by Brook Wilder
She couldn’t even say the thought out loud, her voice hitching on the words.
And then he was there, wrapping her up in his arms as he whispered that it was okay.
It was so easy to give in to that embrace. Too easy to lean on Tex’s strength. But she was the one that needed to be strong now.
Finally, she pulled back out of his arms, but she didn’t let go of his hands as she looked up into his green eyes, darkened by shadows.
“You know why I have to go, cowboy,” Lori said, then forced a teasing grin to her face. “Besides, I can’t let you have all the fun.”
Tex rolled his eyes at that, pulling her close for a kiss, but they were both interrupted by Solomon’s voice.
“We are as prepared as we are going to be. And we are out of time,” the man said as he rose to his feet. “No more stalling. We have to move, now.”
Lori swallowed hard at the other man’s words and, with one last look at Tex, they all walked to the vehicles that were waiting outside for them.
Before they got outside, though, a touch on her arm stopped her. Lori looked back in surprise to see Solomon standing there.
“You need this, Lori,” he said, his voice more serious than she’d ever heard it.
She looked down at what he held in his hands.
“A…vest?”
“A Kevlar vest. Bullet-proof.” Solomon cracked a rare smile. “It’s the one I usually wear, but I’m feeling generous. You are walking into the wolf’s den, and you need all the protection you can get. So does your child.”
Lori sucked in a breath as he slipped it over her t-shirt. The vest fit snug over her growing belly and, for the first time, she realized how critical the situation truly was. How much danger there would be for her and her baby if things went wrong.
Well, she would just have to make sure that they didn’t go wrong.
She smoothed the vest down and then slid her arms into the loose cotton button-down shirt he gave her to conceal the bulky thing. Tex wouldn’t have one of these. He would be vulnerable.
Well, it’s not really going to help if you get shot in the head, either, that sly voice whispered. Her fear again, trying to sway her. Trying to convince her that she was too weak. That she should stay behind. That she would only put the others and herself at risk.
No. I have to do this. For Carrie. And for me and Tex.
Because Lori knew that the only way they would ever be safe, that their child would ever be safe, was if they got out of the gang life for good. And if this was the only way that they could cut ties, then so be it.
Lori watched Solomon’s men, her bodyguards as she thought of them, load up into a van that was parked in the front of the big circle drive. Behind her, Solomon walked over to where a limo was waiting and all Lori could do was shake her head. Of course the man would drive a limo into a gang war.
She waited until they were all inside and the door closed before walking over to where Porky and Tex were getting onto their motorcycles. They would ride their bikes just behind the armored van and Lori would ride in the limo with Solomon. The general consensus was that she would be safest with the king-pin, as neither gang wanted to go up against him.
Lori had to swallow down a hard lump in her throat as she moved towards Tex step by reluctant step. She was the one who had demanded that she go with them. She was the one who had refused Tex’s suggestion. But now that they were there, about to leave for the meeting spot with the gangs, every step felt like torture.
Finally, she drew to a halt in front of him and Porky walked a little bit away to give them privacy. The last few minutes they would have to talk to each other before they went to talk to the gangs, and to Gears.
“Tex, remember when I said I wanted to go with you?” Lori asked in a hushed voice as she stepped close enough to him to press against his thigh.
“Yeah, I remember,” Tex answered, rolling his eyes in a way that said quite clearly that he still wasn’t happy with her going.
“Well, I know I have to. And you do too, so don’t try and talk me out of it again,” Lori started, the words coming out in a rush as she stared not quite as his eyes. “But I’ll admit it. I’m scared, cowboy.”
There was a tremor in her voice that she couldn’t do a damn thing about, but that was nothing compared to the shaking going on inside her. She couldn’t help but feel that this was the last time she would see him alive. There was a finality to the way he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
“I’m scared too, sweetheart,” Tex whispered against her ear, pulling her even closer. “I’m scared of losing you. Of losing our baby. I’m terrified of what’s going to happen today. But I promise you,” he leaned back and looked into her eyes, making sure she could see the sincerity in his gaze, “that I am going to do whatever I have to, to keep you and our baby safe. Okay? I promise that on my life.”
“Well, I’m going to keep you safe, cowboy,” Lori said fiercely as she gave him one last long hug. “That’s my promise. Because I need you, Tex.”
Tex leaned down and gave her one last kiss goodbye before whispering that he loved her against her lips.
“I love you too, Tex. Just stay safe, alright?”
“You’re the one I’m worried about, sweetheart,” he said, and she could see the worry in his eyes.
Finally, she took a step back as Tex and Porky both revved the engines of their motorcycles.
Lori turned and walked back towards Solomon and the limo that was waiting for her. Only when she was sure that Tex wouldn’t see her, she reached up and swiped the tears from her eyes.
She was still sniffling slightly as Marco opened the limo door and she slid inside. At least there was no way Tex would see her tears now. It took her a moment to adjust to the sudden dim lighting inside the vehicle, and to remember that Solomon was sitting in the seat across from her.
He was looking out the window, obviously pretending not to see her crying, as Marco started the limo and drove after their odd caravan. Lori sniffed one more time before giving him a watery grin.
“I know you saw that, but thanks for pretending not to,” Lori said with a shaky chuckle.
Solomon just shrugged behind his sunglasses.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
His words made Lori’s grin widen as they drove out onto the highway and out of town towards the meeting spot. But, as she remembered why she was crying in the first place, the smile faded away.
“Are we doing the right thing?” she asked.
The question had popped out of her mouth before she could take it back. But she wanted the answer, damn it. She wanted someone to tell her that it was the only way. That, of course, they were doing the right thing.
But Solomon only shrugged again.
“Honestly? I don’t know. What seems right at the time isn’t always the best thing, in the long run. Only time will tell.”
“Thanks a lot. That’s real encouraging,” Lori snorted.
“We can only do the best we can with what we have.” He looked at her from above the rim of his sunglasses. “And, right now, what you have is a pile of shit. There’s only so much you can do with that.”
“We can survive. I can protect my family,” Lori said fiercely, wrapping her arms over her middle as she thought of the innocent, helpless baby growing inside her.
Solomon noticed the gesture and let out a sigh before turning to face her.
“I want you to understand the risks that you’re taking, going into this,” he said, his voice deep and serious.
“I do. I understand.”
“I don’t think you do. Not really.” He paused, hesitating, and when he went on there was such sadness in his voice that it broke Lori’s heart. “My own child was killed in a shootout with a rival gang. It was a drive-by.”
“Oh, Solomon. I’m… I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine…”
“It’s a part of this life,” he said with another shrug, but there was nothing ca
sual about the movement this time.
Determination and resolve grew inside her as she tightened her arms protectively.
“That’s why we need to do this. It’s the only way to get out of this lifestyle. We can’t… I can’t risk my baby.”
Solomon just nodded, and neither spoke again as they followed the van to where the gangs were supposed to meet. To where their new life would start, or end.
Chapter 25
The engine of his motorcycle was roaring beneath him and Porky was talking at his side, but Tex didn’t notice any of it. He didn’t notice the sun shining overhead or the flock of crows that burst from a nearby tree.
He was too busy watching Lori walk away from him to disappear into the limo where Solomon was already waiting.
The van started, its own engine revving to life, and it – and all the armed men inside it – drove down the long gravel road. A moment after, the limo followed. Tex squinted his eyes as it passed them, hoping to get one last glimpse of Lori, but it was impossible to see through the nearly-black tinted windows.
He could picture her, though. Blonde hair and mesmerizing, shifting eyes radiating defiance as she sat there, calmly riding into the most dangerous situation of her life.
Tex stared after the limo until it had disappeared beyond the tree-lined driveway. Only then did he shake himself and finally glance over at Porky, who was still muttering to himself under his breath.
Tex had his heart in his throat at the prospect of Lori being at the gang meeting, but his friend was still full-on freaking out beside him. Tex leaned over on his bike and patted Poky on the shoulder.
“We’ll get Carrie back, Porky. I already told you we would.”
“I know. I know. I just…” Porky looked over at Tex with his heart in his eyes. “I just keep picturing her, crying. Being hurt. If I knew… If I knew, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, but all the things I’m imagining… all the things that keep running through my head that that asshole is doing to her…”
“We’ll get him, Porky,” Tex growled. In his mind, he had already signed Gears’ death warrant. “Gears is a dead man. He just doesn’t know it yet.”
“I am going to kill that son of a bitch,” Porky said, his voice as sharp as a knife.
Tex just glanced over at his friend, their eyes meeting in a moment of perfect understanding.
“Not if I kill him first.”
“Come on. Let’s ride,” Porky answered with a nod towards the road. “We can’t let them start the party without us.”
They both revved their engines, following the limo, and the whole time different scenarios played out in Tex’s head. No matter what he did, he couldn’t stop the images. They ran like a movie on repeat, over and over again.
Sometimes the gangs would agree, and Gears would lose it, pointing his gun at Lori. Sometimes the gangs would erupt, the violence that always ran between them exploding once more, and a stray bullet found Lori despite the armed guards.
Every time it was a different scenario. A different story. But the ending was always the same. It always ended with Lori laying on the ground in a puddle of her own blood as she died in his arms.
Every single thing that could go wrong, that probably would go wrong, over and over. But the worst was knowing that it was too late to do anything different about it now. They were already on their way to the meeting. The gangs would already be there, waiting for them. If they didn’t show up now, Carrie would be dead for sure, and probably Porky right along with her. Tex knew the man too well to think that he would give up just because the odds weren’t in his favor.
His stomach roiled as the certainty that they were making a terrible mistake filled him. But there was nothing he could do about it but go on. Continue on this path until the end, and pray that they lived through it.
Tex still had that brochure. The one that he had picked up from the gas station of the little town in Colorado. He had started carrying it around with him in his back pocket, like it was some sort of talisman or a good luck charm. If they could just survive through the next few hours, then everything would be okay. He had to believe that. He couldn’t let him think anything else.
The last thing in the world he wanted was for Lori or his baby to get hurt. He would rather die than see that happen. And if it was worse than just hurt… well, he just hoped it didn’t come to that. For the Devil’s Martyrs and the Grim Riders sake. Because no one would be safe from him if that happened. No one.
They saw the limo and the van pulled off along a dirt road a few miles away, and both Tex and Porky slowed their bikes as they drew near to the meeting place. It was nothing but a big patch of dust with a few weeds growing up on it like tufts of hair.
There were no buildings, nowhere to have people hiding in wait, nowhere to hid at all. The only thing on the property was an old crumbling oil rig that had been abandoned at least a decade ago, guessing from all the rust on it.
It was neutral territory for everyone, but that didn’t make it feel any safer. Tex parked his motorcycle a little way away from the van. Porky pulled up next to him and Tex could practically taste the tension in the air, it was so thick.
After Tex had shut off his engine, he studied the field in silence. Off to one side was the Devil’s Martyrs. He counted at least twenty members, all wearing their leathers and patches. Standing a few feet in front of the group was Capone, the Devil’s president, and his second-in-command, Preston Osborne.
To the other side, with at least fifteen or twenty yards in between them, was the Grim Riders. They were all standing in a group. But one person caught Tex’s eyes. Carrie. She was gagged and being guarded by the gang, but even from that distance he could see her tear-stained face and the bruises on her arms. If he could see that, Porky sure as hell could. Tex reached out to catch his friend’s arm before he could make a move.
“If anything happens, take Carrie and Lori and run. Keep them safe no matter what happens, okay?”
Tex stared at the other man, forcing him to meet his gaze. Finally, Porky sighed, nodding his agreement and looking more resolved than Tex had ever seen him.
Slowly, Tex and Porky shut off their engines, dismounted, and walked to take up position between the two groups. Tex couldn’t help but feel he was walking towards the gallows, each step bringing him closer and closer to his death.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted another movement and looked over to see Solomon stepping out of his limo, followed by Lori. Tex’s breath hitched painfully at the sight of her. The danger was so thick in the air that he could taste it, and she was walking right into it.
Both gangs just watched on in silence as Tex and Porky slowed to a stop, still several yards away from either one, and Lori joined them, along with her retinue of bodyguards. The armed men at their back got disgruntled glares from the Grim Riders and the Devil’s Martyrs members both, but Tex at least felt a little better knowing their sole job was to keep an eye out for Lori in case things went bad. And, judging by the tension that was thick enough to cut, all it would take was one wrong word for things to turn.
“We’re here!” Tex said suddenly.
There were a lot of shifting feet on both sides, but finally the gangs drew a little closer together.
It was obvious that there was resentment and anger on both sides for the blood that had been shed and the lives that had been lost. But, as long as they were able to keep the peace for a little while longer, Tex didn’t care about any of that. The only thing he cared about was getting Carrie and Lori out safe, and then getting as far as hell away from here as he could.
Tex heard Lori gasp behind him as the Grim Riders drew to a halt, kicking up a cloud of dust with their boots. When it settled he saw the reason for her pained noise.
Gears was standing in the middle of the group, obviously aware of the precarious situation he was in. He held Carrie’s arm in one hand and a gun pointed at her head in the other.
“We’re here.” Tex said again. “Let Carrie g
o. You know that she has nothing to do with this.”
“Lies!” Gears shrieked the word and spittle flew out of his mouth. “Everything you say is lies, you filthy bastard. You don’t get to speak to me!”
The man’s voice changed from rage-filled to sugary sweet so fast it made Tex blink. His skin crawled at the possessive look he shot at Lori, who was still standing behind him.
“Lori. Lori, baby. You came home. I knew you would come back to me. You belong with me. You know that now. I can see it.”
Tex could feel Lori’s shudder of disgust and fear at his back, and he stepped even further in front of her, blocking her from the other man’s view.
