Page 67

“Same here. I heard Cut calling the O’Keeleys. They’re going to dispose of the body. Clean up the area.” The O’Keeleys were a group, or mob that we did a job for a year ago. Although we were paid handsomely, we developed a friendship during the time of their case. They said if we ever needed them, we could call. After what I did, I guess Cut thought we needed them.

“What about the others?” I open the refrigerator and pull out a bottle of water. Its night like this that I wish I could numb my mind with the intoxication of alcohol.

“Dyke made some calls. If they don’t talk then immigration won’t be brought in. They know the deal and they know what’s on the line if they open their mouths. I think we’re good.”

“What about the police? We turned the other girls over. You don’t think they’re going to ask questions. You don’t think Douglas’s family is going to ask questions?”

“You should have thought about that before you upped and killed the guy. I get the situation tonight wasn’t the best, but seriously. It’s like you totally zoned out.”

“How the hell would you even know? You had four dudes held up at gunpoint. I know your ass wasn’t watching what I was doing.”

“Bubba told us. He said you like checked out or some shit. You didn’t even flinch when you gutted him then raked your blade across that guy’s jugular.”

“He had it coming.” Fuck, I really don’t think he did. “No, he didn’t.” I admit. “I fucked up.”

“I heard what he said, Sin. I heard the way he was riling you up. I can’t stand here and say that I wouldn’t have done the exact thing if it had to do with someone I loved. You’re a protector. That’s what you do. That’s what you’ve always done. We all lose control sometimes.”

“You’re talking like I knocked him out or gave him a damn concussion, but I didn’t. I killed him because of his mouth. Because of the fact that he spoke truth tonight. Savannah will never be mine, not really. She may be for a while, but she’ll get tired of this life, of me. She’s going to wake up one day and see that this life isn’t for her or her kid.”

“Then change it.,” he says matter-of-factly.

“What do you mean change it?”

“Jesus, Sin. It’s the same shit everyone’s been telling you your whole life. You don’t like the club life, change it. You don’t like the military life, change it. You don’t like the way you think you’re going to end up, then fucking change it. How you grew up does not dictate who you will become. You’re almost thirty, man and you’re still living in so many shadows I’m surprised you don’t fucking burn when you walk into the sun. I love you, man. You’re my brother. We grew up together, but you see shit that isn’t there. You believe in shit that isn’t true and this is a prime example. She loves you, brother. She loves the man you are and the man you’re trying to be. She wouldn’t have stayed if she didn’t believe in you. But you need to let go of shit and convince yourself that you’re ready for the future and fuck the past.”

He pats me on the shoulder and leaves me in the kitchen with my thoughts.

*****

I wander through a room I’m not familiar with. The windows are open, blowing the white sheer curtains all around. I hear what sounds like the ocean off in the distance. The air is pungent with a citrusy smell, it’s very comforting. The further I step I begin to hear a faint whimper. The sound grows louder and then the whimper turns into a soft cry. Without warning, the curtains stop blowing and the room becomes dead silent. The ocean is no longer roaring off in the distance. The only thing I hear is a sniffle, then a sob.

“It’s about fucking time you got here.” I turn to the voice coming from behind me. That’s when I see them. Tyson Redding standing to the side of Savannah with a gun digging into her temple. There’s a little girl in a soft green dress sitting on her lap. She has a head full of deep rich brown hair. Her cheeks are rosy, and her brown eyes sparkle with recognition. I step closer and she begins to bounce, her giggles carry over to me and I feel like I’ve heard them before. “Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” Tyson asks stopping me from getting any closer. “I didn’t you tell you can move!” He presses the gun further into Savannah’s skull as a loud sob breaks from her throat. “I told you she’s mine. They both are. You can’t fucking have what’s fucking mine!” He screams.

“P–please,” Savannah begs. “Please let us go.”

“Not a fucking chance.” He bends down and licks the side of her face. He raises the butt of the gun and whacks her in the head with it. “Keep your fucking mouth shut.” Her eyes find mine and she mouths, ‘I’m sorry.’ A trickle of blood starts to drip from where he hit her. She shakes as she holds onto the little girl who now has fear etched on her face. Her little lip quivers as she tries to hold back her cries. Tyson presses the gun back to Savannah’s head making her flitch in pain.

“Go!” She screams as she pushes the little girl in my direction. I drop to my knees as she makes her way towards me.

“Chew!” She calls to me. The same name Sienna called me when she was little. I grab the little girl when she reaches my arms and squeeze just as I hear a gunshot ring through the air and I see Savannah’s body hit the ground.

The room goes black. I can no longer see Savannah and I no longer have the little girl in my arms. I hear the faint sound of the ocean coming towards me once again. The smell of fruit lingers in the air and I make my way to the roaring of the waves. I push through the door and enter a room. The sheer white curtains blow in the breeze, block my view of the room. I hear her cries. They’re coming from the corner. I turn and see the same scene as before. Tyson hold a gun to Savannah’s head. The little girl giggle and bouncing. “They’re both fucking mine. Mine, mine, mine.” He continues as she belts Savannah with the butt of the gun every time he says the word mine.

“Chew!” The little girl shouts as she jumps from Savannah’s limp body making her way towards me. I bend down to catch her as she throws her little frame at me. That’s when I hear it again; the ring of a gunshot only this time when the girl reaches me; her body falls in my arms with dead weight. Her vacant eyes peer back at me and the front of her dress turns red with blood.

The room goes black again. I hear my name being called. I hear the distress clog her throat. I walk in to the room, fully lit by the day’s sun. The fresh air wafts through, calming me in its wake. “Sin.” My name is called, but it’s not Savannah’s voice. It’s Sienna’s. I turn to see the two women I love more in this world tied to chairs with Tyson Redding in the middle. He has matching guns pointed to both their heads. Sienna is calm, her face giving nothing away. She always was a warrior, my eyes cut to Savannah. Her hands tied behind her back only extenuate the rounding of her protruding belly. Her body shakes, tears streak down her face. “Mine.” Tyson says. “They will always be mine. Mine to hurt, mine to control, mine to fuck.”

“No.” Reaching around my back, I pull the gun that’s been sitting in the band of my pants. I point it at Tyson and before he registers what’s happening I fire off a shot, hitting him directly in the forehead. Brain matter explodes as the girls scream in terror.

“Sin.” There's a hand on my shoulder rocking me. “Sin.” The voice gets louder. “Sin. Sin.”

I wake suddenly with the feel of Savannah’s hand on my shoulder. “Are you okay?” She asks.

I look around and see that I’m still in the kitchen. My back is stiff from falling asleep against the counter of the island. I stand to stretch my back, circling my neck to get the kinks out. “Yeah, sugar. I am now.”

“What happened tonight? You were there, and then you weren’t. You never came to bed.” She crosses her arms, tilting her head.

“I took advantage of you. I don’t want that. I never want that.”