by Tess Oliver
Cash looked briefly in my direction. “You were already pretty fucked up by the time we strung you up by your wrists. I saw no point in it. By then, I’d already lost respect for Dreygon. I was thinking about getting the hell out.”
“I never realized that,” Jericho said. “But then you were never exactly the type to share your feelings.”
“Let’s ditch the car before the road starts to go up toward the higher elevation. We’ll hike in so they don’t see us coming. Although, I’m sure Dreygon knows we’re not just sitting at home fretting.”
Cash pulled the car into a shallow ravine that looked as if it had formed from the occasional downpour. We climbed out. The air was dry, but it was not nearly as hot as it’d been when Angel first found me.
“Now I’m thinking we should’ve picked up one of those guns,” I said. “Sorry we don’t have a weapon for you. Want to use this one?”
Cash shook his head. “Nope, it’s more effective in your hand. I just need my fists. But I wish I had my damn sunglasses.”
“You must have been so busy getting all prettied up for the judge you forgot them.” Jericho touched the long sleeve of the dress shirt I’d lent Cash.
Cash stared over at him. “Touch me again, Richo, and I might just warm up my fists on you.”
Dust kicked up around our feet as we trudged uphill. The top of the compound wall came into view. “Home sweet concrete home,” Jericho quipped. “The more I think about it, the more I realize I’m glad to be out of there.”
We hiked along the side of the compound in the shade of the massive surrounding wall. Before we’d even reached the gate, I could see that it had not been fixed. Instead, a large chain and padlock had been wrapped around it to hold it securely shut.
“This might be easier than I thought. I’ll just shoot off the padlock.”
We pressed up against the wall. “Once I fire my gun, they’ll know we’ve arrived, so be ready. Jericho and I will lead since we have weapons.” I looked over at him. He’d been joking with Cash just seconds before, but now that we were at the gate, his jaw was clenched tightly. I doubted that he’d ever expected to walk into this place with a gun drawn.
“Don’t hesitate. I assure you, they won’t. And remember, J.D. already shot you once.” That reminder seemed to make the tension worse. Once you’ve been hit with a bullet, it’s not something you wanted to experience again. “You all right?” I asked him.
Jericho nodded. “Fuck yeah. Better than all right. Let’s go.”
One bullet shattered the padlock. The sound of it echoed off Angel’s Ridge, and immediately, there was activity inside the compound. Max was the first person at the gate. His bulgy eyes wobbled in fear as the three of us pushed open the heavy wrought iron and walked inside.
“Go, Max,” Cash ordered. “Get out now before all hell breaks loose in here.”
Max hesitated, but for only a second, before dashing around the gate and racing out into the surrounding desert. A tall man with a face like a bulldog, a shaved head and a gun in his hand came out of one of the cabins without shoes or a shirt.
“That’s Hoover,” Cash said.
Hoover raised his weapon, but I took out his knee before he could get in a shot. He yelled out and clutched his leg before pitching sideways off the porch steps. By the time Cash reached him, he’d managed to lift his gun in the air. Cash kicked it out of his hand and then brought the heel of his foot down on Hoover’s face.
J. D. came out of the kitchen with another guy, who I could only assume was Blade. Blade was thin and tall with sharp shoulders and elbows, and I wondered if Blade was a nickname because of his shape. They turned over the bench on the kitchen porch and ducked behind it.
I motioned for Jericho to take cover, and I pressed along the side of the cabin where Hoover lay bleeding in the dirt. Cash ignored the bullets coming our way. He leaned over, grabbed Hoover by the neck and squeezed. Hoover clawed frantically at Cash’s arm, but he only tightened his grip. Hoover’s face turned bright red.
“Cash,” I called, “let him be. You don’t want another dead man on your record. The judge might not be so nice next time.”
Cash gave him one more squeeze and tiny, pathetic squeaks spurted from Hoover’s bulbous lips. Then Cash released him and took cover with me. J.D. was firing blindly into the courtyard, with no real purpose to his shots. The one person who was conspicuously absent was Dreygon. Knowing him, the old shit had pulled a chair up to the window of his cabin to watch the show.
“I’m going to get closer,” I said to Cash. “They keep popping up like moles in a carnival game. I can whack them before they disappear back into their holes.”
Jericho watched from across the way as I raced toward the next building. It was Angel’s old cabin. The flowers in the front box were withered and dead, and the dog pillows she’d placed on the porch were covered in dust.
I peered around the edge of the structure. Some of the shrubbery had grown tall and scraggly, but I still had a clear view of the kitchen porch. I wasn’t at the right angle to get in a good shot. I’d have to walk out into the clearing and hope that my speed and aim would still give me the advantage without cover. I walked away from the cabin and strode toward them just as I’d done with the men who’d been hired to follow us.
Blade took a shot, and the bullet grazed my thigh just as I fired one into his hand. His gun flew from his grasp and bounced down the porch steps. I grabbed my leg but managed to stay upright. It was just a flesh wound, but it fucking hurt. Blood dripped down the leg of my pants. I straightened just as I saw the glint of J.D.’s gun. Another shot rang out. Jericho had stepped out of cover and taken a clean shot at J.D., who’d been too focused on me to notice the other shooter.
Cash lumbered toward me. “Richo and I have this. Go get Angel.”
I handed him my gun. “You’ll need it more than me.” Gunfire sounded behind me, but I didn’t look back. I was far more confident in Jericho and Cash’s skills than in the two assholes hiding behind the bench. There was no sound coming from the small building, or as it was better known, the dungeon. It had been the first place I’d been dragged to when I arrived in Dreygon’s slice of hell.
If Dreygon had harmed Angel in any way, I was sure I would not be able to control myself. I would tear the fucker apart with my bare hands. I reached the top step, sure that I would have to kick in the door. But it was slightly ajar, and that should have been my first clue that something wasn’t right.
Chapter 16
Angel
My knees ached from being pressed down on the rough, cement floor. It was stained with brownish-red patches of dried blood, and the entire room smelled sour of bruised flesh and sweat. Dreygon pushed the pistol barrel harder against my temple, but I didn’t flinch. I hated the man too much to show any fear. It was only rage that seethed through me, and now, more than ever, I wondered if he really was my grandfather.
Dreygon laughed quietly. It was a cold, cutting sound. “Guess who is coming this way?” He rattled the heavy chain he held behind his back. “We’ll give him a nice welcome.”
The door pushed open. My eyes squeezed shut against the harsh light that now poured into the dark room. But even through the blinding sunlight, I could recognize the broad shouldered silhouette in front of me. Tears streamed down my face, the second my eyes had adjusted and his shocked face came into focus.
“Unarmed, eh?” Dreygon sneered. “You always did have a massive pair of balls. But I still don’t trust you. Put your hands behind your head.”
Luke lifted his arms and pressed his hands against the back of his head.
“Well, it seems, the Calvary has arrived.” Dreygon said. “And I see you brought the two traitors with you.” He pushed the gun harder against my head, and I winced at the pain.
Luke glared at Dreygon as if he would te
ar his throat out at any second. But Dreygon had the upper hand, and my heart beat wildly with the fear that he would kill Luke this time.
“This is between you and me,” Luke said. “Let Angel out of here right now and then you can do what you want with me.”
“I’m fucking tired of seeing your goddamned face, Boy!” Dreygon’s booming voice bounced off the brick walls. The loud, angry reaction was out of character. Even when facing down his fiercest enemies, Dreygon always kept that chilling, cold demeanor. It was what had always made him especially menacing. “I’ve been trying to keep my hands clean of your blood, but I’m done. Let them put me in the fucking electric chair. I just want to see you die, Barringer. Now get over here and kneel down right in front of this pretty little thorn in my side. Otherwise, you can watch her die first.
Luke walked forward. A long trail of blood streamed down the side of his pants. They were ripped open at the thigh. He dropped down to his knees in front of me, and having him so close sent a waterfall of tears down my face.
“I’m sorry, Angel,” Luke said quietly.
My shoulders shook with a sob.
“I’m not a complete monster,” Dreygon snarled from above. “I’ll let you kiss him good-bye.”
I wiped at my tears and leaned forward. Luke placed his hands on each side of my face and pulled my mouth against his.
“Enough,” Dreygon snarled. “Let’s finish this. I see Cash coming this way.” The second Luke pulled away from me, Dreygon swung the chain at him. Luke flew sideways. Dreygon pulled the gun from my head and stood over Luke. It was happening again. I was going to lose the man I loved, all at the hand of the man who’d raised me.
I reached into my boot and pulled out the knife Cash had given me. “No fucking way!” I screamed. I lunged toward Dreygon. I’d meant to shock the hell out of him by sticking the blade into his shoulder, but he turned at the last second. The knife went through his neck. Terror shot through me as I realized what I’d done. Dreygon’s eyes widened for a second. I pulled the blade out and a fountain of blood erupted from his jugular vein.
Dreygon dropped to his knees.
“No!” I pressed my hand against the slice in his neck. Blood sprayed over my face and clothes as I tried futilely tried to staunch the fatal flow of blood. Dreygon’s dark eyes didn’t leave my face as his color and life drained away, all of it streaming like a river over my hand and arm. The red puddle around my knees was an inch deep, but I still pressed firmly against the cut vein. “I need something to stop the blood flow,” I cried.
Luke just looked at me. Deep down I knew there was no way to save him, but I hadn’t accepted it yet. Dreygon collapsed down to the ground, his arms and legs convulsed as if he were drowning in the pool of blood.
“I didn’t meant to,” I sobbed, but he no longer heard me. “You turned at the wrong time.” More light came into the room, and I heard footsteps behind me.
“Holy shit,” Jericho muttered.
I kept my hand pressed against Dreygon’s neck. He’d stopped moving. Luke walked over and tried to help me up. I pushed him away with my free hand while I kept my fingers pressed against the severed flesh on Dreygon’s neck. The flow of blood had slowed to a trickle, and the pressure beneath my fingertips had all but disappeared. Dreygon’s face looked like cold, white marble as death smoothed out the wrinkles and harsh lines. His mouth turned up the smallest bit, and for a brief second, he reminded me of the grandfather who’d played tag with me in the courtyard.
“The police are here.” Cash’s deep voice echoed off the brick walls.
I peered up at Luke from my swamp of blood. My clothing and skin were soaked. “Will they arrest me?”
Luke shook his head. “You just saved a federal agent…again. They might just give you a medal.”
I looked back at the body on the floor and the nightmarish scene that had been brought on by one small knife wound. If it hadn’t been for the warm, sticky liquid covering my clothes and arms, I could almost have believed that I was on the couch watching a scene from a horror movie. I heard many voices outside, and there seemed to be a flurry of activity. While it had never bothered me before, suddenly, the salty, metallic smell of fresh blood sickened me. I held my arm against my stomach to halt the waves of nausea.
Luke lowered his hand for me. My fingers trembled wildly as I raised my arm. That was when I realized that my arm, shoulder and entire body were shaking almost uncontrollably. I managed to place my red hand on Luke’s strong, clean palm, and he helped me to my feet. The room swayed as I looked down at my bloodstained clothing. As my head came up, the room turned upside down, and Luke caught me before I slumped back down into the red puddle.
“Get me out of here, please.” It took all of my strength to speak.
Luke lifted me into his arms, and I leaned my head against his shoulder.
Two policemen were climbing the steps to the gray brick building as Luke stepped out.
“Is she hurt?” one of the officers asked.
“No, she stabbed the man inside. He was about to shoot me in the head.” Luke motioned for Jericho to pull out the wallet from his back pocket. “I’m with the Reno DEA, and this woman just saved my life.” He looked down at me. “Again.”
“We’ll need a statement from both of you,” an officer said.
“We’ll be back soon. Take everyone else’s statements first.” Luke carried me across the yard. Candy was sitting on the porch of her cabin, holding an ice pack to her face and talking to a police officer. The yard was overrun with police and emergency crews. It looked nothing like the compound. Dreygon’s fortress was no longer. Dreygon was no longer, and I had killed him.
Luke carried me past the table where we’d carved the giant jack-o’-lantern, Grandpa and me. But that man had left the compound long ago, and he’d taken any fond memories with him, leaving only an evil doppelganger behind. The man lying in his own blood in the dungeon looked and sounded like my grandfather, but that was where the similarities ended. Somehow, in the madness of becoming the ruthless, egotistical president of a motorcycle club, he’d lost his soul and his conscience. He’d lost everyone who loved him, and the person who had loved him the most, his granddaughter, had, in the end, destroyed him.
Luke carried me into the bathroom. He reached into the shower stall and turned on the water. The inside of the bathroom was so familiar, with its mold-stained tile and macabre decor of cobwebs, rat shit and the tiny bat who always perched in the corner where the ceiling and the top of the wall didn’t quiet meet. I’d stood so many times in front of the warped mirrors over the sink brushing my teeth and hair. I’d stood in the dank cement room so many times, yet it felt as if I was standing in a strange, unfriendly place.
I stood like a limp doll as Luke stripped me of my blood covered clothes. I had a hard time staying upright, and more than once, he had to grip my arm firmly to keep me from sinking to the floor. A good amount of blood had been transferred to the nice shirt he’d worn for court.
I touched the stain on his sleeve. “I’m sorry, Reno.”
“I never liked this shirt much anyhow.”
“No, I’m not talking about the shirt.” Tears flowed again, and in the hazy mirror, I could see the clean streaks they were leaving on my bloodstained face.
Luke leaned over, and I braced myself on his shoulders as he took off my boots and jeans. Once he had me stripped naked, he took my hand and walked me into the weak, warm stream of water. The bar of soap that I’d always kept there was still sitting in the little plastic basket of sundries I’d arranged for myself. But my limbs were useless. I felt as if someone had just run me down with a steamroller.
The water swirling around my feet, and trying to find its way down the drain, was bright red in color. It looked surreal as it circled my bare toes and ankles.
Fully clothed, Luke steppe
d into the shower. He picked up the bar of soap and my sponge and lathered my skin. I stood still with my face turned up to the water, letting it wash all the blood from my skin and hair, while Luke cleaned every drop, every reminder of those last horrible moments, from my body. But what I’d done, could never be cleansed from my mind.
“I was just going to stab him in the shoulder,” I sobbed. “I was just going to stun him long enough to reach for his gun.” My shoulders shook again. “At the last second he turned.”
Luke put down the soap and pulled me into his arms. “Shh, it’s all right, Angel. He was a dangerous man, and he led a dangerous life.” I pressed my face into his shirt, and the water turned cold as he held me quietly and waited for me to finish a long needed cry.
Chapter 17
Luke
Shock and sheer exhaustion had taken their toll on Angel. We’d taken Jericho back to Mickey’s for the bike. Cash drove us home, and Angel slept in my arms in the backseat. The police had taken statements. They’d hauled in a pretty messed up J.D. for kidnapping, and the other two men would be charged with accessory to kidnapping after they received some much needed first aid. Cash had gotten some revenge on them. Candy went to the hospital in an ambulance. Rose had left the compound months ago, and no one had seen Max after we’d told him to take off. They’d called the coroner to pick up Dreygon. Angel had held tightly to my arm as they pushed the gurney into the back of the van.
We’d left last, after packing the rest of Angel’s belongings, which weren’t much, into the trunk of the car. A gloomy sky of clouds hung over the empty compound. It’d looked like a starkly walled ghost town as we drove away.
Angel snuggled her face against my chest, and a soft, sweet sound floated from her lips. I had her back where she belonged, in my arms. I had no idea what would happen after this, but for now, I was reveling in every second of having her tucked against me. All of this would stick with her forever, and I hated that she’d had to endure something so ugly. But the turn of events today had freed her for good from Dreygon Sharpe. Even though she hadn’t planned it, she’d just freed everyone from his control.
