Edge Of Retaliation : Books 1-3

by Bella Jewel

  “Nope!” I say, shaking my head. “God nope. You’re not telling me about your oral sex when I haven’t had any for so many fucking years. God, I miss that so bad. Was it good? It was good right?”

  She nods. “It was even better when he fucked me after it.”

  “Man,” I squeal happily, and she nudges me to remind me to shut up. “I’m so jealous.”

  “It was so worth the wait, my god, I can’t stop thinking about it.”

  “Was his tongue game on point?” I ask, nodding enthusiastically.

  “Oh. Yes. Yes, it was.”

  “Dang it,” I punch the air. “I’m so jelly, girl! I want some tongue in my pussy, like, yesterday.”

  A throat clears and I spin around to see Tanner standing in the kitchen, a smirk on his face.

  “Oh god,” I say. “Tell me you didn’t hear any of that.”

  Jo giggles. “I’ll leave you to it.”

  She rushes out with a drink and my cheeks burn.

  I dare to look at Tanner, and he’s still grinning. “What?” I say, throwing my hands up, “So a girl tells the world she is missing a bit of tongue, what’s wrong with that?”

  He chuckles, “Nothing at all. Thought your boyfriend would be filling that gap for you.”

  I snort. “He’s not my boyfriend, I called him and told him we can’t see each other anymore, for your information. Also, we never had sex.”

  “Hmmm,” he murmurs, grabbing the bottle of vodka and pouring a glass. “Unlucky for him. You taste fuckin’ amazing.”

  My mouth drops open just as he turns and walks out.

  Oh my word.

  My. Word.

  Ethan pops his head in, takes one look at my face and rolls his eyes. “I don’t even want to know. The pizza is here, I’m going out to grab it.”

  “Yay!” I clap.

  He chuckles and turns, walking out. I take my drink and step out into the living room just as I hear it.

  The worst sound I could possibly hear.

  A sound that will forever echo through my mind.

  Tormenting me for the rest of my days.

  Two gunshots, loud, roaring, feeling like they come straight through the apartment.

  My head whips around at the open front door, where Ethan just went to collect the pizza from out front.

  My mouth opens, and the only thing that comes out is his name. “Ethan!”

  Ethan!

  No.

  Oh god. No.

  MY LEGS CAN’T CARRY me fast enough as I charge toward the front door. An arm wraps around my waist and hauls me backward, and Tanner hisses in my ear, “No. It could be dangerous.”

  “I don’t care,” I scream, thrashing in his arms. “Ethan is out there. Tanner, let me go.”

  “No,” he barks, holding me tightly as Tatum rushes out the front door, gun in hand.

  I watch him go and for those few moments he’s gone, I can’t breathe, I can’t think, I can’t do anything but stare at the door and wait, wait to hear the words I’m praying I’ll hear. Maybe it was a drive by. Maybe it’s not Ethan and Tatum will walk through the door with him. Maybe ...

  “Call 911!” Tatum screams, and my legs give out from beneath me.

  Tanner holds me up, I hear Jo make a pained sound as she dials 911.

  “Let me go, Tanner, let me go.”

  He lets me go, and I run as fast as my legs can carry me out the front door and over to where Tatum is on his knees, shirt off, pressing it against Ethan’s chest. I skid down on my knees, stumbling forward, my hands landing beside Ethan who isn’t awake. His face is pale. And there is so much blood.

  Blood everywhere.

  “Ethan,” I croak. “No. Ethan!”

  “He’s losing a lot of blood. We need towels or he won’t make it until the paramedics arrive.”

  I run, I push up to my feet and run inside the house, not noticing a damn person as I reach my linen cupboard and grab a handful of towels, rushing back out and handing them to Tatum. He places them over Ethan’s chest, and says to me, “Put pressure on this with me, as much as you can.”

  I press my hands over as well, then lean down onto my forearms and put as much pressure on as I can, tears streaming down my face. Tanner is walking around the perimeter, Madeline hasn’t dared to come outside, scared, and Jo is on her knees the other side of us, tears rolling down her cheeks too.

  “Ethan,” I cry. “Please wake up. You’re okay. Wake up.”

  He’s not moving. I’m too afraid to check if he’s even breathing. Tatum does the hard task of checking and presses his fingers to Ethan’s neck, checking for a pulse. I hold my breath, terrified of what he’s going to say next, terrified of the words I never want to hear in my life.

  “He’s got a pulse, weak but there.”

  Oh.

  Thank god.

  I keep the pressure on his chest, even though is blood is now soaking my hands. Tears keep flowing down my cheeks, there’s not a single thing I can do to stop them. Not a single thing. I wouldn’t want them to stop, even if I they could. I hear the sirens coming, and then the flashing lights turn into our apartment complex.

  A minute later we’re being asked to step back as two paramedics assess the scene. They check the wounds, and then load Ethan up onto a stretcher and tell us which hospital he’s getting rushed to.

  “Can I come?” I plead.

  “Clean up, love, and then come in,” the female paramedic says, and I look down at my clothes and see blood all over them.

  Oh god.

  I’m covered in Ethan’s blood.

  “I’ll go,” Jo says, following them into the ambulance.

  Within a minute, they’re gone.

  I turn and walk numbly into the apartment and into my shower, my mind dead. Not working. Completely frozen. I stare at myself in the bathroom mirror, covered in blood, and I pray. I pray that whoever is listening, whoever is up there, will make sure my friend lives, they’ll make sure he is okay.

  Tears are still flowing down my cheeks; I want to scream but my voice is broken. Not working. Empty. I can’t even make my hands move to take my clothes off, to get in that shower, to clean up and drive myself to the hospital. Is this what shock feels like? Is that what I’m experiencing right now?

  I don’t know.

  The door behind me opens and Tanner steps in, his eyes meeting mine in the mirror. He closes the door and walks over to me, without a word, and carefully lifts my arms into the air. I allow him to take control, holding them up as he takes the blood-soaked shirt from my body and lifts it over my head.

  I don’t move as he slides my shorts down and has me standing there in my bra and panties. I look at him with tear-filled eyes and whisper, “Why Ethan?”

  “It’s goin’ to be okay.”

  He doesn’t know that, though. He doesn’t.

  Nobody does.

  He turns the shower on and then takes my chin in his hands, forcing me to look at him. “You’re strong, Callie. You’re goin’ to get in this shower, and then I’m takin’ you to that hospital because he needs you. Do you hear me? He needs you.”

  I nod, and he swipes the tears from my cheeks.

  “I’ve got you,” he whispers, stroking my bottom lip. “I have got you.”

  I nod again, hiccupping with a sob.

  “Get into that shower, I’ll be ready when you come out.”

  He lets me go and walks to the door, but I call his name before he can leave. He turns and looks over his shoulder at me.

  “Make this stop,” I plead. “It’s time to end this.”

  He nods.

  He’ll end this.

  I know he will.

  21

  JOANNE

  I pace up and down the hall.

  They rushed Ethan straight into surgery. I couldn’t understand anything they were saying as doctors surrounded him, one of them beginning CPR as they wheeled him down the halls to the operating room. Leaving me standing here, alone, not sure what to do or w
hat’s going on.

  Warm hands curl around my shoulders and I’m turned to face Tatum. I knew he would be following closely behind in his truck. He pulls me close and my head falls onto his chest, the tears flowing again. I’m not close to Ethan, but I do know he’s probably the best person I’ve ever met.

  He’s just the kind of man you want in your life forever.

  Not to mention he saved my best friend during the worst time in her life.

  He doesn’t deserve this.

  He doesn’t.

  “It’s goin’ to be okay,” Tatum murmurs, pressing his lips to my forehead when I lift off and look at him.

  “Is it?” I whisper. “Is it going to be okay?”

  “Have some faith, it’s all you can do right now.”

  I nod, my stomach tight, my heart aching in a way I didn’t know it could.

  “I’ve called Alarick, told him what went down. They’re onto it. They had eyes on the apartment, and the guys who were watching followed the men who shot Ethan. He’s goin’ to let us know what he finds out.”

  “Oh, thank god,” I whisper.

  “The cops are goin’ to question us, because it’s a gunshot. If they do, you tell them you don’t know who it was. That he went out to get the pizza and someone shot him. The least they know the better.”

  I nod. “Okay.”

  “Callie and Tanner are on their way. Have you heard anything?”

  I shake my head. “No, but it looked bad. It sounded bad. Everything was just horrible. They rushed him off, at one point I don’t think he was breathing. I don’t know if he’s going to make it, Tatum. I honestly don’t know.”

  He pulls me in for a hug again. “We’re goin’ to get through this. All of us.”

  Are we, though?

  How much more can we possibly take?

  “Jo?”

  I turn and see Callie rushing down the halls, her hair still wet and unbrushed from a shower, her eyes red and puffy. I let Tatum go and hurry toward her, throwing my arms around her when she gets to me. Tanner keeps walking after squeezing me on the shoulder and starts talking to Tatum.

  “Are you okay?” I say, pulling back and looking at her.

  “Have they told you anything?”

  I shake my head. “Sorry, honey, no. He’s in surgery, that’s all I know.”

  Callie nods, her eyes just ... broken. Empty. Dead. “Has anyone called his girlfriend, Raven?”

  “I have,” Tatum says, “she is upset and getting the next flight out.”

  Callie nods, whispering a thanks.

  “I’ll go and get some coffee,” Tanner says, disappearing down the hall.

  We find a set of seats and sit down. I take Callie’s hand, and squeeze tightly. She squeezes back. We sit in silence for a good long time, none of us saying anything. Tanner brings back coffee, but nobody drinks it, we all just hang onto our cups, staring at the bland cream wall in front of us for what seems like hours.

  Maybe it is hours. Who knows.

  Finally, a nurse comes out and calls Ethan’s name. Callie stands, rushing over. “Are you family?” she asks.

  “Yes,” Callie lies.

  “Ethan isn’t doing well. He’s lost a lot of blood and the bullets caused a great deal of damage. They’re still working on him, but I have to tell you, right now it’s hit and miss. He has a lot of internal bleeding ...”

  Callie makes a pained sound and cups her chest, like her heart is just going to launch out.

  “Thanks,” Tatum says to the nurse. “Keep us updated.”

  The nurse nods, looking like it’s killing her to have to deliver such horrible news. I can only imagine how hard it is on them, even worse for the doctor who has to come out and tell someone their family member or loved one has died. That would be the hardest thing in the world to do. It really would.

  “There is a more comfortable waiting room just around the corner, if you like. I’ll keep you updated as I hear.”

  Tatum nods and thanks her, and then I turn to Callie and help her up, my heart breaking with every single tear that rolls down her cheek. Tanner takes her hand, and we lead her to the waiting room, finding a comfortable chair and sitting down.

  Then, I think we all start praying.

  At least, I know that’s what I do.

  CALLIE FALLS ASLEEP after another couple of hours, her head slumped down onto Tanner’s shoulder. He doesn’t seem to mind, and occasionally, his fingers run over her hand that has rested on his knee. He’s stepping up for her, which is really something else. He doesn’t have to, after everything, but he is and that’s special.

  Alarick walks into the hospital just around midnight and Tatum and I both stand, desperate to see what he has to say. I’m keeping everything crossed that he has found something, because this has gotten to a point if we don’t do something soon, we could all end up losing our lives. Simple as that.

  None of us want that.

  We all want this to be over.

  “How is he?” Alarick asks, his eyes swinging to me.

  “He’s still in surgery, they’re saying there is a good chance he won’t make it.”

  “Sorry to hear that,” he murmurs, and then looks to Tatum. “Got a location.”

  Oh, thank god.

  “You do?” I ask, before Tatum can answer.

  “Yeah, found an old house they’re hidin’ out at. They’ve got watch, clearly expectin’ us. You want us to go in, finish this, or are you goin’ to come with us?”

  Tatum doesn’t even flinch when he says, “We’re coming.”

  Tanner nods. “Yeah, we’re fuckin’ coming.”

  What?

  Wait?

  This club is offering to go and end this for us, without any more lives being taken, and these two men still want to go in and risk everything? The bikers do this, hell, it’s what they do. They have manpower, and they have ways to make people disappear without suspicion. Why in the ever-loving hell would they want to join in?

  “Wait, you want to go?” I ask, turning and looking at Tatum.

  “Yeah, my brother is in there. I’m not goin’ to sit here while they go and do the hard work.”

  “But they know what they’re doing. You could die,” I whisper, and then look to Tanner. “If she loses you too ...”

  “You sayin’ we don’t know what we’re fuckin’ doing?” Tatum growls at me.

  Man, I’m pissed.

  I know I shouldn’t be, but emotions are high and the idea of him going in and risking his life just seems like the worst idea he’s ever had.

  “If you knew what you were doing, we wouldn’t be in this mess to begin with,” I yell, frustrated.

  His face hardens, and I know immediately I’ve said the wrong thing. I regret it right away, but I can’t take it back. I open my mouth to apologize, but he turns to Alarick and says, “Let us know when you ride, we’re with you.”

  Alarick nods, and then glances at me before turning and walking out. Tatum turns without another word and walks down the hall. Dammit, I give Tanner a look before rushing after him.

  “Tatum, wait!” I call, rushing down the hall.

  He stops and turns, taking a step toward me. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

  “I didn’t mean it. I’m just ... The idea of losing you both as well, I was just scared. Those men know what they’re doing, they’ve got the manpower, I don’t know why you’d go risk your life when you don’t have to.”

  “Because that’s my fuckin’ brother, Jo. He’s the only one I have. He’s made mistakes, but he needs me and I’m goin’ to be there. I’m goin’ in, because that’s what I want to do.”

  “Even if it means you die?” I whisper, my face scrunching in pain.

  “Yeah,” he growls, “even if it means I die.”

  My bottom lip trembles. “What about me?”

  He exhales, and his fists clench. “This isn’t about you, Jo. You gotta know that. I have to be there for him, even if it’s a risk. Can’t you un
derstand that?”

  I shake my head, horrified. “No, I can’t understand why you’d rather risk your life then let those men do it for us.”

  I turn and walk off, hands trembling, body so full of emotion I feel like I’m about to burst. I can barely breathe by the time I find the exit and step outside. I glance left, and then right, and then I close my eyes and drop my head. I shouldn’t be out here, I know that, but I’m so tired of following all the rules when nobody gives a crap how I feel.

  “Shouldn’t be out here.”

  I whip my head to the side to see Alarick leaning against his bike, cigarette in his hand, smoke lingering around him making him look so gorgeous it’s hard to think of anything else.

  “Why did you have to tell him he could come?” I say, my voice tight.

  “He’s a grown ass man, not up to me to tell him he can’t be there for his brother.”

  “He could die, Alarick!”

  “Yeah, he fuckin’ could. We could die right fuckin’ know if those men are watchin' with their guns loaded. Life’s a risk, Joanne. You gotta do what you gotta do for family. That’s his family, you gotta respect that.”

  I exhale. “I know it’s his family, but I also know if he dies ...”

  “Yeah, it’ll fuck you up. You be with a man like that, it’s a risk you take. Trust that he ain’t stupid, give him the support he needs, or he’ll be gone before you know it.”

  Dammit.

  I’ve fucked up.

  I know I have.

  “I’m just scared, Ethan could die and those men ...”

  “Those men ain’t your problem anymore. They’re mine, and I’ll take care of it. You got my word on that.”

  “Why are you helping us?” I ask him, narrowing my eyes. “Risking everything?”

  “When a problem is presented to me, I tackle it. I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to help you if you were anyone else, but you work for me and it was dangerous. That’s what I do.”

  I nod, and then in a soft voice, I say, “Thank you.”

  “Don’t mention it. Now get back inside before you end up hurt, too.”

  I do as he asks.

  I get back inside.