by Erin Trejo
“He’s down!” I hear Hawk roar. I lower my gun and turn to Lia.
“Are you okay? Not hit?” I ask searching her body. She shakes her head no and only then do I walk away from her. I head straight toward Ratt. Murder is something I know. Cold blooded killing is something I’m good at. Life was never easy for me but to make someone bleed? I was always at the top of my game. I step over his body and look down as he chokes on his own blood.
“You fucked up, Ratt,” I tell him. He looks up at me and smirks. He has the fucking balls to smirk. I lift him so that he’s sitting on his knees in front of me.
“You see the rat, boys?” I ask the guys. They all look at him like the piece of shit that he is.
“What do we do with rats, Ratt?” I ask him, forcing his head back so he looks up at me.
“Fuck you!” He spits blood at me.
“No. Fuck you,” Wrapping my hand around the front of his head and the other around his chin, I snap his neck. Just one small flick of the wrists and he’s gone. I close my eyes and inhale. Is that really the end of this? Is she really free? I don’t know how long I stand here. When I open my eyes and look toward Lia, she stands in Monica’s arms. They sob together. They are a family.
“You good?” James voice pulls me from my thoughts. I look over at my little brother’s bloody face when a whole new fire burns within me.
“Fucked you up pretty good,” I reach for his face, touching the cut to his head.
“I’ll live. You good?” He asks again.
“I’m good, brother,” I say pulling him into a hug. “Thanks for backin’ me. You don’t know what that means to me.”
“Yeah, I do. Mom might have bailed but you know I never will, Draven. You’re my family, my blood. I’m always here. Now go get your girl.” James pulls away from me and nods toward Lia. I turn on my heel and walk toward her. Her eyes find mine over Monica’s shoulder. She steps away from her and walks slowly toward me.
“So, it’s over,” I tell her. She nods and gives me a sad smile.
“I didn’t realize who he was. Does that make me a bad sister?” She asks. The heart this woman has inside of her always stuns me.
“No. You’re a great sister. He was worthless. Wasn’t your fault he came out like that. I’m just sorry you had to deal with it,” I tell her. Lia nods her head before she sighs.
“Now what?” She asks me. I shrug.
“Now you’re free. You have nothin’ else to worry about. You can go and do whatever you want. There’s nothin’ to stop you now. That’s the point, right?” I ask her. Lia shrugs before I take a few steps back. I need to let her go. I need to let her heal with her sister. I lower my head knowing I’m defeated.
“Hey, Draven!” She hollers. I look up and meet eyes with her.
“Thank you for believing in me,” I smile and nod before turning and walking back to James. I throw my arm around his shoulder and walk toward the back of the building where the bikes are parked.
“You’re just going to let her walk away from you like that?” James asks looking up at me.
“I’ve learned a few things along the way, James. When Taby walked, I found out what I was really made of. Who I could be. She needs to find that in herself too. She’s lived under false pretenses for a long time now. She deserves a lot more than I can give her. She deserves her taste of freedom.” James grins at me like a fool when he says, “You’re going to make that girl chase your ass aren’t you?” I laugh hysterically.
“Goddamn right I am!”
Chapter 40
Smoke fills my lungs. Liquor infiltrates my system. I lay my head back and close my eyes. I’m happy to be home. My home. Where I belong. The last few months have taught me more lessons than I care to admit. I’ve learned a lot about myself as a person and who I want to be. I will never change who I am. I’m me. I’m the same sick, twisted, deranged man I was before she came into my world. There’s a light too now. That’s the only difference. Lia taught me that I need to have at least a sliver of light in my life. She was that. I let her walk away. I knew she needed her space.
“You gonna sleep all fuckin’ day?” Crow slaps me in the head. I crack my eye open and look up at the asshole.
“Who gives a fuck if I’m asleep or not?” I ask before closing my eye again. The music comes on full blast. I knew we were having a party tonight. Not that I’m not in the mood for it, I am, I just miss her. It’s been a few weeks since everything happened. It shocks me to think that even after a few weeks I could miss her the way I do. It’s the same longing in my chest, that damn ache that never leaves. The room goes up in roars as I’m sure there’s a stripper or two hitting the floor.
“You should check this shit out!” Smokey yells over the music. I shake my head and smile but never open my eyes. I can hear him laugh next to me. I feel hands slipping up my thighs before I open my eyes and look down. When our eyes lock, the room goes silent. It’s almost as if they were waiting on this.
“You’re here,” I say softly. Lia smiles and climbs up, straddling my lap. She lowers herself onto me and smiles, wrapping her arms around the back of my neck.
“I’m here.”
“Why?” I ask a little confused.
“Draven, you taught me a lot about myself without ever realizing it. Family is important to you like it was to me. I lost most of that family. Aside from Monica, I have nothing. I want more,” She says, her eyes filling with tears. I reach up and wipe them away as the chatter picks back up around us.
“You’ve always had a family, Lia. You just had to open those pretty eyes and see it. I was always here. You are my family. You want it? You got it.” Lia smiles before kissing me roughly. The feel of her lips on mine is perfection. I’ve never wanted to feel something so much in my life. Lia makes me feel whole.
“You stayin’ this time?” I ask her when she finally pulls back. She looks over her shoulder at the commotion around us before bringing her eyes back to mine. She runs her finger down my cheek before she smiles and says, “When I first came here, I was scared of what might happen to me. It’s hard to believe that my own brother would drag me into hell for his own personal reason. I was scared of everything here. You were so hard and distant. You never once let up on me. Then I saw something in you. Something more than you were willing to show anyone else. I like to think I saw through your exterior but that wasn’t it.”
“You saw through it, darlin’. No one has done that in a very long time,” I tell her. She nods and kisses me once more.
“I’m staying. Thank you for believing me and giving me a family.” Lia leans down pressing her lips to my cheek.
“I’ll always believe in you.”
Did you enjoy Draven, Soulless Bastards MC? Keep in mind that this is just the So Cal Chapter’s series. There will be more to come! Stick around and watch for Ruger’s story next!
GET RUGER HERE!! http://bit.ly/RUGERSBMC
