Lexi's Justice

by Renee Shearer

  “I will in a minute, Ma. But first we have to find Lexi. I don’t know about them but I’m falling for her.” We all nodded in agreement; Mrs. Jones mouth fell open for a split second before she grinned.

  “Well it’s about damned time. Granted I never thought you would all fall for the same girl. It will take some getting used to, the lifestyle you want to have. And I’m sure people will shun you for it, or even go out of their way to make your life difficult. You tell them to go shove it where the sun doesn’t shine and just be happy.”

  I turned my head away and sneakily wiped the tears out of my eyes. Colt and I had worried a lot over the weeks about what mom and dad would think. We were a close knit family and didn’t want to have to either hide it from them or worse lose them because of it.

  “Thanks, Mama.” Colter’s voice sounded suspiciously hoarse.

  “Con-Man… are you...crying?” Shane’s grinning face popped up in my line of sight.

  I pushed him back, sniffling, “I’m not crying, you are. We all know you’re the biggest sap there is.”

  Laughter filled the room and my heart swelled. This was my family, my smile quickly fell, well not all of them. We were missing one. If we weren’t careful or quick enough we may end up losing her for good. I refused to let that happen.

  “Mom, what were you two talking about?”

  “I didn’t do any talking, I tried to but it was very hard to get her to take a breath. She was rambling,”

  Thorne chuckled, “That’s our Lexi. She rambles when she’s nervous or upset it seems. Though you do learn the most interesting facts.”

  Mom rolled her eyes at him, “Anyway, she was going on about how this is her fault, because she wouldn’t listen about someone trying to kill her. Then about her sister dying, and her boss. Said death followed her.”

  My dad strode into the room and all eyes turned towards him, he always had that commanding air about him, when he spoke, you shut the fuck up and listened.

  “Maybe it does. But not in the way she thinks. Have either of you boys seen this man around her?”

  Dad handed Colt a small photo, he stared at it for a while before shaking his head and handing it to me.

  “He seems familiar but I can’t pace him…”

  “What the fuck?” I shouted, cutting Colt off. “What kind of joke is this?”

  “What son? Do you recognize him?”

  “Yeah, that’s Christian her piece of shit ex-boyfriend. But that is not Lexi he’s with. And his hair is blonde now.”

  “No, that’s her sister Roxy. She was murdered 7 years ago. Poisoned.”

  “Is he the one that did it?” Thorne asked, snatching the picture from me.

  “Like I said earlier son, the cops ruled it an accidental ingestion of the poison from honey. But the lead cop has his doubts.”

  Ice slid through my veins, chilling me from the inside out. I never thought it was a coincidence that I witnessed Lexi and Christians breakup and a couple of days later she was attacked. If she hadn’t of been on our land she may have ended up dead instead of alive and well. If he killed her sister, and then came after her years later, got close to her...I shuddered at the thoughts swirling in my head.

  I started ripping the IV and wires that were attached to me out with the one good hand I had at the moment, “We have to get to her. NOW.”

  Mom was yelling at me to stop, but I tuned her out like I’ve done ever since I became a teen. We needed a plan. Nurses and doctors rushed into the room and tried to secure me back to the bed. But Shane and Thorne tell them in no uncertain terms that we are leaving here. Even Colt.

  Standing up the room spun a bit, and I felt like I was going to hurl. I forgot how fun concussions can be. “Damn,” I whispered.

  Arms slid around me, supporting me, “I got you, brother.” Shane’s voice was low in my ear. I nodded slightly and opened my eyes.

  “Let’s go get our girl.” Thorne’s voice was hard and firm.

  Dad was trying to calm Mom down, as we all made our way from the room. Shane helping to support me and Thorne pushing Colt. He won’t be able to do much but keep a lookout. But we are brothers in arms. We leave no man behind. Or woman for that matter.

  After what felt like an eternity we made it to Thorne’s truck. I groaned; the damn thing was so fucking tall I would have to jump to get in. I did not feel like jumping at the moment.

  “How the fuck are we getting in this monster?”

  “Easy.” I could hear the amusement in Thorne’s voice as he opened the driver’s side, pushing a button. Bottom rails slid out from underneath the four doors.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Colter growled. “You’ve had these fuckers there the whole time! Why the fuck have you never used them before?”

  “It was funnier to see y’all jump.”

  Grunts and cuss words flowed freely as we got into the truck. Colt and Thorne were up front, Shane and I were in the back. I kept shifting to get comfortable, “Where too, Con-man?” My eyes met Thornes in the rearview mirror.

  “Lexi’s house. She would want to go there first. Then we can try Britt’s. Didn’t she say something about a party tonight?”

  “Yeah, her Halloween kickoff party. Like it’s the damn super bowl or something.” Shane’s voice was dry as he stared out the window, but I could still see the smirk on his face.

  “To Britt it is the Superbowl.” Colt shuddered and we all laughed as Thorne took off towards Lexi’s house.

  We had gone to her place right after the first attack, well after we had convinced Brittney that we weren’t serial killers.

  My gut was telling me that we were missing something about the whole picture and had missed something the last time we were there. The place had been tossed; it was professional with very little disturbed. But a trained eye could see it. Even if we didn’t know her back then as well as we do now. Britt had made some remarks about things being out of place.

  It was the subtle things that were moved. Obvious dust free spots to mark where something sat that was no longer there or moved over. Some trash on the floor next to the bin, Lexi can’t stand that. She always made a habit of picking it up and putting it in the bin at our house. My guess would be that she would do the same at home, it was second nature to her now. Little things like that, caught our attention the first time.

  I started praying that we would find her there, talking to Britt before the party. Something in my gut told me that wouldn't be the case.

  Colter

  Thorne screeched to a halt outside of a two story stone house. This was my first time at our girls house, Thorne came here with Britt when we were trying to find out who was after Lexi. The house suited her, with a wide front porch, a dark blue swing, and a small patio set off to the side. I could see her sitting on the swing drinking coffee first thing in the morning. And at night she would be at the table and chairs with a glass of wine.

  Everything looked quiet, I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Britt's car in the driveway. Maybe we were overreacting, she was fine. She ran because she got spooked.

  "Colt, maybe you should stay out here." I glared at Shane and flipped him off.

  "Like hell I'm staying in the truck like a goddamn watchdog." I bit my inner cheek to stop myself from crying out in pain as I tried to slide over to the door. My abdomen had been throbbing and burning since we left the hospital. I probably pulled some stitches. Not enough to bleed but enough to let me know I was a supreme idiot for being out here instead of resting in the hospital. I was not about to let the guys know that; they would leave me on the side of the road.

  "Dude, you can barely move, let alone walk. We don't have any crutches or a fucking wheelchair. If things go sideways we are going to need you here. Luckily you broke your left leg so you can still drive."

  Fuck. I hated it when my brother was right. I waved my hand at him, "You're not looking so fit and fiddle yourself, sparky. What help can you be?"

  He pulled a gun out from under
his seat, "I can still shoot a motherfucker." He grinned at me as I rolled my eyes at him.

  "Fine. Someone help me get my gimpy ass over to the driver's seat. Thorne, do you still have that spare set of earwigs in here?"

  He flashed a wicked smile and opened the glove box. Taking out a small box he flicked open the lid. Nestled inside where four wireless communicators. The cop shows had it all wrong, why anyone would want to talk into their wrist was beyond me. We attached the microphones to our shirt collars; they were strong enough that we could whisper and the sound would be crystal clear in the ear buds everyone wore.

  Thorne grabbed a gun from the center console, while Shane un-rolled his knife kit. You could take the man out of the Marines but you could never take the Marines out of the man. We all kept weapons stashed in every vehicle we owned.

  "Uh...any chance y'all are overreacting?"

  A chorus of, "No's." Rang out in the cab of the truck.

  "Okay then, let's get the party started." I ground my teeth together as Thorne hauled my sorry ass over the console to the driver’s side.

  For the first time in my life, I watched as my brothers made entry into a building without me.

  I swallowed down the bile that tried to rise, whether it was from the pain in my abdominal, that felt like someone was trying to barbeque me with a fucking flame-thrower, or the unease skittering down my back I didn't know.

  Either way I didn't fucking like it.

  "Lexi? Are you here? We're coming in." Thorne's tense voice over the ear wig pulled me from my thoughts.

  All pain was forgotten as I listened intently to them clearing the house.

  "Kitchen is a mess. There was a struggle." I didn't think it was possible for Thorne's voice to get more tense than it already was. But it did.

  "There's blood over here!" Hawk called out.

  I could almost see Connor in my head as he looked around the kitchen. "Shit. Looks like she at least gave as good as she got. Fuck, I'm glad we gave her those lessons."

  "Oh, fuck, no, no, no!" Hawk's strangled voice had me clutching the steering wheel.

  "What?! What's going on? Someone had better fucking talk to me!" I growled down the line.

  Their words were all tangled together, I could barely understand what they were saying.

  "Fuck. Does she have a pulse?"

  "There's so much blood. I don't know how anyone could survive that."

  "I need my kit. Hawk go grab it from the truck. Con finish checking the house."

  "I WILL HAUL MY ASS OUT OF THIS TRUCK IF SOMEONE DOESN'T FUCKING TELL ME WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON IN THERE!" I practically screamed at them.

  Hawk flinched, stumbling as he ran to the truck, grabbed Thorne's bag and scrambled back to the house.

  "Jesus fucking Christ, Colt. Calm your tits. It's not Lexi. It's Brittany, her throat was cut. Looks like the assailant surprised her from behind. She's in the living room. Pulse is thready, I have to stop the bleeding before we can move her to…"

  I cut Thorne off, "No, we are not waiting to go after Lex. I'm making the call."

  "Shit, yeah okay."

  I dialed 911 and told them what was going on as I listened to the guys chatter.

  "No one else is here. But the shower curtain is wet. We can't be that far behind them."

  "I would estimate that we're no more than 5 to 7 minutes behind them. While she lost a shit ton of blood her carotid arteries are still intact. Her jugular vein and trachea were cut though. I'm more worried about her drowning in her own blood at the moment."

  My heart froze in my chest, if we lost Britt...shit, I didn't even want to think about what would happen. She had to survive end of story.

  I'm not sure Lexi would survive losing her best friend.

  We may not of known her as long as Lex, but I know she has grown on us. She's quirky, and out there. Not afraid to tell you like it was. Plus I'm about 80% sure she’s a real witch and scares the hell out of me. If anyone could survive this she could. Hell she probably cast a protection spell on herself. I hoped she did, she was like the sister I never had.

  I also hoped she thought to cast one on Lexi. I had a feeling our girl was going to need it.

  Thirty-Seven

  Lexi

  The pounding in my head woke me up. I was positive an evil gnome had taken up residence in my brain and was currently trying his skills out with a fucking jackhammer. I licked my dry lips, and tried to swallow past my dry mouth.

  I was afraid to open my eyes, if I did then everything would become real. Why I was still alive I didn't know and to be honest didn't want to.

  I was also regretting my choice to run out and leave the guys behind.

  Yeah, dumbass, there is a difference to being strong and brave and just plain fucking stupid.

  I flinched, and groaned from the pain. Damnit, even my conscience was being bitchy.

  Now how the hell am I going to get out of this?

  I took as deep a breath as I could trying to quell my panic so I could think straight. I was sitting in a comfortable chair, it felt like a recliner, but unable to move. I didn't feel any ropes or anything so I wasn't tied down. Then why the fuck can't I move? My head was resting against the back of the chair, I tried to lift it and started to panic even further when it didn't cooperate.

  Oh my god! The blow paralyzed me! The pain in my head intensified as my breathing became erratic. My eyes flew open and I quickly looked around. The room was dim and small, maybe 8 feet by 8 feet with a single bulb hanging from the ceiling. It looked like a cellar pantry that was missing the shelves, all dark grey concrete and cold.

  I shivered, looking down I confirmed I was in a recliner type of chair and not tied down. My arms laid comfortably on the armrests. Anxiety and terror mixed creating a nauseating concoction that had me swallowing down bile. I groaned lightly as the fucking gnome amped up his jackhammer.

  There was only one door that I could see, it was partially open allowing me to see a small portion of the room beyond. What I saw terrified me even more. It looked like something straight out of Dexter. Three sides were covered in heavy duty plastic and a steel table sat in the middle with a smaller table off the side. I could barely see what was on the rolling table but I knew it wasn't something warm and fuzzy.

  I tried to make my fingers move, I nearly shouted with glee when the pinky finger moved. I was drugged! I needed it to wear off soon, I had to get the fuck out of here!

  I tensed and went as still as stone as heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs I couldn't see. I slammed my eyes shut and held my breath as voices started talking, getting closer.

  "Are you sure you got the dosage right? I would've thought she would be awake by now and screaming."

  "You obviously don't know her very well. She never was the type to scream when scared."

  A gasp slipped out and my eyes flew open again. I fucking knew both of those voices! But why in the hell would either of them want me dead?

  A deep male chuckle resonated around the room, seeming to grow in volume until I wanted to scream.

  "Ahh...she's awake. See I told you, son, she's tougher than you give her credit for."

  Swallowing hard, I glared as they parted the heavy plastic and came into view. Betrayal, terror, anger and gut wrenching sadness ping ponged inside me until I thought I would pass out as I sat unmoving and glared at the men standing there.

  One I had called lover for a year.

  The other I had called Dad.

  "Don't glare at me Alexandria, you brought this on yourself."

  I choose to ignore my father...ex-father, for the time being and kept my gaze on Christian. My brain didn't know how to compute this new information.

  "Did you attack me in the woods, Christian? Why? What the fuck is wrong with you?" I was proud that my voice sounded strong, even though my insides were shaking.

  His laughter sent chills snaking down my spine. "You mean other than the fact I'm not Christian? Probably a whole host of things I'm sure. I
think my last therapist said I was a psychopathic narcissistic asshole before I killed her. I was 12."

  My jaw popped open and I spluttered, "What do you mean, not Christian. I think I would know my own ex-boyfriend! What game are you playing?"

  His face contorted into evil glee and he glanced at my father, "Thought you said she was smart."

  "She is but your condition still isn't widely documented, Antoni."

  My mind was spinning, slogging through the rush of information and trying to make sense of it all. Christian had a twin?

  "Twins? You’re his twin?"

  Chris--Antoni, whoever the fuck he was, smirked and laughed again. He could give a horror movie villain a run for their money with how fucking creepy he sounded.

  The room was plunged into silence so fast I could still hear the echo of his laughter as he hung his head for a moment.

  I glanced at my father when he sighed and shook his head, walking to the far wall, mumbling under his breath, "We don't have time for this shit. So hurry the hell up and make your little show."

  "Lexi? What are you doing here?" My eyes snapped back to Antoni, widening when I saw his physical demeanor had changed. Instead of standing straight and puffing out his chest, he was slightly slouched. More like how Christian stood, and his eyes were kind and caring instead of cocky and menacing. Then there was his voice, it was slightly deeper and smoother; his cadence of speech slower.

  What the fuck?

  "C...Christian? What in the holy ever loving Christ is going on here? What the fuck is happening?"

  I felt dimwitted as fuck right now, I couldn't even begin to navigate the twists and turns of this information rollercoaster.

  He turned in a slow circle until his eyes landed on my father. Quickly spinning back to me he looked me over more closely.

  "What did you give her?" He didn't even bother to look away from me.

  "Relax, it was a small dose.”

  "Did they hurt you?"

  "They who? Christian please tell me what is going on? Why are you doing this to me?"