Chapter 8
EIGHT
PISTON
Crouched behind a rusty dumpster, my eyes lock onto the shadowy figure in the distance. Intel says that's the Russian rat who sold out the club. My fingers twitch, ready to pull the trigger and paint the alley with his brains.
But even now, with vengeance coursing through my veins, Jenny's face flickers in my mind. Her warm laugh, the way her eyes crinkle when she smiles at me. Damn it, focus Piston. You gotta do this and make it back to her in one piece.
I shake my head, trying to clear the image of Jenny's lips on mine. I'm doing this for her - for us. So we can ride off into the sunset without looking over our shoulders. The life I want to build with her, it ain't gonna happen if I don't take care of business here and now.
My jaw clenches as I steel myself for what needs to be done. The traitor's silhouette taunts me from afar. How many brothers did he send to early graves? How many old ladies became widows 'cause of his greed?
The weight of my anger settles in my gut like a lead ball. I can almost taste the coppery tang of blood in the air. Shi#, this is what I've been trained for. To be the club's avenging angel, dealing death to those who cross us.
But even as I line up my shot, Jenny's voice echoes in my head. "You're more than this life, Piston. You've got a good heart under all that leather and ink."
F@#$. I grit my teeth, torn between duty and desire. The future I want is so close I can almost touch it. Lazy mornings tangled in sheets, her head on my chest. Rides under open skies, just her arms wrapped around me.
I gotta survive this. For her. For us.
My grip tightens on my piece as I exhale slowly. One more scumbag to send straight to hell. Then I can hang up my cut and be the man Jenny believes I can be.
Just one more pull of the trigger.
One last drag of my cigarette, the cherry glow matching the red haze descending over my vision. The butt hisses as I crush it under my boot. It's now or never.
I prowl through the shadows, just another flicker in the dark underbelly of the city. The traitor's still oblivious, probably daydreaming about his cut from the Bratva. Greedy bastard.
Each step brings me closer, my breath slow and controlled. In, out. Just like they drilled into us in the Marines. Except this time, I'm not fighting for Uncle Sam. I'm fighting for my club. My family.
The traitor's just a few feet away now, his back turned. It'd be so easy to end it quickly, put a bullet in his skull and be done with it. But that's too good for him. He needs to feel the betrayal he dealt us.
I'm a whisper in the night as I close the distance, my knife already in my hand. The blade catches a glint of moonlight, and for a split second, I see Jenny's face reflected in the steel. Her eyes are full of hope, a promise of a future untainted by this life.
I hesitate, the knife hovering inches from the traitor's throat. Is this who I am? Is this who I want to be?
Jenny's words echo in my mind once more. "You're a good man, Piston. You've just lost your way."
Fuck. I can't do this. Not anymore.
The traitor startles as I step out of the shadows, my knife clattering to the ground. He whirls around, his eyes wide with fear and surprise.
"Piston? What the hell?"
I grab him by the collar, my face inches from his. "You've got one chance, asshole. One chance to make this right. You're gonna turn yourself in, confess to everything. And if you even think about running, I'll hunt you down myself."
He nods frantically, his bravado crumbling under my grip. "Okay, okay! I'll do it. Just... just let me go."
I shove him away, disgusted. He stumbles, his hands raised in surrender as he backs away.
I watch him disappear into the night, my heart pounding in my ears. It's over. I'm done.
I pull out my phone, my fingers trembling as I dial a number I know by heart.
"Jenny? It's me. I'm coming home."
Suddenly, all hell breaks loose. Shadows emerge from every corner, surrounding me in a heartbeat. Russians, at least half a dozen of them, armed to the teeth.
"Shit!" I curse, reaching for my gun. But they're too fast, too many. A fist slams into my jaw, sending me reeling. Another blow to my gut, and I double over, gasping for air.
I lash out, my instincts taking over. My knuckles connect with flesh and bone, earning a satisfying crunch. But it's not enough. They keep coming, an endless tide of fury and fists.
I'm grappling with a brute, his meaty hands wrapped around my throat. I drive my knee into his groin, and he howls in pain. I follow up with a headbutt, feeling his nose shatter against my forehead.
But there's no time to celebrate. Another one's on me, a flurry of blows raining down. I block what I can, but I'm taking hits. My ribs scream in protest, my vision blurring at the edges.
Through the haze of pain, Jenny's face flashes before my eyes. Her smile, her laughter, the way she looks at me like I'm the only man in the world. She's waiting for me, counting on me to make it back to her.
I can't let her down. I won't.
With a roar of defiance, I surge forward, throwing everything I have into the fight. I'm a whirlwind of fists and fury, my body moving on pure instinct and adrenaline. I take down one, then another, my knuckles splitting open against their faces.
But they just keep coming. For every one I drop, two more seem to take their place. My body is screaming, my lungs burning with each ragged breath. Blood drips into my eyes, but I blink it away, refusing to yield.
"Come on, you bastards!" I snarl, spitting blood. "Is that all you've got?"
They answer with a renewed assault, and I meet them head-on. I'm fighting for my life, for the chance to see Jenny again. To hold her in my arms and tell her that I love her.
That I'm done with this life, that I'm ready to start a new one with her.
But as the blows keep coming, as my body starts to falter, a sickening realization sets in.
I might not make it out of this alley alive.
My vision swims, darkness creeping in at the edges. I'm on my knees now, barely able to lift my arms to block the next blow. Pain explodes through my skull, and I taste blood on my tongue.
"Jenny..." Her name escapes my lips, a desperate prayer.
I see her face in my mind, that beautiful smile that lights up my world. I hear her laughter, feel her touch on my skin. She's the only thing keeping me tethered to this world, the only reason I'm still fighting.
But my body is betraying me. Each breath is agony, and I can feel my strength leaching away with every drop of blood. The world tilts, and I find myself on my back, staring up at the night sky.
The stars blur together, and for a moment, I swear I can see Jenny's face among them. She's crying, reaching out for me.
"I'm sorry, baby," I whisper, my voice barely audible over the ringing in my ears. "I tried..."
The darkness is closing in, and I know I don't have much time left. With a shaking hand, I reach into my pocket, my fingers closing around the small velvet box hidden there.
I was going to give it to her tonight, to ask her to be mine forever.
But now... now I'll never get the chance.
As my eyes drift shut, I cling to the image of her face, to the love that burns bright in my chest. Even in the end, she's my light in the darkness, my reason for everything.
"I love you, Jenny..."
The words die on my lips as the world fades away, and I slip into the waiting embrace of the void.
My fingers fumble for my phone, slick with blood. Vision blurring, I squint at the screen, searching for Dagger's number. He's my only hope now.
I punch the call button and press the phone to my ear. Each ring feels like an eternity. Come on, pick up, you bastard.
"Piston?" Dagger's gruff voice crackles through the speaker. "What's up, man?"
"Dagger..." I croak, my voice barely recognizable. "Need your help... ambush... dying..."
"Whoa, slow down. Where are you?"
I force the words out, giving him my location. "Hurry... don't think I'm gonna make it..."
"Hang tight, brother. I'm on my way. You hear me? Don't you dare die on me."
I let out a weak chuckle that turns into a cough, sending fresh waves of agony through my battered body. "No promises..."
"Shut up and focus on staying alive. I'll be there as soon as I can."
The call ends, and I let the phone slip from my grasp. It clatters to the ground, the sound distant and muffled.
I'm fading fast, the world around me growing hazy.