I notice the way her thin neck moves as she struggles to swallow. “Jo,” she reaches for my hand. “I thought I was gonna die in the room. Zombie’s guys wanted to kill me.”
My mother crumbles into my lap, breaking down into a fit of tears. I gather my mother in my arms, rocking her gently as she releases the emotions that have been numbed by narcotics.
She sobs. Quakes ripple through her exhausted frame.
Once she softens, I reposition her body, tucking her in bed. “Let me get you something to eat. Let’s start with saltines. Then we can get down to some serious talk.”
“Yeah, I guess.” She plucks a cigarette from the flattened pack and struggles to light the Zippo.
“It’ll take a while to gain your strength,” I say, sparking it for her.
“Another habit you need to kick.”
Ruth drops her chin. Her damp hair wisps past her face. “Leave me with something, huh?”
“I’m gonna get those crackers.” I decide to avoid an argument.
I turn the corner, slamming smack dab into Ronin, reclining against a wood beam. His flexed arms are tucked across his sculpted chest.
“Well?”
“Well, what?” I ask, mocking his stance.
“Anything new? Did she give you anything to go on?”
I raise my shoulders. “Not sure. She said something about a room. She did say Zombie’s guys were going to kill her, but that’s no secret.”
Ronin’s expression falls. Heat flames across his flesh as he brings my hand to his, skimming my fingers with his possessive kisses. The simple gesture leaves me feeling like a queen.
His queen. Ronin Steele’s queen.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to make a confirmation and then it’s time.” He turns his back to me.
“Time for what?” The tone in his voice sends ice through my veins. It’s time.
“Time for sinners to pay. Time for heads to roll.”
I rub my hand over my own neck. My racing pulse is thumping against my palm.
As long as this queen isn’t decapitated, I’m golden.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
(Ronin)
I wait until the house is down for the night. I’ve managed to avoid Jolene. I can’t face her, not now. Of course, it’s not difficult. She refuses to leave Ruth’s side. Last I checked, they were fast asleep with the credits to Dirty Dancing rolling in the background. Can’t say that I’m sad to have missed the chick flick, but if I don’t bust a nut soon, I won’t be able to see straight.
I make up a lame excuse to appease the prospects playing guard dog. They know better than to ask questions.
Now, on the way back, I revel in the night air. It temporarily soothes my manic spirit. It’s a long haul back from Jericho. I replay the three-a.m. secret meeting with Fugi. It didn’t quite go according to plan.
If I couldn’t get my confirmation from him, there’s only one option left.
I cut my bike off half a mile down the road, walking it the rest of the way. The sun begins to peek out behind the towering trees.
I attempt to sneak back in the house. My stomach lurches into my throat to find Ruth’s shadowy figure padding around the dark kitchen.
“Holy fuck! You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing?” I whisper through strained teethed.
She turns ghost white. “Oh, um.” She shoves her hands into her robe, and I hear the pill bottle rattle. “Just thought I’d start a pot of joe.”
I cut my gaze to the dry coffee pot.
“Well, I’m feeling a little drained. I better get back to bed.”
I watch her shuffle down the hall.
That was fucking weird.
I don’t bother looking for my brother, knowing exactly where they spent their night.
He may not be acting President at the moment, but he’s still wearing the patch.
The broken family of Executioners have made a makeshift camp outside the chained shed.
Some are passed out, boots kicked up on the picnic table they dragged from around the side of the cabin and heads hanging off the back of the chair.
Stoner smokes off his pipe. Herc sits by himself next to the locked barn door.
I’m relieved to find Clint swiping at his phone.
“Hey, brother. Got a minute?”
“Of course,” He says, kicking a lawn chair in my direction.
“Has anyone been inside?”
Clint nods. “Herc took ‘em some food and made the prospect handle the bucket situation.”
“Either one talk?”
“The old man tried to tug on the big guy’s heart strings. Work on his emotions. Stoner got him out in time.”
I rake my hands through my scruffy beard. I’m in desperate need of a shower. “Fuck. This has got to be really tough on him. Everything good with the dead guy? Body done?”
“Yeah, apartment’s done too, and job. Only we have a problem.”
I squeeze my eyes. I count, trying to focus on my breathing. No one expects to die of natural causes in this life, but I swear I’m getting closer to a fucking heart attack. “What now?”
Clint rolls his neck, something he does to stall when he’s about to deliver bad news. “The boys went back for what’s left of old Bradie boy and they got to looking around. Turns out, Susie was in the other freezer.”
My cigarette drops from my mouth. “For fuck’s sake.”
“Yeah, there was a message. Supposedly, the same thing is going to happen to Jolene if we don’t settle up with…”
I crane my neck. “With?”
“You guessed it.” He dips his chin, peering up over his brow.
“Zombie.” I strut to release steam.
“I know where your head’s at right now, but remember the plan, VP.”
My throat is like a desert. I wet my lips and nod. “ Alright, well, Susie didn’t have any family. We need to let Bear know. He’s going to take it hard. He loved that girl.” The thought of losing Jolene floods my head. Rage boils in my hot veins. “They’re friends of the club. We need to make sure we pay for the arrangements.”
I slam a new, unopened pack of cigarettes against my hand before unsealing the cellophane. “Sounds like Ruth’s naming Zombie for the kidnapping. You and I both know what that means.”
“Yeah, but if we can’t confirm or deny, we can’t move forward.” Clint scratches his chiseled chin.
We both turn as lights flicker in the house.
“I won’t make a move without the information, but I do intend on getting what I need. And I plan on having it before the day’s over.”
I cross the dirt yard planting myself in front of Herc. “Get me Wizard.”
He stands at attention and grunts his typical response.
The commotion from the chains rattle the rest of the boys awake.
“What’s going on?” Duke sticks a Marlboro in his mouth before his eyes are even open.
Billy uses his hand to shield his eyes from the blinding glow of the sun as it rises over the treetops. “What are we doing?”
“It’s time to have a word with Wizard.” Clint gives Patsy a playful swat as she places a full tray of mugs with a pot of black, steaming coffee on the wooden slab.
He leans down, laying a soft kiss on her cheek. “You need to get inside, baby.”
She doesn’t say a word before following orders.
Clint and I stand in front of the shed as the barn doors fling open. The first thing I spot is Jesse tied to a chair. His arms and legs are restrained using zip ties. He glowers at me through swollen eyes and a split lip.
We make fierce eye contact, not breaking until the door locks again.
Herc has cut Wizard’s ties, dragging him out by his neck, throwing him to the ground.
“Put his ass in the chair.” I demand, and Stoner happily complies.
“You’re not gonna hurt me.” Wizard throws his head back, chuckling.
“That’s the first correct t
hing you’ve said since putting that cut on. Herc.”
Duke pins the cum sucker’s arms behind his back.
He doesn’t fight to struggle. Herc straddles his legs to keep him restrained as he propels his canned ham size fist into the punk’s face.
Wizard’s face bounces like a tether ball.
The Enforcer doesn’t let up until I give the signal, flinging my hand in the air.
“Got anything to say now?”
He spits, spewing saliva and blood in my direction.
My bulging veins strain against my heated skin, fighting to break free. I flare my nostrils as anger erupts in my chest.
I can’t control myself. I drive my boot into Wizard’s gut, bulldozing him down, sending him sprawling backwards. Stoner jumps out of the way just in time.
He jumps up, ready to throw down as we begin to circle.
Wizard fires the first punch. I see it coming a mile away and duck. Adrenaline pulses through my veins and my heartbeat hastens. He takes a wide step to brace himself for another punch and I use the opportunity to sweep my leg, knocking him flat on his ass.
I scramble across the yard, my boots kicking up dirt, making it hard to breathe as I secure him, pounding his flesh like a tough skirt steak.
He attempts to buck, but I hurl an elbow into his ribcage.
Before I can get the next strike, we’re all caught off guard.
I freeze.
The piercing ring of the gunshot above causes Wizard to do a body check, feeling for holes.
Jolene stands on the back porch with her weapon pointed at the sky.
“You think you boys can do something constructive today? This shit’s getting old.”
“She’s right,” Clint hauls Wizard’s limp body back into the plastic seat.
I glance back over my shoulder just in time to see the screen door slam, a vacant spot where my old lady has just put me in my place.
“I’m done playing games.” I snatch my 357 from its holster, pressing it directly to Wizard’s temple.
His beady eyes grow three sizes and his body snaps upright.
“Where have you been going with Jesse?”
Silence.
I draw in a lungful of air through my nose, holding it as I slam the butt of the pistol into his skull.
“Where have you been going with Jesse?”
Silence.
Click. I cock the gun.
“Ok! Ok! Wait…” He rocks, stalling. “Fine. We made our drops and pickups. The normal earning shit.”
“What about Ruth?”
He shakes his scrawny head. “He’ll kill me.”
“If you think you’re getting out of this alive, you’re seriously fucked in the head. It can be easy, or it can be hard. But either way, you’re on your last breath.”
“What does Ruth have to say?”
“Same shit Jesse did.” I pace, pumping my fists, resisting the urge to play another round of tether ball.
“Well, there ya go.” He cranes his swollen melon in one direction, and then the other. “Can a dead man get a smoke or what?”
Troy cuts his gaze at me.
I shake my head.
“Fuck!”
“I think you and I both know it wasn’t Zombie.” I feel the awkwardness from the brothers with the unspoken confession.
Wizard cocks his head. “Well, well. Looks like the little adopted Miller kid has a brain after all.”
I drop my chin, giving it a shake. A single snicker escapes. Flashes of Jolene’s eyes, full of fear. The sound of her voice on the phone filling me in about Brad, not knowing if I’d get there in time. Not knowing if I’d ever see her again. If I’d ever hold her in my arms again. If I’d ever inhale her sweet neck again.
I angle my arm ninety-degrees and squeeze the trigger, blowing a hole through Wizard’s scrawny kneecap.
He screams out in agony. One leg extends straight out while the other surges blood all over the ground, forging a pink, muddy puddle.
I jerk my head, sending Herc into action. “Strip the cut.”
With no fight left in him, Wizard whimpers as the Enforcer rips the leather down his shredded arms.
I light a smoke, making sure to blow the cloud of nicotine far away from him. “Ready to talk?”
He hangs his chin in silence, evoking me press the pistol to his flesh, cocking it for a second time.
Silence.
“Still nothing?” I count to five in my head. “Fine with me.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
(Jolene)
I fly out of the empty bedroom and rush through the house searching for Ruth. She said she wanted to take a nap before lunch. Most of the guys are gone taking care of Wizard’s body and tying up loose ends. Billy’s babysitting Pop, and Herc is taking a mental health break out front with a bottle of Jim Beam.
Poor guy. The Enforcer sure does take a toll. No one’s denying that Wizard had it coming, but once someone dons the Executioners’ cut, it’s difficult to look past.
I find Bonnie in the utility room doing another load of endless laundry. “Hey, have you seen Ruth?”
“Nope, check with Jessa.”
I spring out the front door, steering clear of Herc. He’s slumped over on the ground with his back against a tree.
Usually so stoic, and now a blubbering mess, passed smooth out.
Jessa and Patsy sit on the bench swing, each puffing on cigarettes. I’m surrounded by chain smokers.
“Is Ruth out here with you guys?”
Patsy shakes her head.
Jessa furrows her unruly brow. “It’s not like she can be lost. Not here.”
I spread my arms, waving them in the air. “Well, I’ve looked all over, except…”
They pop up, meeting me across the yard.
I take off around the house. As I circle the corner, panic bubble to the surface of my skin.
I sprint to check Stoner’s pulse. He’s lying spread eagle on his back with a syringe hanging out his neck.
Jessa seizes my forearm, causing the hair to stand on end.
“Is he dead?” Patsy’s tone is low and convoluted.
“No, but he won’t be waking up anytime soon.” I recall the same type of syringe from Pop’s bedroom.” Ruth’s around here somewhere.
I grab hold of the gun that I now consider to be part of my everyday wardrobe and take a quiet step forward.
As I do, Pop flies out of the shed door, which is no longer chained. I get a slight glimpse of Ruth inside, unconscious, with a tourniquet still tied around her slim bicep.
She needed a fix. She sought him out.
“What did you do to her?” Fury rages in my chest, exploding though my body as I spring, leaping through the air.
In the process, the gun falls to the ground.
Pop raises his fist.
“STOP!” Jessa screams. She holds her own gun on her father. “Somebody better tell me what the fuck is going on.” She waves the pistol back wildly. “Now!”
“Ask your sister. She seems to know everything. I know how much you love that about her, Jess.” Pop smirks. His bad eye squinting. He widens his stance, trying to pit us against one another.
My older sister remains frozen, sweeping only her gaze. “Jo?”
“It’s all him, Jessa. It’s been him the whole time.”
“What are you talking about?” Her arm trembles.
“He was working with Zombie, all the way back to when Ronin was arrested. He set the whole thing up. He killed Numar, had Zombie use Patsy to help frame Ronin. All so he could move in on the Kings and the Diablos income.”
I hear Patsy gasp from ten feet away.
“Here’s the worst part. Zombie’s dead.” I stare into my father’s cold, icy eyes. “He’s been dead all along. Ronin told me that Fugi showed him Zombie’s dead body.”
Her body jerks. “Pop, what the fuck?”
He doesn’t respond, locked in a game of stare down.
“Yeah, the whole time we�
�ve been running. The whole time he’s been pinning everything on Zombie, he was floating off the side of pier.”
“What about Brad?” Patsy moves toward the triangle.
I continue. “Who do you think?”
“But why?” Jessa asks as she begins to drop the gun.
“He needed a cover up when Patsy came forward. He got in over his head when I tried to set up his own brother for murder and of course, it got Jimmy killed. One lie to cover up the next. Just ask Ruth. Oh, wait.” I enjoy watching his smirk fade. The tendons in his lean neck fight to break free.
Jessa re-aims the weapon. “Shit! Ruth! Who kidnapped Ruth? He wouldn’t hurt her.”
Patsy bounds up the back steps. “I think I’d better try to get in touch with the guys.”
I focus on my father. “Who do you think’s been hand spooning her heroin? Why do you think she wasn’t coming out of it even though she was home? I found the needles and balloons under their mattress. He put Wizard in charge of the whole kidnapping. She assumed it was Zombie’s guys, but she never saw him. Pop was the mastermind the entire time.”
“Pop?” Jessa stumbles as tears instantly flood her eyes.
Ruth topples out of the shed, kicking my gun across the ground, sending it skidding into the middle of the group. Pop and I dive for it at the same time.
I break for the weapon, reaching, digging my fingertips into the hard earth, pulling me closer, but I still come up short.
He snaps up to his knees, firing.
I hear the crack. For a split second, I think I’ve been hit until I hear the thud behind me.
Ruth collapses to the ground.
“NO!” I scurry across the bloody clay soil, collecting her limp body.
A perfect shot to the heart.
“She’s dead. Oh my god. She’s dead. You killed her.” I have no tears.
Her chest falls. Her lips part. I feel her last breath as it leaves her lifeless body.
The small bit of light she had left fades in her eyes.
“You bastard!” Weapon or no weapon, I launch into an attack.
Everything is like slow motion. Every movement. Every breath I labor to pull into my wheezing lungs. Even the moment I see my father, my Pop, as he lifts his arm, aiming my own gun at my chest.
My heart hammers, pounding. Beating against my ribcage.
Exacting Revenge Page 14
