Chapter 18
Roux Cantrell
R oux Cantrell
Goliath
Bikes blast down the highway. We’re locked and loaded. Two of our own have a date with destiny, as the Reaper’s ready to collect more victims, and I’m willing to hand our traitors over into his waiting arms. In our world, you don’t betray the club. The brotherhood. The family. Twisting the throttle, I let the wind and road carry me forward.
We find a busy dockfront, not a desolate rundown warehouse as we’d been anticipating. Parking the bikes, my focus is on finding Wash and Rabbit to dole out their punishments. My entire body is electric. My skin’s crawling with it. Easing along the row of stacked cargo containers, I rest easy knowing Miller’s on my six. The warehouse is up ahead, so I raise my hand, signaling to Miller to keep his eyes peered.
A woman screaming has my body momentarily locking up; it’s an all-too-familiar voice. One I’d do anything for. “Goliath, Carlo’s here!”
My Alex.
She’s inside.
She’s not supposed to be here.
My worst nightmare is coming to life. She’s in trouble; I can sense it with the sharp twist in my gut. If I’m going to save my woman and our unborn child, I have to find a way inside, and fast.
My brothers came without even being asked. They could have easily hunted Wash and Rabbit down without getting involved with the Allegrini family. They didn’t have to accept Alex into the club family. Hell, the fact they voted me in as VP still had me floored.
My brow beads with sweat as I settle into my emotions. Signaling for Miller to follow me into the building, we’re stopped by gunfire. Scrambling back to avoid being shot, I feel pinned down.
“Goliath.”
Glancing at Miller, I look to where he’s pointing and find a set of stairs to our left that lead to a second-floor door. At least that’s what the sign on the door says. “Let’s go.” It’s a hard pill to swallow for me to backtrack any further away from the fight. My priority is Alex. Once she’s safe, I’ll finish things with Wash, Rabbit, and anyone else stupid enough to come for my woman.
We move quickly, staying low, and manage to make it to the stairwell. Miller gestures for me to go first, but it leaves him below, watching my back, and I don’t like not being able to protect him if needed. I don’t argue, though; this situation is too fucked up, and I have to get to Alex as quickly as possible.
Once I make it to the second-floor landing unscathed, I take in our surroundings, being sure to cover Miller in return. Easing open the door, I’m hit with a nauseating smell of oil and sea. My brother’s so close, I swear I can feel his breath on my neck. Before we go any further, I do a quick sweep and clear the area, making sure there are no more unexpected surprises. Across the open space, a bank of dirty windows lets in sunlight. They’re all open, allowing the stench to float inside, and the moisture in the air has my skin crawling. I signal for Miller to go left while I move to the right.
Keeping my bulk pressed against the wall as I shift within range, I spot Carlo. He’s standing over a motionless Dante. The door to my right opens with an unwanted surprise, and I have to bite my tongue to keep from cursing aloud.
As a soldier steps out, I slam the heel of my hand into his nose, crushing it. I swiftly follow my hit with a new blow to his neck and hear it snap. My adrenaline is insane at the moment, so I manage to catch the guy before he falls. The last thing I want is Carlo knowing we’re inside. Quietly, I lay the dead guy on the floor and shove him against the wall so he’s out of sight from anyone below. Motioning to Miller, I move along the catwalk, getting into a better position to take out Carlo. I can’t see Alex from my spot, and I don’t know who’s with her. This is not what I expected to deal with when I headed here for this fucked-up showdown.
I shift, adjusting until I’m finally able to see my little elf. My blood goes cold watching Enzo tie her to a chair. Witnessing the look on his face while he gazes up at her from between her spread thighs has my vision going red with rage. As I continue to take in the scene below, I realize my woman’s tougher than I initially gave her credit for. The fact that Enzo’s bleeding tells me Alex got a hit in. She’s my good little elf. Fuck, she has me so worried. I hate this shit.
Catching Miller’s eye, we use a few of our old hand signals to communicate what needs to be done. The way Enzo and Carlo are arguing below brings one word to mind.
Amateurs.
Abrupt shouting and new gunfire have everyone on edge as the sounds come from outside. My brothers who remained behind would take down anyone who attempts to escape this fucking dreadful building, along with anyone else standing in their way.
My mind’s already made up as I move my position again. Carlo and Enzo are going to die screaming. I should wait for the cavalry before rushing in; however, it just isn’t my style. I can’t hold off any longer, not with my woman and unborn baby in grave danger. After evaluating the situation, I’m counting on Miller to cover me.
Dropping onto a large crate, it’s a miscalculation on my part as my weight crushes the old wooden boxes. I feel the sting of the first bullet as I tumble out of the splintered wood. Half crawling, half running, I move behind another stack of barrels. Taking a chance, I peer around the barrels and see Enzo’s got Alex out of the chair and is using her as a human shield.
This motherfucker.
“Goliath, if you want Alex to walk out of here… alive , you’ll toss your gun out and then step into view.”
My eyes immediately shoot up to Prez, only to find him already shaking his head no. I hope he can read the emotion in my stare and know I appreciate everything he’s done for me. That I wish things could be different.
Tossing out my gun first, I move, holding my hands up and stepping into view.
Enzo appears a little too smug. He’s so sure of himself it makes me smirk. Come closer, pigeon. I can’t help but mockingly think, knowing he’s not a goddamn eagle. I’m ready, anticipating his movements when he finally reaches me. He’s surprised as I immediately yank him away from Alex.
It’s just in time too, as a bullet pierces his heart.
Another shot’s fired, except this time it’s not Miller. He’d fired the initial blast, which we needed to take out the threat. This time, it’s Alex.
I take my eyes off of her to stare down Carlo. He’s still holding his gun out as if he was going to shoot but was too slow. Deep red spreads across his crisp white dress shirt, and I watch as he first drops to his knees, then collapses face down onto the concrete floor.
Rushing for Alex, my first instinct is to make sure she’s okay, but she’s already yelling for me to check on Dante instead. She’s nuts; there’s no way I’m leaving her side. Ever. “Let me untie your hands. Miller’s checking on him.”
Before I can say anything else, her arms move around my neck, and her lips land on mine.
Thank Christ. I needed to have her against me, tucked safely to my chest before I could take a proper breath.
“God, I love you so much.”
Her words make me smile. Still, she’s in trouble, but that can wait until we’re home in bed. Then I’ll make sure she knows who makes the rules and who listens to them, no matter if I have to wear a Santa suit and spank it into her. I will. She’s far too important otherwise. “I love you back.”
Catching Miller’s eye for an update, he shakes his head no. Dante’s deceased. This will tear my sweet woman apart.
“Alex, baby, Dante…”
“He’s dead, isn’t he?”
“I’m sorry.”
I can’t help but peer down at Enzo. I thought he would always be by Alex’s side and that he’d eventually help her take her rightful throne. It looks like he’d been nothing but a placeholder until I showed up in my woman’s life. She keeps her head high as she stares me down, stealing my attention back on her. I’m looking into the eyes of my heart. I know it, and she knows it. Alex is endgame for me.
My elf’s the one and only.
“How did you know I was here?” she asks, peering up at me like I’ve hung the fucking moon, and it fills me with warmth all over.
“I didn’t. I came for Wash and Rabbit.”
Commotion behind us has me immediately glancing over my shoulder. It’s not Miller, but instead, it’s Rabbit. “Isn’t this sweet?” he comments with a smile too wide for his face.
Without hesitation, I shift Alex to the side and glower toward the man stepping into view. I watch the gun in Rabbit’s hand, as the man’s never been a great shot. Hell, he’s barely gotten his hands bloody from what all I’ve been told. Shifting a few feet over, I manage to put myself fully between Rabbit and Alex so he can’t hurt her. I don’t have any idea where Miller snuck off to. I’m betting on him coming around a corner somewhere to take this asshole out. “Carlo’s dead. Enzo’s dead. You got no one else, Rabbit.”
“I’ve got a backup plan.”
The one thing that being in prison taught me was to recognize a lie. And the dipshit pointing a gun at me is lying his ass off. I need to distract Rabbit. “Tell me about it,” I say, needing him to talk and buy some time.
“Why? So you can track me down once I escape?”
Just as I expect, Prez rises from behind Rabbit like the fucking Grim Reaper himself. The bastard blubbering on is clueless. Giving him a condescending wink, I eagerly watch as Miller puts the barrel of his gun against the man’s temple. The traitor offers up his gun without so much as a fight. It certainly won’t bring him an ounce of grace from any of us.
Especially me.
“Get your ol’ lady out of here, Goliath. You know where we’ll be when you get her taken care of,” Miller tells me.
For the first time in my life, I’m torn on what to do. Then I hear my woman telling me to go.
“Absolutely not. You need to leave, along with the Jokers. I won’t raise this baby alone while you sit your big ass behind bars.”
Parole is a real thing, and Alex understands that. If I go back in, I’m in for more than a dime.
She directs her attention to Prez, “If I’m going to take my place as head of the famiglia , I need to prove myself not only to me but to everyone else as well. Even Braxton needs to know who I’m willing to be. He may not like it, but he’ll have to learn to accept it at some point. I’ll call the cops once you’re all gone.” She holds her hand out, waiting for Miller to hand over his gun.
When he doesn’t move and looks to argue, she interrupts, embellishing, “Lawyer, remember? My fingerprints have to be on the murder weapon to sell the story to the cops.”
The surprise is evident on her face when he eventually hands it over with a nod. “I’ll be in the shadows watching,” he responds, not able to give up his control completely.
“No. You have business to take care of, and so do I.” Then she focuses back on me, her voice softer, yet still commanding. It’s sexy as fuck, not gonna lie. “This is our life now; we’re two sides to a coin. We live in a blended world with a blended family of mafia and MC.”
My attention shifts to the blood on her arm. There’s not a ton, but it’s enough to have me wanting to burn down the fucking world for seeing her harmed in any way. She has to be able to see the turmoil in my irises as I attempt to fight against my instincts.
“I’m fine. Now, go. Please, for me, for our baby.”
Miller is already gone by the time I get done kissing her and making her swear she’ll be careful. She talks about not wanting a life without me in it, but the feeling is mutual. After having her, I don’t think I could ever live with myself if something happened to her to steal her away from me. I’m confident Prez has taken Rabbit to the van. The brothers will secure him and wait for me to deal out his due since it’s my woman’s life that was on the line with this fucking mess. I relish the thought of beating the life out of his worthless hide. Still, I can’t leave Alex alone standing amongst the dead. Amongst the family she once trusted.
“You won’t be alone.”
“I know,” she confirms, watching as her Papá slowly makes his way to us. He’s lost plenty of blood given his ashy complexion. “Papá will be with me.”
Off to my right, I catch sight of Lorenzo making his way toward us. He’s been wounded but is still very much alive. He needs to suffer. “I’m glad you’ve still got him, but we will be having a talk tonight.”
“Later, when we’re alone. When this is behind us,” she whispers, going a little softer for me, making me want to cave to her. “Stay safe, my Santa. I love you more than the entire North Pole.”
She’s trying to lighten my worry with her words, but they’re no use. I’ll worry and fret over her and our baby for the rest of my life. Pulling her to me, I kiss her fast and hard before eventually letting her go. The sound of sirens far off in the distance tells me someone on the docks has already called the cops, and I’m officially out of time. “I love you,” I say one last time and send a nod to her father. If he doesn’t protect her, I’ll put a bullet in him myself.
Running for the door, I glance back to find Alex standing tall and proud. The light seeping in from a few of the closest dirt-covered windows makes her appear angelic.
She looks every bit of a true warrior.
A leader.
Yeah, my woman’s one badass little elf. A naughty one, but she’s all mine.
I lock eyes with her one last time as I get to the door. She offers me her smile, and it lights up my entire world, brighter than any Christmas tree ever could. I give her one back before disappearing from sight.