m afraid of it going off and hurting us both. My life flashes before my eyes. Swimming in the lake as a boy with my old man. Riding around the front yard on his bike with him. The way my mother would hum and sway her hips as she made us food. The way the light went out in her eyes when he died. The anger I felt toward Wrath. How gorgeous Sybil was the first time I saw her. The way she made me feel alive when I kissed her for the first time. Cutting off her finger. Making love to her.
And now when the gun fires.
Chapter 20
—Sybil
“If your vitals check out you should be released tomorrow. Whoever did your finger knew what they were doing. No infection.” The nurse smiles at me. “The detective or agent whoever he is wishes to speak with you, but if you aren’t up for it, I can send him away for a few hours at least.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I’m ready to talk.”
“Okay then. I’ll send him in.”
“Thank you.”
“If you need anything just press the button and someone will be in.”
I nod and take a sip of my water.
“Sybil. Can I call you Sybil?”
“Sure.”
“I’m Agent Hawthorne. I’ve been investigating your disappearance. If you’re up for it, I need you to tell me everything you can about the person or people responsible.”
“What’s going to happen to Diego?”
“Once he is out of surgery and awake, he’ll be questioned, but I don’t see him catching any charges. We’ll figure it out.”
“Good. He saved my life you know.”
“You saved his too.”
“Do you think I can see him?”
“Let’s get the people who did this then we can go from there. You’re very lucky to be alive. Do you know why they targeted you or why they’d want to kill you?”
“Yes. My stepmother hired a biker by the name of Wrath to kill me. He kidnapped me and had this nurse, I think her name was Taty, hold me hostage. She drugged me and cut off half of my pinky finger. Today I convinced her to uncuff me and let me shower. This evening Diego came to the door. They argued, there was a struggle, and she shot him. I used the distraction to run into the woods. She attacked me, and I was able to wrestle the gun away from her. I didn’t mean to kill her, I only wanted to scare her into letting me go. Things are still somewhat fuzzy from all the drugs she kept knocking me out with. I’m starting to feel tired.” I fake a yawn and roll to my side, praying he bought my story.
“Thank you. That’ll do for now. Get some rest.”
**
A Week Later
“Hey. How you feeling?” I squeeze Diego’s hand.
“Like I’ve been shot.” He smiles lazily at me.
“Well…Taty was crazy.” I smirk.
“Doesn’t matter now.”
“Guess we’re even now, huh?” He shakes his head. A deep laugh rumbles from his belly. It’s a sound that makes me smile. “I heard you’re being released. Do you need a ride? I don’t drive a badass Harley, but I have a kick ass VW Beetle.”
“You offering to drive me home, Princessa?”
“Yeah.”
“C’mere,” my sexy biker demands. I lean down and meet his lips. Diego’s tongue melts against mine, as he deepens the kiss. His hand wraps around the back of my head. He pulls back slightly. I feel him smile against my mouth. “Did you hear the good news?”
“What’s that?”
“No charges are being filed. Taty shot me, and you my Princessa shot Taty. They found the surveillance footage of her stealing supplies and medications. Consuela is probably becoming someone’s bitch as we speak. Though I’m sorry they haven’t caught Wrath. Bastard is on the run.”
“I’m not afraid of him. I have a mean ass boyfriend. One who’d kill for me, bleed for me, die for me.”
“That so? When can I meet him?” I punch his shoulder and he groans. “I did have surgery a few days ago on this same shoulder, you know.”
“Oh, sorry.” I grin.
“No you aren’t.”
“Am too.” I pout. “So when are you getting sprung?”
“As soon as the doctor signs off.”
“Hmm.”
“Knock. Knock.” I look to the door and see Jericho and Winnie.
“Come on in,” Diego tells them.
I go around to the other side of the bed to give them room to visit. Diego told me that if Jericho hadn’t called him, he may not have made it back to me in time.
“Good to see you, honey.” Winnie throws her arms around me, squeezing hard.
“Oof.”
“Sorry. I was really worried about you. The visions kept coming. Each one different. I was having a hard time keeping up with them.”
“Thank you, Winnie. I mean it. You saved my life.”
“I didn’t do anything special.”
“Yes, you did. Which is why I’d like to invite you, both of you to dinner. Next weekend. It’s my birthday so you can’t say no.”
“We wouldn’t miss it.”
“Baby, can you turn that up?” Diego asks, and I shift my attention to the TV.
“I got it.” Jericho marches to the TV to adjusts the volume.
“Breaking news. Authorities say it was a violent end to a violent man. An outlaw
known simply as Wrath a member of the Original Seven Motorcycle Club took cops on a high-speed chase on his motorcycle. He was wanted in connection with the kidnapping and attempted murder of heiress Sybil White. Police spotted him at a convenient store and attempted to apprehend the suspect. He fled on his motorcycle taking officials on a wild and dangerous ride that spanned over four counties, but it all came crashing to and end when he ran a traffic light at a four-way intersection and connected with a semi. The suspect did not survive the crash. More on this and your weekend weather forecast at top of the hour. This has been your news break by Channel Nine News.”
The four of us stare silently at the screen though the program has been reverted back to some talk show.
My cell phone rings, and I step out into the hall to take it. “Hello.”
“Miss White?”
“Yes.” I groan hoping it isn’t another reporter. This is the third time this week I have had to change my number. They won’t leave me alone. They stay camped outside of my apartment. I’ve been offered a book deal and possibly a movie. It’s all too much. I want to move on with my life.
“Agent Hawthorne here. I suspect you have seen the news.”
“I just saw.”
“Well I wanted to break the news to you and let you know that it’s over. With the evidence against your stepmother she’ll be going away for a very long time.”
“Good.” I hope the bitch rots. She killed my mother and brother and my father. She confessed to it all.
“Well, if you ever need anything. You have my card.”
“Thank you.” I end the call and tuck my cell phone back into my purse.
The discharge nurse follows me back into the room. “Hate to break up the party but you’re free to go.”
“Finally.” Diego shoots her a sexy smile and we all laugh. She goes over a few things with him but he’s free to leave. Winnie and Jericho say their goodbyes to us in the lobby promising they will come to my birthday dinner.
Snow White & The Biker Page 10
