16. Someone Always Dies
Someone Always Dies
Amity
I ’ve already heard the communication amongst the driver and Gage that roads are starting to be blocked off. Part of me is pissed at my friends for not letting me see this through, but the other half knows I would have done the same damn thing. God loving pineapples, if I make it out of this alive, please let Blake forgive me. Gage is yelling at his driver to take certain turns to avoid barricades.
Then I hear him on the phone with someone else. “Frank, I need you to touchdown in the pasture at mile marker fifty-six. Sending you the coordinates now…I don’t give a fuck about your license, you work for me asshole. The only person you should worry about pissing off is ME!” he screams, then hangs up, slamming his phone down on the seat.
“I can’t believe I let some little bitch trick me into this shit.” Is he talking about me? He must be. A punch to the arm, then slap across my face gives me confirmation. I dare not look his way or move to hold the throbbing pain in my upper arm or sting on my face. “I was so hell bent on getting to you, I lost sight of what you could be up to. Though my team was supposed to have all this handled in case your sneaky ass was up to no good.”
“I swear, Gage, I did not try to pull one over on you. No one knew I left the house tonight. They must have contacted someone that might have seen me tonight.”
“Too late now, wildflower; revenge will be mine once we get out of here.”
“Please, no, Gage. Just let them all be. You have what you want.”
“Do I? Do I really, Amity?” he asks condescendingly. From that point on, I knew both of us were in a race against time.
* * *
Blake
Took us over thirty minutes to get downtown and to Paramour in the midst of traffic and all the mess with the barricades. Two of the four escalades have been detained, but neither had Amity or willing to give up her whereabouts. When we pull into Paramour, I scan the parking lot for her black Duramax until I spot it. I rush over for any sign of a hint or just something I can grasp on to, to know she is okay. I quickly spot an envelope on her dash with my name written across it, followed by noticing she left her doors unlocked. Amity knew I would come for her sooner than later. I grab the letter and head back over to Detective Barge and crew.
“We have eyes in the sky on the last vehicles. We also got word that a helicopter with no flight plan is hovering over a field off Chamberlin Road.”
“What the hell are we waiting for? That’s for them. I know it.” He gives me a pensive look but proceeds behind me to his car. Once in, I open the letter and read as he drives. Vomit gets stuck in the back of my throat as I read on.
Blake,
I hope one day you find enough peace with all of this to forgive me. My promise to you during my absence is to fight like hell to return to you, but in the instance I never make it home, please know I did this for us, for you, for our friends and family. They all need you way more than my toxic self, and if giving Gage what he wants protects all those that I love, honestly, I could care less what happens to me. You made me see a brighter future full of love I thought I never deserved. So please do not come looking for me. Move on and pursue your best life without a thought toward me. I will be fine, I promise. In the event a year passes without my return, all my assets have been split equally amongst Willa, Tilly, Lana, my parents, and you. I’ve enclosed my lawyer's card to contact him when the time comes. Also, he will continue to pay for Nevada’s board at the Crenshaw ranch. My utilities are cut off in my absence, but he will sell my apartment at the year mark as well. I’ve taken an extended leave from work with a temporary replacement, who can become permanent if needed. My rings are tucked away in an envelope in your nightstand. As you can sense now, I have been planning on this for a while. I wish I could have been in your bed, made love to you, and fallen asleep in your arms one more time as these months have not been kind to us. But please know, you will always have my heart. No other has a heart like mine but you.
I love you.
Always and Infinity,
Amity
The notion that I have not sobbed since I was a little kid is not lost on me. Amity has completely shattered me, and I am unsure how to process these bittersweet emotions. To be so loved by someone they are willing to risk their own self, but to know you are obsessively in love with them to do the same. I feel a sharp punch to my arm. “What the hell?”
“I’ve been hollering your name for damn near five minutes, Blake. I need to know you're prepared for all hellfire as we are about to pull in.” My eyes roll in the back of my head, dragging my palm roughly down my face. Reality settling in that I can still get my girl back. This isn’t over until it’s over. Opening the door to step out, I’m stopped. “Whoa, cowboy, meet me at the trunk before you take off and get yourself killed.” I step out to see Nash and the girls behind him.
Detective tosses me a vest to put on. “Is this going to save me if he aims for my head?”
“You Holdings boys are a bunch of smartasses, aren’t yah? No, it will not. Eight out of ten times in long range shots, the bullet will hit the region your vest covers, which is exactly where you will be. Away from the scene, but close enough I can keep an eye on yah.”
“Whatever you say man, let's just get my girl back.” He pats me on the back, and Nash gives me a salute. I take in the scene in front of me through the pitch black. There are several police cars lined up on the north side of the field, but everyone has their lights out, and we wait. Twenty minutes go by when we finally hear the helicopter coming from the backend to get closer to the road. Just then, an Escalade pulls up quickly, but they seem to take their time getting out. Before we know it, shots are firing behind us, and we all throw down for cover. My eyes never once left the SUV, and I soon see the driver walk around, opening the passenger side door. My heart stops once I see Amity, but soon follows is a gun to her back held by Gage.
The helicopter has just landed, pushing dust and wind in our direction. I nudge Barge, though he is already calling in to move in stealthy. All the sudden the cop cars flip their blinding lights on in the direction of the helicopter, and the helicopter is circled with officers ready to shoot. Amid the chaos, I hear “Holdings” being shouted. It only took me a few seconds to notice the voice is coming from the man I loathe. I stand up and begin to walk closer, with Barge and Nash at my back.
“Holdings. Good to officially meet you, man. Too bad it’s over this slut.” He laughs like an evil clown. I grit my teeth, waiting for the next punchline. Walking closer, I easily catch the fear washed over Amity's face so I give her a wink to reassure her she will be fine. “You need to let us leave and not follow. Or do you want her dead if you can’t have her?” He tightens his grip on her arm, sliding the barrel of the gun down her cheek and neck, taunting her with her own death.
“As long as she’s alive and happy, I don’t care who she is with. That is what real love means. Giving the other all of you with no expectation in return. Not the sick shit you try to push on her.”
“Don’t provoke him, Blake,” Barge whispers behind me. I flip him the finger, letting him know I am over this bullshit game.
“What do you want, Gage? We know it’s not her. She is just an object to you.”
“An object in my possession, might I remind you, Holdings. Maybe I just need to put us both out of misery and kill her now. How does this worthless whore have two men who can have any pussy in the world but drooling for hers.”
I hear the click of the safety and shout, “NO,” rushing toward her, only to be toppled to the ground with Nash on top of me. Guns fire in every direction. I look up to see blood splattered all over Amity’s body, eyes wide as she goes down with Gage. Nash is still pressing me down in the ground until everyone ceases fire. I finally get my arm unlocked from his hold and elbow him in the nose. With his release, I rush to Amity’s side, pulling her body to mine. Blood is everywhere, death fills the air as I rock her back and forth, screaming and cursing God for all he is worth. Tears blur my eyes until I can no longer see.