“Speak to you later,” Shotgun stated, giving my arm a little shake.
“Yeah. Sure.”
I kept walking and put the cases in the vehicle. My laptop and camera equipment were already in there.
“Babe, I’ll drive you to the airport,” Rain offered
“No. I don’t want you to. Bye,” I said woodenly and climbed into the car. I noticed the concern on Rain’s face. He tapped on my window, and I wound it down.
“Hey, I love you.”
“Yeah. Just like Shotgun does. But not enough to make him stay. Goodbye,” I replied and drove away.
Shotgun and Rain stood staring after me. I didn’t stop, turn around, or run to them sobbing. My heart breaking in two, I kept heading out and didn’t look back.
Shotgun
“Fuck,” I cursed as agony raced through my body.
“You’re okay,” Rain soothed, and I forced my eyes open.
“Shot?”
“Yup. In the lower back, luckily, the bullet missed paralysing you and doing any major damage,” Rain replied.
Didn’t fuckin’ feel it. Agony raced down his spine, and Rain hit the button for pain relief.
“Did we win?” Shotgun demanded.
“Yeah, the city held. Fangs are either dead or locked up,” Rain answered.
“Hellfire, did we lose any?”
“No. The club came through intact, although some were wounded. RCPD have been literally wiped out.” Rain hesitated, and Shotgun felt fear grow. “We lost nearly all the Unwanted Bastards. Inglorious, Chill, and Razor survived. Nobody else.”
Shotgun stiffened. The loss of the cops was tragic, but the Unwanted Bastards MC? That was devastating. “Rage?” he forced out through stiff lips.
Rain looked to one side, and Shotgun braced. “The prospect, Grey, the former FBI guy, died. Calamity and Drake are critical. It’s touch and go with them both.”
“Fuck!” Shotgun yelled and punched the bed.
“The others have lost people, too. It’s a bloodbath out there. Bodies of allies, the Venomous Fangs. Idiotic fucking civilianswho wouldn’t listen and thought it was just a gang war. Hundreds, if not thousands, have died. If the Air Force base and National Guard hadn’t disobeyed orders, we’d have been slaughtered, and Fury would have the city.”
Shotgun closed his eyes. “There a list of the dead?”
“Yes. You don’t need…”
“Rain, read it.”
Shotgun lay there, helpless as he listened to the names Rain read out. He knew easily half of them, and it destroyed him. Too many good people had died. More were critically injured and could join the death list.
“Allegra, have you told her I’m here?”
Rain looked uncomfortable. “You should rest.”
“What aren’t you saying?” Shotgun demanded, instantly suspicious.
“Shotgun, you don’t need to know yet.”
