Hood River Rat (Hood River Hoodlums Book 1)

by K. Webster

  We both laugh.

  “You want a lesson, huh?” I tease. “You’re nice and clean after your shower. Maybe I’ll give you a lesson in rimming.”

  “Eating ass?”

  “Pay attention,” I say in a firm, authoritative tone, “and you’re to not speak crudely in my classroom, young man.”

  His smile is deviant, and his eyes light up with wickedness. “Yes, Mr. English.”

  Damn, when this bad boy is obedient, he really gets my dick hard.

  “Good boy.”

  “Hollis.”

  “Hollis.”

  “Hollis.”

  I wake from my dreams, confused and unaware of where I’m at. All I know is it’s warm. It’s quiet. I’m on a cloud.

  “You’re coming off the anesthesia,” a man says. “The surgery went well. While the perforation wasn’t too big, it was surrounded by some abscesses that needed to be drained. We’ve closed up the hole and fixed you right up.”

  My eyelids are too heavy.

  I drift off.

  All I see is amber.

  Eyes.

  Eyes.

  His eyes.

  Roan.

  Roan

  I have no plan.

  Just get Roux.

  Everything else, I’ll figure out along the way. Getting a ride was easy enough. Mike was distracted when I asked to borrow his truck. Kelsey’s primary concern was making sure Hollis was okay. And while everything screamed in me to stay at the hospital with Hollis, I couldn’t ignore my sister’s terrified sobs.

  “Please come get me. I’m scared. I don’t feel safe.”

  The roads are slick tonight, but I still drive like a bat out of hell. My veins are buzzing with energy. Adrenaline is fueling me. Within ten minutes, I’m pulling into Mom’s ghetto apartment complex. I see Alejandro’s shitty Maxima, so I know he’s home.

  Fuck.

  I’m going to have to come to blows with this motherfucker.

  Anything for Roux.

  After I whip into a parking spot, I climb out of the big truck and run into the building. People laugh at me as I run like my ass is on fire, but I don’t give a shit. It feels like an eternity until I get to Mom’s floor.

  Loud music thumps from her door, which means Alejandro is having one of his parties. I turn the knob and peek my head in. The apartment is a cloud of smoke. My eyes burn from the smell of pot. It pisses me off that Roux has to be exposed to this shit. There’s a black light on and people are dancing. I skate down the entryway and veer off down the hallway undetected. Mom’s bedroom door stands wide-open and the light is on.

  Unreliable bitch.

  Mom lies sprawled out on the bed, half naked and blissed out on heroin based on the needle sticking out of her arm. One of Alejandro’s friends has his hand between her legs, rubbing. Fucking gross. I hate them all. I’m about to tell him to get the fuck off her considering she’s passed out, but then I hear it.

  A squeal.

  Roux.

  I bolt toward her room. When I go to shove the door open, it only opens about six inches. Something heavy is blocking it. The dresser.

  “Roux!” I call out. “It’s me! Let me in!”

  “Roan!”

  She runs to the door, sticking her skinny arm out, tears running down her cheeks. She’s safe. I just need to get her out.

  “Help me,” she pleads.

  “Help me,” Alejandro mimics, stepping behind her and chilling my blood.

  Another voice laughs from inside the room.

  They’re in there with her. Oh my fucking God.

  “You so much as—” I start but am cut off when he slaps a hand over her mouth and drags her away. “No!”

  I start slamming my shoulder hard against the door, hoping to move the dresser far enough so I can get in. I’ll push my way in there even if I have to destroy the whole goddamn door. Her screams only have me shoving harder and harder. From my vantage point, they only seem to be terrorizing her but not hurting her. They push her around and are laughing like fucking lunatics. They’re obviously high on something.

  Franco grabs her, pulling her to him despite her squirming. “Oh, look. Little Roux’s getting tits now.” When he rubs on her chest, I lose my mind, roaring and snarling like an animal.

  She claws at his face and slips out of his grip. Alejandro yanks her to him by her hair. With his eyes on me, he starts yanking at her pajama pants.

  No.

  No.

  No.

  I step several feet back and then run, pushing hard against the door with all my might. I’m able to make my way inside. I stumble over some shit on the floor and then swing at Alejandro. He ducks, tossing Roux into the floor, and then puts his fists up. I swing for him again, but someone kicks me hard in the back.

  Franco.

  “Roux, go,” I order, just as Alejandro clocks me in the jaw.

  I sway on my feet and aim a hard punch at his stomach. He groans but recovers quickly, pushing me toward Franco. Franco kicks the back of my knee, causing me to fall to the ground. They both start kicking me hard. Every blow is harder than the last. All I can think about is Roux.

  Run, Roux, run.

  She lets out a rage-filled cry as she throws her bedside lamp at Alejandro. It hits him in the arm. Doesn’t hurt him, just pisses him off. He chases after her. I manage to kick up at Franco, nailing him in the nuts. He howls, distracted, and I crawl after Alejandro. That fucker has her trapped in the closet. He strikes her, but I tackle him as he does it, making it lose some of its impact. We scuffle in the bottom of the closet, mostly wrestling to get the upper hand.

  “Roux, get the hell out of here,” I hiss out, as I punch Alejandro in his ribs.

  “Not without you!”

  Franco shows up and grabs my sister by the hair, dragging her back into the bedroom. Her screams are maddening. I manage to untangle myself from Alejandro to go after them. Franco is undressing my sister. My thirteen-year-old sister. When I see her naked ass, I lose my mind with fury. I tackle him and start pummeling his face. Blind rage takes over. I’m about to slam my fist into him again when someone kicks me in the head from behind. I fall over, blacking out. I come to with a knee pressed into my back.

  No.

  No.

  No.

  Alejandro is finishing what Franco started. He has her pants and panties off, his hand pawing at her. Tears of hate and sorrow blind me. Why are they doing this? She’s just a kid.

  “You fuck with me,” Alejandro bellows, glaring down at me, “I fuck with you.”

  He starts to unbuckle his belt and I dry heave. I can’t do this. I can’t see this. God, fucking help us.

  All I hear is their maniacal laughter.

  It’s fucking haunting.

  Alejandro pulls his dick out. His big fucking dick. And I am helpless. I squeeze my eyes shut. Please, God. Please.

  Pop!

  I open my eyes, trying to understand how Alejandro is now on the ground in front of me, a big hole in his forehead. Blood is pooling around him.

  Pop!

  Franco falls heavily on top of me. My voice is hoarse from screaming for Roux, yet I continue to call out her name. Continue to reach for her. A man comes into the room, stalking straight over to my sister.

  “Please don’t hurt her,” I beg. “Please.”

  I manage to roll Franco’s body off me and crawl my weak and battered body toward the man who’s touching my sister.

  “What the fuck—” someone says from the doorway.

  Pop!

  The man shoots this guy too. Is he going to shoot my sister? No, he seems to be helping her pull her pants back up. He’s vibrating with wrath. I grab onto his jeans and look up at him.

  Jordy.

  Jordy.

  It’s fucking Jordy.

  He falls to the ground with Roux in his arms. Her entire body trembles as she sobs. I manage to reach over and grab her shaking hand. She and I cry, clinging to one another as Jordy stays deathly st
ill and completely silent.

  He’s hurt.

  Is he hurt?

  Why won’t he say anything?

  “J-Jordy,” I chatter out, my entire body overcome with chills.

  He doesn’t answer. Doesn’t move.

  “What the hell did you do to my—” another guy exclaims from the doorway.

  Pop!

  I gape in shock as Jordy puts a bullet through this guy too. This is bad. This is really bad. My hands are shaking as I try to take the gun from him.

  “Don’t,” he growls. “I need to get any others who come in here. For Roux.”

  I nod, tears leaking down my cheeks. “O-Okay.”

  His eyes leave mine and remain affixed on the doorway. I try to hug them both, but Jordy shakes me off. I don’t like this. I don’t like how he’s acting. It scares the fuck out of me.

  “J-Jordy, b-bro, we g-gotta g-get outta here.” My voice keeps cracking and breaking. I can’t stop fucking trembling.

  “It’s not safe,” Jordy says in an icy tone.

  I can hear sirens close by and I pray to God this will all be over soon.

  “I want to leave,” Roux begs, practically crawling up Jordy’s torso. “Please, Jordy. Take me away from here.”

  He tries to push her off him, but she clings tighter. I grip her leg, fearful she’ll run away and I’ll never see her again. The three of us are a fucking mess.

  “Please, Jordy,” she wails. “Please.”

  “It’s not safe, Little Hoodlum.” His tone is colder than anything I’ve ever heard before.

  A loud voice booms from a speaker. “Come out of the bedroom with your hands up.”

  Roux screams, clawing at Jordy, trying to hide her face in his neck. I cling to them both, terrified as fuck. Jordy keeps his gun pointed at the doorway like more bad guys are going to walk right through it.

  The music that was playing has long since been turned off. I can hear men whispering to each other and heavy footsteps thudding. Someone tells someone else to get a paramedic. There’s an unresponsive female in one of the rooms. I also hear the words, “Suspect is armed and has hostages.”

  That’s not right.

  He’s the hero, not the suspect.

  “Roan,” Roux sobs. “I’m scared.”

  “M-Me t-too.” Why the fuck is my voice shaking so bad?

  “Sir,” the voice booms again. “Lower your weapon so no one else gets hurt.”

  “They deserved it,” Jordy barks out. “They tried to rape a thirteen-year-old girl!”

  “I’m Captain Fitzgerald. Let’s talk this out, son. What’s your name?”

  “Jordy Martinez.”

  “Listen, Jordy, I know you’re scared. Who do you have with you?”

  “Roan and Roux. I’m protecting them.”

  I squeeze my best friend and my sister as though I can protect them with an embrace.

  “I can see that. We’ll get all that sorted out at the station,” Fitzgerald assures him. “You have to put the gun down, though. We don’t want you to accidentally get someone shot.”

  “Please don’t shoot Jordy,” Roux begs them.

  “Sweetheart,” Fitzgerald says. “We’re going to do our best not to let that happen. I have to protect my officers and the both of you, though. If Jordy does exactly as we say, no one will get hurt.”

  I try to sit up but everything hurts too fucking bad. All I can do is stay in the fetal position beside them.

  “Jordy,” Fitzgerald says in a calm voice. “Can you let Roux come out through the door?”

  “No!” Jordy yells. “Alejandro’s friends are out there! Look what they already did to her and Roan!”

  “I can assure you, son, the only people out here are officers and paramedics. We only want to help.”

  “Let me see your badge,” Jordy growls. “So I know you’re not one of them.”

  “Lower your weapon and I’ll be glad to show you.”

  Jordy relaxes his arm, letting his hand that’s holding the gun rest on my shoulder. “Show me.”

  Fitzgerald holds up a badge, the metal glinting in the light. “See. I’m the captain of the Hood River police department. I’m safe. Can you set the gun on the floor where I can see it?”

  “Do you have any women?” Jordy asks. “For Roux?”

  “Officer Kline is here.”

  “You can call me Jessica,” Officer Kline says from nearby. “I’ll be able to help Roux. Can she come to me, Jordy?”

  Jordy hugs Roux and kisses her head. “Go, Roux. It’s safe.”

  “I’m scared,” Roux whines.

  “We’re right b-behind you,” I mutter, my teeth still chattering.

  “Okay,” she whispers.

  She stands up on shaky legs and walks around the bed, stepping over two bodies. When she nears the door, a blond female officer bravely reaches for her, pulling her over the other two dead men. There is commotion and relieved voices on the other side.

  “Great job, Jordy,” Fitzgerald says. “You did a good job. Now we just need to help Roan. Is he hurt?”

  “I…I…I don’t know.” Jordy sounds tired and confused. “I hope he’s okay.”

  I try to nod, but my head is killing me. “I’ll be all right.”

  “Maybe you should go hang out at the hospital with your rat,” Jordy offers, snorting with inappropriate laughter. “Fuck. Fuck, Roan. What the fuck did I do?”

  “Listen,” Fitzgerald says in his calming voice. “We’re not going to worry about all that right now. If we do, then everyone will get upset. We need you to make good decisions right now, Jordy. And a good decision would be to set that gun down. Then, shove it away.”

  “Am I going to die?” Jordy asks, his voice cracking. “I don’t want to die.”

  I start to cry because I’ve seen the movies. They always shoot the guy trying to help. Jordy is only trying to help.

  “Don’t cry, pussy,” Jordy jokes, but there’s unmistakable fear in his voice.

  “P-Please d-don’t shoot him,” I beg Fitzgerald. “Please.”

  “Boys,” Fitzgerald says in a fatherly tone. “No one is getting shot as long as everyone cooperates. Roan, can you move? Can you come out like Roux did?”

  I try to lift my head, but the headache only intensifies. Bile rises up my throat and I dry heave. “I d-don’t think s-so. I f-feel like I’m g-going to p-puke.”

  Jordy looks down at me. “His head is bleeding.”

  “Okay,” Fitzgerald coos. “It’s okay. We have paramedics here to help Roan.”

  I think about Hollis in his paramedic clothes.

  God, I miss him.

  “Since Roan can’t get up, Jordy, we’re really going to need your help so we can get him the aid he needs,” Fitzgerald says in a stern voice. “That means tossing the gun away and putting your hands in the air. It’s just procedure. To keep everyone safe.”

  “You won’t shoot me?” Jordy asks. “They still need me. You can’t shoot me.”

  “No one is going to shoot you,” Fitzgerald tells him. “Please, son. Let’s get Roan checked out. This will be all over soon. You two boys could use a good night’s sleep.”

  “I’m tired,” Jordy agrees in a childlike voice. “Really tired.”

  He yawns and pushes the gun away. His fingers brush over my head on a sore spot and I wince.

  “Good job,” Fitzgerald praises. “Now put your arms up. I’m going to walk into the room. You’ll see both my hands. Officer Young is going to come behind me with his weapon, but that’s just to keep us all safe. No one is getting shot, okay?”

  Jordy lifts his arms. “Okay.”

  Everyone moves in slow motion. An older man with salt and pepper hair walks in just as he said. He’s smiling grimly at us, his eyes raking over me, assessing me for damage. Young creeps in behind him.

  “Now, Jordy, I’m going to have to handcuff you until we sort all this out at the station, okay? So don’t fight me on this. It’s to keep everyone safe.”

&nb
sp; Fitzgerald steps over me and then comes behind Jordy. Young pounces on me, scooping me up like I don’t weigh just over two hundred pounds. I can hear Fitzgerald reading Jordy his rights as he cuffs him. The room spins and I turn my head to throw up. Everything is a blur.

  Voices.

  Lights.

  Managed chaos.

  “Jordy,” I whine. “Roux.”

  “Roux is going to the hospital too. To get checked out,” a male paramedic tells me. “Everything is going to be okay.”

  My eyes meet Jordy’s dark ones as they lead him out of the apartment. Fitzgerald said everything would be sorted out at the station. Everything is going to be okay.

  As the stretcher rolls out of the apartment, I close my eyes and let relief settle in my bones.

  We did it.

  We’re safe.

  No one got shot.

  Hollis

  “Where am I?” I ask a woman with white hair.

  She smiles kindly at me. “You’re in surgery recovery. Dr. Edmond said he already spoke to you. The surgery was successful. Now we’re just waiting for you to wake up before we put you in a room.” She pats my hand. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine.”

  Her laughter reminds me of my grandma’s. “Wonderful. Would you like to see your parents now?”

  I nod, though I don’t especially want to see my father. She disappears and I fall back asleep. When I wake again, both Mom and Dad are at my bedside.

  Dad is normally aloof and impassive, but right now, he looks relieved, which is confusing because I figured he’d want his gay son to die off in surgery. He takes my hand and squeezes it.

  “Glad to see you awake, little buddy.”

  My heart clenches at the name he called me when I was little.

  “They fixed it,” Mom tells me, her eyes brimming with tears. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

  “Roan?”

  Mom stiffens. “You’ll see him soon.”

  “Where is he?” I croak.

  “Here. Both he and Roux are.”

  I frown, trying to make sense of her words. “In the waiting room?”

  “They’re being checked out.”

  “What? Why?” Alarm has me wanting to sit up, but everything feels heavy and achy. The pain meds have me feeling as though I’m in a fog. “I want to see them.”