Edge Of Retaliation : Books 1-3

by Bella Jewel

  I nod, completely understanding that. “Do you think Tanner would consider moving?”

  She shrugs, pursing her lips, “I honestly don’t know. I think maybe he would, but I also know he loves his family and then they’ve got the garage and all the boys back home ...”

  “Yeah,” I murmur, “it’s going to be a damned hard choice.”

  “It really is.”

  Callie stands, “I have to pee, and I have a bottle of vodka stashed in my room, you know, back up.”

  I laugh. “Okay.”

  She disappears down the hall, and I flick the movie back on.

  I never considered when Tatum warned me earlier, that we were actually in danger. Not once did I think we’d have anything to worry about. After all, they are out there, fixing this problem once and for all, and we’re here, where it’s safe.

  At least, that’s the plan.

  It’s the plan until one minute I’m sitting, smiling at the movie, and the next the window in my living room smashes. I scream and launch backward as a man climbs through, a man I’m more than familiar with because I was locked in his basement for a few horrible fucking days.

  He’s holding a gun, and two other men climb in behind him, the sound of broken glass crunching as they bust through it like it’s nothing. I can’t move. I can’t even breathe. My hands go up instinctively, because what else am I meant to do?

  I pray Callie doesn’t come running out.

  She could get help.

  She could get out.

  She is our only chance.

  He steps in the glass, crunching it into my floor, and comes closer, gun pointed right to my head. “Hello, Joanne.”

  He is supposed to be where the men are, not here. He’s meant to be getting shot right about now, not in my house.

  No.

  God dammit.

  Where’s my gun?

  I left it in my apartment because I didn’t consider that I’d need it.

  What the hell is wrong with me?

  “Where’s Callie?”

  Get your shit together, Jo. Lie. Callie hasn’t come out yet, which tells me she probably knows they’re here and is hiding. God, I pray she’s hiding. If she’s not, it’s all over for us. I take a deep shaky breath, compose myself and say, “She’s not here.”

  He snorts. “I doubt that.”

  “They aren’t stupid, you know,” I go on, making up a lie as quickly as I can. “They suspected you might come after us, so they separated us. They’re not going to let you win.”

  For a moment, he looks shocked, then he narrows his eyes and clicks his fingers, “Go and check the rest of the apartment.”

  God dammit.

  Callie.

  Hide.

  24

  CALLIE

  I heard the glass smash, and then I heard Jo’s small scream. I went to run out, I did, but then I realized if I run out there, I’m going to end up exactly where they want me, and I won’t be able to get us out of here. Then I heard Jo tell them I wasn’t here, and I knew I had to hide. I only had seconds, not even.

  I move as quickly and as quietly as I can, my heart racing. My entire body is on high alert as I run into my walk-in closet. I climb, using a stool I always keep in there because I’m too short to reach the top. I get up onto the top shelf, and I scurry behind all my clothes and suitcases, praying, just praying they won’t see me in here.

  Minutes seem to tick by, and my heart races erratically as I think of all the things that could go wrong right now. They must have known the men were coming, it’s the only explanation that makes sense. They are here, because they know we’re alone. They are determined to take us out, no matter the cost.

  I hear the door to my bedroom open, and the sound of footsteps. The bathroom door creaks, my bed squeaks, and I know they’re looking for me.

  “Come out, Callie,” a voice calls. “We know you’re in here.”

  No.

  I hold my breath, willing my body to not even twitch.

  They open the closet and start throwing my clothes out of the way, shoving boxes aside and looking in. Then they reach up to the top. I press myself as far back as I can, and I pray. They move a few suitcases, throw down a few of my storage bags, but they don’t get up and look further. A moment goes by, and then the door shuts. I exhale, thanking whoever just gave me the luck I needed.

  After a few minutes, when I hear them talking in the living room again, I very carefully climb down. It takes me more than a few minutes, because I have to be so damned quiet. When my feet land on the soft carpet, I get to my knees, glancing behind me, and unlock my safe. I have a gun in there, I’m not stupid enough to live alone without one.

  I pull it out, flick the safety off, make sure it's loaded and then I walk slowly toward my bedroom door. I’m willing to kill if it means Jo comes out of this alive. They’re not going to take her; I’m not going to let them take her. I push my door open quietly and tip-toe slowly down the hall, where the voices become clearer.

  There is no way I can take out three of them, which has my mind reeling.

  I don’t know what to do.

  I just know I have to do something.

  “Go to her apartment, see if the girl is in there. She wouldn’t be far, report back to me.”

  And that, right there is my chance.

  If they go, I can deal with this motherfucker far easier. One thing at a time.

  I dare to peer around the corner and see Jo in the living area, her hands still up, the man has his back to me thank god. The other two are just walking out the front door, slamming it closed. Now is my chance, only I’m terrified.

  I don’t know if I can do it.

  I don’t know if I have what it takes.

  Can I shoot a man?

  He takes a step to Jo and growls, “Where the fuck is she, Joanne?”

  “I told you, she’s not here,” Jo spits.

  “Well, if she is here, I’m sure I can find a way to lure her out. Don’t you think.”

  He raises his gun and slams it across her head. She goes down in slow motion, falling into the shards of glass. Everything in my world stops as I watch my best friend fall, her screams strangled in her throat. The pain so intense she can’t get any sound out.

  “That’s not good enough.” He laughs. “I need you to scream.”

  He presses his booted foot onto her face, smashing it down onto the glass. She screams, her sounds piercing the room.

  I can’t take it.

  I won’t let him hurt her.

  I won’t.

  Not my Jo.

  I raise the gun, take a deep breath, and pull the trigger.

  The bullet hits him right in the back of the head, he didn’t even see it coming. Blood splatters everywhere and he falls forward, landing over my best friend, making her screams even worse.

  I rush over, grabbing him and hauling him off with a strength I didn’t know I had. His body flops to the side, and I feel unwell at the sight of his head, which is no longer intact. Vomit rises to my throat as I grab for Jo, rolling her and pulling her into my arms, even as the shards of glass cut into my skin.

  I reach for the blanket on the sofa, and I press it to her bleeding face, cradling her against me as she sobs, her body shaking violently.

  “I’m here. I’m here. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

  The other two men will be back any second.

  I don’t know what to do.

  God, I don’t know what to do.

  Help me.

  EVERYTHING AFTER I’VE shot him feels like it goes in slow motion.

  Everything.

  I hear the front door burst open, and I look over to see the two men who went to search Jo’s apartment come in. I’ve already reached for my gun and have it pointed at them, before they realize what has happened.

  I pull the trigger without hesitating for even a second, hitting one in the chest. He drops down to the ground, while the other fumbles for the gun he stuffed into his pants.
Stupid man, he should have known not to come in here without his weapon ready. Are they that cocky? That they honestly thought they’d never find themselves in trouble?

  I pull the trigger again.

  It’s my life or his.

  I choose my own.

  They won’t hesitate to kill Jo and I, I’m not going to risk that.

  The bullet hits him somewhere between his chest and hips. I don’t know where, all I know is he falls to the ground wailing in pain, a disgusting gurgling sound coming from his throat.

  Jo sobs, and I fumble for a phone, knowing I need to get us help as soon as I possibly can, before it’s too late. Jo needs an ambulance, and I need to get these men out of here before someone calls the police.

  As if reading my mind, as if they knew I needed them in that very moment, Tanner, Tatum and Alarick rush through the front door, guns raised. The moment they see what they’ve walked into their faces drop. Alarick, having the most composure, yells, “Check the rooms, there could be more.”

  “There’s not,” I croak, my voice hoarse. “I shot them all.”

  Tanner and Tatum are both rushing towards us, but to me it almost looks like they’re not moving, like it’s taking so damned long for them to reach me. I need them to reach me.

  Tatum drops to the ground, unbothered by the glass and takes the sobbing Jo into his arms, his eyes scanning her face. He looks horrified, but more because he’s so hurt to see her like that. “What did they do to you, baby? I’m so sorry. So sorry.”

  “She needs a hospital,” I whisper, my hands trembling and covered in Jo’s blood.

  That’s the second time this week I’ve been covered in someone’s blood because of these fuckers.

  Tatum lifts Jo into his arms, and looks to Tanner, who has his arms around me to lift me out of the mess. I didn’t even feel him touch me. “I’m goin’ to take her in. You good?”

  Tanner nods, “Alarick and I have got this, go.”

  Tatum rushes out and Tanner stands with me in his arms. My eyes scan the floor, and move over all the glass and blood. “I-I-I shot them all. Tanner, I killed people.”

  “It’s okay, honey,” he murmurs, “it’s okay. Are you injured?”

  I shake my head. “I shot them.”

  “It’s okay. It’ll be okay.”

  “I’ll go to prison,” I cry, my whole body coming alive at the realization of what I’ve done. “I can’t go back there. I don’t want to go back there.”

  I’m wailing now, the shock taking over my body.

  The image of what I did imprinting forever into my brain.

  “Hey,” Alarick says, suddenly appearing. He leans in close and orders, “Look at me, Callie. You’re not goin’ to prison. I will not let you. My boys will have this cleaned up and dealt with. Nobody will ever know what happened here.”

  “What if one of the neighbors heard something? They could have called the police, they could already be on their way.”

  “Callie,” he demands, his eyes hard. “You’re not hearin’ me. This is not goin’ to come back on you. You have my word. Tanner is goin’ to take you away, and when you come back, it’ll be like nothin’ ever happened.”

  My hands are trembling as I hold his eyes, “Do you promise?”

  He nods. “I fuckin’ promise you. Go.”

  Tanner thanks him, and then walks out of the apartment with me in his arms. I close my eyes, not wanting to see if I’ve killed the other two men, or if they’re just injured. I know if they’re still alive, they won’t be for long. Alarick will make sure of that. I think that will be so much worse for them.

  They’ll have wished I killed them.

  Tanner puts me in his truck. He has murmured things, but I don’t know what he’s saying. My ears are ringing and my head is spinning. I close my eyes and keep them that way until we pull up at the tattoo shop. I look around, confused. “Why are we here?”

  “It’s safe here until Alarick has finished everything. He said there is an apartment out back, we can clean up there.”

  I don’t bother to argue, I let him lead me into the shop and out into the apartment. It’s only small, and by the looks of it, is only here for temporary stays. Maybe when Alarick is working late and doesn’t want to go home? It’s tidy, and neat, and it’ll do if it means we’re safe.

  Tanner places me down on the sofa and kneels down in front of me, taking my chin in his hands. “You’re okay. This is going to be okay. I promise you.”

  “How did they know we were alone?” I whisper, my hands still shaking. I can’t stop them, no matter how hard I try.

  “They must have had more ears on us then we thought. They knew we were comin’ and they put a plan into place, only they didn’t expect you’d be the one to take them out. We dealt with the rest of them, they were ready for us when we arrived, but they were no match for Alarick’s club. Those men...are incredible.”

  I don’t want to know.

  I don’t even want to think about it.

  “When we realized he wasn’t there, we came rushing back.”

  “But it was too late,” I whisper. “I’m not only a killer, I’m now a murderer, too. I’m a murderer, Tanner.”

  “You listen to me, Callie, and you listen fuckin’ good,” he orders, his voice harder than I’ve ever heard it, “those men are the reason Celia is dead. They raped her. They took her innocence and they crushed her life. You are not a fuckin’ murderer, you got her the vengeance she deserved. You just gave her her peace. You set her free.”

  Tears burst forth and stream down my cheeks.

  “You really think so?” I sob.

  “I more than fuckin’ think so. Thank you, Callie. Thank you.”

  I hiccup and my head falls forward. He catches me in a hug, a tight hug, a hug that makes me feel like everything will be okay.

  “I love you,” I whisper.

  “Oh honey,” he murmurs, “I love you, too.”

  Is he right?

  Did I really set Celia free?

  Is it all finally over?

  25

  JOANNE

  “How bad is it?” I croak groggily, looking at Tatum who is sitting on the side of my bed, my hand in his. “Do I look like Frankenstein?”

  He chuckles. “Honey, you’re fuckin’ beautiful. Not a thing in the world could change that.”

  “You’re not answering my question,” I murmur, “which is a little concerning.”

  He glances around the room and then stands, walking over to my purse and opening it, pulling out my makeup mirror. He carries it over and hands it to me. “See for yourself.”

  I take the mirror, terrified of what I’m going to see. Terrified of the damage that has been done to my face. I close my eyes and turn the mirror towards me, and then slowly open them. For a few seconds, I just stare at myself. My face is swollen, and I have one hell of a black eye, but the cuts from the glass aren’t as bad as I pictured in my head.

  When he crushed my face into it, I thought I’d be forever damaged. It felt like a thousand tiny knives piercing my skin. I thought I’d never ever come out of it clean. But I can see now, it’s not so bad. Tatum paid for a plastic surgeon to do the clean-up, insisting he didn’t want any old doctor working on my face.

  The surgeon did a great job.

  There are probably five or six cuts that have stitches, the rest are small enough that they probably don’t need anything done, they’ll heal on their own. The cuts that are there, are mostly on my cheek with a few on the side of my face, but thankfully none near my eyes, nose or mouth. They’re deep, I can see that, but I can also see how incredibly clean he has stitched them.

  “He assured me after six or so months, you’ll barely have any scarring. He said the face is incredible for healing, and the cuts were clean enough that you won’t have any long term damage. You’ll have purple scars for a while, but they’ll fade.”

  “You paid for this?” I whisper, my voice scratchy.

  “Of course I did. I wa
sn’t goin’ to let anyone stitch you up. You’re my girl, I look after you.”

  I put the mirror down and look at him, whispering, “Thank you, Tatum.”

  He sits on the side of the bed and takes my hand, “I’d do anything for you, Jo. Fuckin’ anything in this world. Seein’ you on that floor in Callie’s arms, bleeding, fuck...it scared the life out of me. I never want to experience something like that again.”

  “I’m sorry I scared you.”

  He shakes his head and leans forward, kissing my forehead. “Don’t be sorry.”

  “How is Callie? Is she okay?”

  “She’s shaken up. Tanner said she’s still sleeping, he gave her a sleeping tablet to help her. She was having trouble coping with the fact that she shot those men.”

  “She saved my life,” I say, my heart aching for my friend. “If she didn’t do that, I’d be dead.”

  Tatum takes my hand and squeezes it, “She just needs some time, then you can tell her that, and it’ll probably make everything feel better.”

  “And the rest of it?” I dare to ask. “Is it...over?”

  He nods, squeezing my hand again. “It’s over, honey. Alarick took care of everything. Callie will walk away clean, and those men are taken care of. You’re free. We’re free.”

  “Chase?”

  “He’s okay. Missing a few fingers, badly beaten, but he’s okay. He’s in here, too. I’ll go see him in a minute. He’s feelin’ pretty well over it, too.”

  “I can imagine, poor thing. At least you got him out alive.”

  “Yeah,” Tatum says, “yeah we did.”

  “Do you think he’ll be okay, you know, mentally?”

  Tatum shrugs. “Don’t know. I just know he’s been through a lot, and it’s going to take some time. He wants to stay here. He said he doesn’t want to go home. He’s done.”

  “I don’t blame him,” I say, and then bite my lip as I contemplate asking Tatum if he would consider staying, too.