by Chiah Wilder
“You!” she choked out, pain ripping through her dry throat.
Another hit on her throbbing head.
Then the rag over her mouth and nose again.
The maniacal laughter.
And the blackness. Creeping blackness.
The room was spinning.
Blackness.
She was gone.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Muerto placed a bottle of beer in front of one of the regulars at Balls and Holes. “Hey, Willy. What’s shakin’?”
“Not much. Jus’ waitin’ fer Gator to git his ass in here. He got lucky the last time. I gotta git my money back.” Willy’s laugh turned into a coughing fit, and the older man grabbed his beer and took a large gulp.
“You should check out that cough. It doesn’t sound so good.”
“Fuck, Muerto. Don’t you start on me. I git enough of that shit from my ol’ lady.” He took out a pack of cigarettes and tapped one out.
He chuckled. “Fair enough. If you need anything just holler.”
As Muerto headed to the bar, he saw Sheriff Wexler coming inside and he immediately tensed. His dislike of badges went back to when he was a kid and saw how many of the people in his neighborhood were treated differently from the ones in the better sections of town. Since joining the Night Rebels, his distrust of anyone wearing a badge had grown.
Glancing sideways at the sheriff, Muerto kept walking to the bar. Probably here about the strip bar. He’s got a lot of balls comin’ here to talk to me when we did his fuckin’ job. Asshole. Lining up the glasses for the day, he ignored the cop.
“How’re things going?” Wexler asked as he sidled up to the bar.
“Okay.” Muerto didn’t look up.
“I need to talk to you about someone I think you may know.”
Muerto’s insides tightened. There’s no way I’m talking to a badge about a brother. I’m no fuckin’ snitch. He kept stacking glasses, never once looking up.
Wexler laughed dryly. “This doesn’t have anything to do with the Night Rebels. I have a situation here and I need to clear some stuff up.”
Muerto glanced at him. “I know I can’t help you.”
“I think you can, and I think you need to because something bad may happen to you or someone you know.”
Standing tall, he rested his hands on the counter. “Stop with the cryptic warning. What the fuck are you talking about?” A curl lifted Wexler’s lips as he slowly took off his bomber jacket. He’s fuckin’ enjoying this. I’m ready to kick his ass. “I don’t have time for this shit. I have a job to do.” Muerto turned his back and started arranging the liquor bottles on the shelves.
“Do you know a Penny Leslie Burnside?”
“Nope. Never heard of her,” he replied, his back still to the sheriff.
“She works for you.”
Muerto turned around. “I don’t have anyone working for me by that name. If she told you that, she’s a goddamn liar.”
“How many women work for you?”
“Only one, but she quit a few days ago. She was with the management company I use, but her name isn’t what you said. It’s Deanna something. I can’t remember her last name just now.”
“I’m talking about your businesses.”
“The club’s businesses? I don’t know all the women who work at Lust. I just run this place.” I’m getting real pissed with the game this fuckin’ badge is playing. “I got a feeling you know exactly who the chick is, so stop with the bullshit and just ask me.”
“Penny Leslie Burnside is an alias. She goes by Jaime Brandt. Do you know a woman by that name?”
“Jaime? Yeah. She works here. What the fuck did she do? Drive too fast in a school zone? I’m busy here.”
“I picked her up the other day for shoplifting over at Randall’s. It was a tube of red lipstick. I—”
“I’ll pay for it. She’s cool. She’s been under some stress. Don’t you have bigger shit to deal with than a shoplifter?”
“What kind of stress? The pool hall’s robbery?” Wexler leaned over the counter. “I knew about that. Figured you guys were gonna take care of it on your own.”
“I said I’d pay for the lipstick. Let this one slide.”
“It’s not the tube of lipstick that I care about. She was a book and release with a future court date. The thing I’m interested in is what I got back when I ran her prints through the automated fingerprint system this morning. It came back that the prints belonged to a Penny Leslie Burnside. And I also got a photo of her from South Dakota law enforcement.” He took out a piece of paper and showed it to Muerto. “Is that your employee Jaime Brandt?”
Muerto scanned the black-and-white mug shot of Jaime. He nodded. “That’s her. A lot of people use different names. Sometimes they don’t want exes to find them. I still don’t see why you’re making a big fuss about it.”
“She has an outstanding warrant out of Pierre, South Dakota… for murder.” Wexler stared at him.
Fuck! I wonder who she offed. Stone-faced, he returned the sheriff’s stare.
“What time does she come in for her shift?”
Muerto shrugged. I’m not giving him shit.
A wry smile brushed Wexler’s lips. “You know, when I arrested her she told me she was unemployed.”
“How’d you know to come here?”
“When I got the information, me and a few deputies got the judge to sign a search warrant. We went over to her place but she wasn’t there. We had the landlord let us in, and I found some real interesting things in her apartment. Did you have a relationship with her?”
“You mean fucking?” Wexler nodded. “No. Why?”
“Ever go out with her?”
“Again… no.”
“Well… she’s got a whole wall dedicated to you in her bedroom. A bunch of pictures of you alone, with other women, but the disturbing thing is that there’s a section of the wall of photos of you and some black-haired woman. There are also photos of the black-haired woman by herself. On the face of the woman, the words ‘slut’, ‘whore’, and ‘cunt’ are written in red marker. And the photos of you with this woman have a black X over your face, and some of them have ‘You’re dead’ written on them.”
Is this for fuckin’ real? “‘You’re dead’ was graffitied on these walls,” he said in a low voice. “Are you sure we’re talking about the same Jaime?” He scrubbed his hands over his face. “What the fuck?”
Raven! The world fell away, drained of all color. He grabbed his phone and tapped in her number, the phone shaking slightly in his hands. Straight to voice mail. “Fuck!” His icy fingers tapped the number a second time. Again, voice mail. Sweat dripped into his eyes, and he pulled up his shirt and wiped his face.
“My woman’s in trouble. I gotta go.” He rushed from behind the bar. “Willy, watch the bar for me,” he said as he hurried out.
Wexler panted as he caught up to him. “Wait up, I’m going with you. The woman is dangerous. She spent some time in a mental ward for attacking and vandalizing an ex-boyfriend’s house.” He turned around and ran back to his SUV.
Jumping on his Harley, Muerto sped away. Don’t let me be too fuckin’ late. Hold on for me, babe. I’m coming.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Raven moaned and tried to bring her hand to her pounding head. I can’t move. I’m tied up. Oh God… I remember. Her eyes darted around her living room, but she was alone. Except for the dried blood on the floor and the upside-down entry table, the room looked like it always did: neat, comfy, and inviting.
I have to get out of here. How long have I been out? Is it still the same day? She pulled at the rope binding her hands behind the chair she sat on, a slight give lifting her spirits. I can work my way out of these. I know I can. Then she came in, and Raven’s eyes grew wide. Why is she wearing my clothes? What the hell is going on?
“You’ve come to. That’s good. I’ve waited a long time for this moment.”
“Why are you doing th
is? I don’t even know you.” Raven’s fingers worked the rope’s knot.
“You know me, you bitch!” She rushed over and raised her hand. Smack! Raven gasped. “You cunts are all alike.”
“I’ve never done anything to you. I’ve only talked to you a few times at the pool hall.” Smack! Another slap across her face. She grimaced at the metallic taste of blood on her cracked lips.
“Keep your fucking mouth shut! You deserve everything I’m going to do to you. Women who steal other women’s men away deserve to fucking die!”
Smack! Smack! Smack! Wetness covered her cheeks as her head pounded relentlessly. I’m going to be sick. Swallowing, bitterness coated her throat. And what’s she talking about? What man? Extreme burning in her throat. I know I’m going to be sick.
“Did you think I’d let you fuck my boyfriend and not do anything about it? You flaunted it in front of me, ignoring how I felt. Well, bitch, when a cunt sleeps with another woman’s man, she has to be ready to suffer the consequences.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Who’s your man?”
“Like you don’t know. Muerto, bitch. He’s been my boyfriend ever since I was hired as a waitress. He adored me, but then you seduced him with your trampy ways. Everything was great between us until you came along.”
“Muerto? He’s your boyfriend?” She wanted to lie down to stop the jackhammer in her head. Did she say Muerto? I can’t think.
“Don’t act like you don’t know. I see through you.” She put her face a couple of inches from Raven’s. “I know women like you. You don’t fool me. Not. One. Bit.” She stepped back. “You made him desire you. He couldn’t stay away from you. And while I thought he was at work or running errands, he was sneaking off to be with you. Every chance you got, you were fucking like pigs. You disgust me! Do you hear me?” She grabbed Raven’s hair and yanked her head up. “You fucking disgust me, you dirty whore!” Smack!
The whole side of her face was swelling. “I didn’t know you guys dated. He never told me.”
“He’d come to me, still smelling of you, and when I took his beautiful cock in my mouth, I tasted you. Then he’d cry and tell me that he loved me… not you, bitch! He hated that he was powerless to resist you. Muerto told me he wanted to break free of you. I told him we had to leave Alina and go somewhere far away. He agreed. He asked me to marry him. He wanted you out of his life, but you wouldn’t leave him alone.” She walked away, muttering to herself under her breath.
Waves of nausea hit Raven as her body jerked in the chair. The room was spinning; she felt like she was going to topple over. Muerto was with her? What’s her name? I know it. It’s…. She closed her eyes, picturing the pool hall, the woman, the bar—Jaime! That’s her name. They never acted like a couple, but why would she be so mad at me if it wasn’t true? She tried to wrap her throbbing head around it. Muerto was cheating on her with me. How could he do that to me? To her? To us?
Jaime came back into the room, the crazed look in her eyes replaced with a cold hardness.
“I’m so sorry I’ve hurt you, Jaime. I had no idea that you and Muerto were dating. I would never date a man who belongs to another woman. That’s not the way I am.”
“You fucking liar. I saw how you flirted with him. You saw us kissing but you didn’t care.”
Saw them kissing? Am I missing something? “I never saw anything between you guys.”
“You’re lying again, but that’s what sluts do when they’re caught by decent, good women. Muerto wants me to kill you. He told me it’s the only way he can be free of you.”
What? Muerto wouldn’t have a woman do his dirty work. Something isn’t adding up. Fuck, my head hurts.
Her lips curled up in a cruel smile. “I’ve been watching you. He’s spent every night with you for the last three weeks. You really are a slut.”
She’s the one I saw that night. This is too crazy. Wait, the knot’s loosening. “I know you don’t believe me, but I didn’t know you were dating Muerto.”
“I don’t believe you. I loved Muerto very much, and he would’ve loved me too if it wasn’t for you. You stole that chance away from me.”
Raven shook her head. “But I thought you told me that you and Muerto were together and he asked you to marry him. What you’re saying doesn’t make sense.”
Baring her teeth, Jaime shook her fist in Raven’s face. “Stop confusing me! You’re trying to turn everything around. I threw Muerto out when I found out he betrayed me. But he came back to me last night, with an armful of red roses. Beautiful red roses, and he begged me to take him back. I told him he hurt me too deeply, but then he grabbed my shoulders and kissed me so sweetly that it made me cry. He made love to me. He didn’t fuck me like he does you but made heavenly love, and I took him back.” She had a faraway look in her eyes.
She’s a fucking psycho. This is all in her head. I have to get away from her.
Then her attention shifted back to Raven and her gaze was steely. “You deserve to die for what you did to me… to him. You ruined everything. He would’ve come to me, but you spread your legs, enticing him. A man can’t resist a slut. My mother was so right!” Smack!
“Stop hitting me! Untie me and let’s fight this out on equal ground, or are you too fuckin’ scared that I’d beat your ass?”
“Shut. The. Fuck. Up!” Jaime ran out to the kitchen and came back with a large black flashlight. “I’m going to kill you just like I did that nosy bitch with the stupid dog. But this time I’m going to enjoy it.”
The bile she’d been forcing down surfaced and spewed from her mouth. The acid scorching her throat and tongue sickened her. Shit! Then behind the madwoman, she saw Walter coming in through the kitchen, his eyebrows squished together. Why’s he here? He’s here! I have help. Is he going to help me? Her thoughts were scattered as her heart drummed in her chest.
“Your cat’s outside. I was just checking to see if you…. What’s going on in here?” Walter’s eyes widened.
Jaime whirled around. “Get out of here! We don’t want you in here.” Walter kept walking in. She turned back to Raven. “You’re dead, bitch!” She raised her arm.
Before Jaime could smash her skull, Raven lunged forward and, with her freed hands, punched her captor in the belly. Jaime groaned and bent over. By that time Walter was next to the women, and he pulled the flashlight out of Jaime’s hand.
Raven untied her feet and stood up. Oh shit. She held her head between her hands and plopped back down on the chair.
“Let go of me!” Jaime struggled in Walter’s arms. Through clouded vision, Raven saw her kick Walter hard in the shin and he howled, releasing the crazed woman. Jaime ran off to the kitchen.
“She’s probably going to get a knife,” Raven said to Walter as he turned to follow her. “Be careful.” With her head still in her hands, she tried to get up, but searing pain ripped through her. I just want to lie down. Then she heard Jaime scream and a flurry of deep voices. She couldn’t even look up, the pain that bad in her head. “Walter?”
Heavy footsteps came toward her, and then black boots entered her field of vision. They look like Muerto’s boots. I must be getting delirious. Then she smelled the desert and the sunshine. Muerto! A beam filled her face.
“Oh, baby.” Warm, strong arms embraced her. She breathed in his fresh scent. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”
He kissed the top of her head and she cried out. “That fuckin’ psycho did a number on my head. I think I may have a concussion.”
“The paramedics are on their way. I was so worried about you.”
“She said that you were her boyfriend.”
“She’s a very sick woman. When you feel better, I’ll tell you all about it.”
“How is she?” Sheriff Wexler asked.
“Her head’s smashed pretty bad,” Muerto replied.
“I’ll be okay. I just need to lie down.” She forced her chin up a bit and looked up. “She told me she killed Mrs. Kilpatrick. Beat her to
death with a flashlight. How horrible.” Wet streaks dampened her cheeks.
“We’ll look into it. Your neighbor wanted me to tell you that he has your cat and dog. I guess that’s what alerted him that something was wrong.” Wexler looked toward the window. “Paramedics are here. I’ll be around later to get your statement.” He went behind her and opened the door.
As the emergency technicians loaded her into the ambulance, she saw Jaime sitting in the back of a police car, beaming at her. For a split second, she felt sorry for her, and then the doors closed and she shut her eyes, relaxing for the first time since the ordeal had begun.
Chapter Thirty-Five
After several stiches and a three-day stint in the hospital, Raven was as good as new. Each time Muerto looked at her, his gut would clench at the memory of how close he’d come to losing her. She was his stability in a world filled with chaos, and with each day, his love for her grew stronger. At times he couldn’t remember how he’d functioned without her in his life. She was the light to his darkness, calmness to his storm.
He kissed her. “Did you arrange everything with Breanna for the biker rally next month?”
“Yes. She’s so nice. We had a long conversation, and we made plans to have lunch next week. I can see us becoming good friends.”
“She’s cool. Steel got a good woman, but I have a better one.” He fisted her hair and pulled her head back so he could kiss her deeper.
“Do you guys want to go in the back?” Crow joked as he went behind the bar.
“I still can’t believe Jaime lied about everything.” Brandy sat on the barstool shaking her head. “I mean, she’d sworn me to secrecy last year when she told me that you two had an affair. I totally believed her, and that’s why I kept flirting with you.” She gazed at Raven. “No offense, but I figured if Muerto broke the rules with Jaime, he might break them with me. But once you came on board, I stopped all flirting. I just can’t get over it. I really believed her.”
