2. Arsen
two
Arsen
“Fuck! We shouldn’t have left them,” I scream, glancing back at the town that’s now an inferno of blazing heat. We barely managed to dive out of the way before the four of us got separated by the flames. Now we can’t even see them through the billowing black smoke.
“I know, but Ri will take care of our girl. They will be fine. Right now, we need to take cover and wait this out. There is no telling if our sperm donors are watching via a drone or something,” Cash pants out beside me as we make our way to the large rock cropping. I know he’s right, but we don’t know if the explosions were only part of our fathers plans. What if there is something else we are missing? Something important that could mean life or death.
Within minutes we reach the rocks and take cover. Quickly checking ourselves over for any injuries the adrenaline might have hidden. When we both seem to be in one piece, I remove my backpack and grab two waters, handing one to Cash as we catch our breaths. Taking a few drinks, I save the rest for later, knowing we could be waiting here all day.
Leaning my back against the rock wall, I check the area before finally slumping back. “So, now what?” I ask, already knowing what Cash is going to say.
Cash does the same, checking his side before taking a seat in the dirt, back to the rocks. “Now, we wait.”
We wait in silence for over an hour, the crackling of the town burning strong behind us and the wind stroking the ever-present flames, the only sound that’s heard. When the silence becomes too much, I finally ask a question that’s been weighing on my mind.
“Why now?”
Cash, who previously had his head tilted back resting against the rock, turns to me with a frown. “What?”
I roll my eyes because my question seemed pretty obvious. “Why are they trying to take us out now? Why not before? They could have made any of the jobs we went on look like a job gone sideways. So why wait for the games?” A frown tilts my own lips as I try to figure it all out.
Cash lets out a cold chuckle that has me snapping my head in his direction. “Now was the only time they could do it. It actually makes sense the more I think about it.” I cock a brow in question.
“Please explain it then.”
He scoffs before shaking his head like I’m the idiot. “Think about it. If we were taken out on a job gone sideways, their men would expect them to retaliate. Investigate who would dare make a move against the Hellfire Society. There would need to be blood for blood.”
It makes sense now that he says it out loud. “They could have just hired someone to do it. Someone outside the society.” Cash gives another scoff.
“They wouldn’t risk someone finding out that they turned on their own sons. Sons that are supposed to be taking the reins soon. No, killing us off during the trial makes more sense. It’s supposed to be a game of survival. If we don’t survive, we weren’t worthy of taking our family names in the first place. Most importantly, the trials are supposed to be a bloodbath and every man for himself.” He pauses for a moment before digging through his pack and pulling out two protein bars and handing me one. “No one would bat an eye if we were killed in the games, let alone question it. Most of the men that our fathers have sent in here after us have been hired guns by their own men. They don’t want it getting out that they are actively trying to kill us off.” Cash pauses again, this time to take a bite of his bar, so I do the same as I think over his words.
“What do they get out of all this?” I glance back over at Cash as he chews. “I mean, I get it. Us out of the picture means they can rule their fucked-up kingdom longer, but there has to be more, right?” There just has to be. Everything Cash just said makes sense, but something about all this and the lengths they are willing to go through are extreme. Honestly, they could have just asked us to wait to take over, and we probably would have. It’s not like we are chomping at the bit to become bosses. Plus, the three of us want to go more legit. We don’t want to have to fear the government or the FBI rushing our homes and businesses because they got some type of tip. Would we still be doing shady dealing? Yeah, probably. That’s where the money is after all, and it’s still a way of life for us, but we would find more legit ways to play the game of life. Plus, now we have Ali to think about.
Ali. I hope she and Riot are okay. Fuck. I know she’s a fighter and tough as hell just from the few days I’ve known her, but she didn’t ask for any of this. She might have let us fuck her senseless last night, but I’ve seen the fire in her eyes. She’s not a woman to be submissive. I wouldn’t put it past her to try to run from us the second she gets a clear chance. Honestly, she’s probably giving Riot a run for his money right now.
“So how long do you think it will take them to send in the final cleanup crew?” I ask, and Cash just shrugs.
“No idea. But I’m guessing it will be when the fire dies down so they can search for our bodies.” I nod, agreeing. “Get some rest while you can. I’ll take first watch. We don’t know who will show up, but we need to be ready for anything.” I nod again, knowing he has a point. So, I tilt my head back against the hard rock wall protecting us and close my eyes. I thought it would be harder to fall asleep, but within minutes I can feel my body and mind giving in. The last three days have been exhausting, but I can see the finish line within reach. With that, I allow sleep to take me.
H ours later, I’m on another watch hour. We had decided to only take an hour at a time to rest, needing to be ready at a moment’s notice. Now, the sun is setting beyond the horizon, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink. The earlier crackling of flames has now died down to almost nonexistent. The last few times we’ve checked, the fire had all but been extinguished. The town is nothing but ash and bits of brick rubble. Except on the far side of the large burnt space where a few buildings still stand. I’m guessing either someone forgot to plant bombs or maybe they somehow didn’t go off. Which could be lucky for us. We can use the area as a better hiding spot for when others start to come through.
“We should move. Find Riot and Ali to regroup. I’m sure we will be getting company in no time,” Cash calls out as he stands wiping off the dirt and grime from his pants. I do the same, not that it helps any. I haven’t showered in three days, and I’m sure I don’t smell the greatest after hanging out in this heat all day. Searching through our packs, Cash grabs a blade, while I pick up the bat I’ve been carrying around. Armed and ready, we step out from behind the rocks and move with quick feet towards the still-standing buildings. Remnants of the old town and thick ash threaten to suffocate us as we make our way through piles of burnt buildings. It’s crazy to think this place was once an actual town long ago. Then a playground for a killing game just three days ago. Now all that remains are the ash piles and long-forgotten memories.
We’re halfway through the town and to the less destroyed area when the sound of vehicles approaching is heard. Following that sound, a set of rushing footsteps comes from behind us. In an instant, Cash and I are spinning on our heels, Cash’s blade raised at the ready and my bat already swinging up for the attack.
“It’s me, assholes!” Riot whisper shouts, hands raised and ready to block. The bat I was ready to release drops to my side, and my shoulders drop in relief. Thank fuck they’re okay. But as I think that my eyes take in one of the men, I call my brothers. Riot looks rough. His body is bruised, with scrapes and small burns covering most of his exposed skin. I mean, I’ve seen the man bloody before, but he is usually covered in someone else’s blood, not his own. Even his grey sweatpants have seen better days. They’re a little more than a scrap of shredded fabric.
“What the fuck happened to you?” I ask, but Cash’s question at the same time catches my attention more.
“Where is she?” his voice is cold, not unusual, but there’s an undertone of worry or panic that I’ve never heard before from Cash.
That’s when I look beyond Riot’s form, realizing the she in question is nowhere in sight. Did he leave her somewhere? Did something happen to her? There’s no way she would miss the finale.
Riot shakes his head, his eyes wild as he looks around. “I don’t know, man. After we got separated, we ran, but Ali tripped. We were between buildings when the next explosion went off. I went flying, then everything went hazy. I swear I heard her before I blacked out. I woke up a few minutes ago behind a couple of rocks. She must have dragged me there herself, but there’s no sign of her.” We all take in his words for a moment before I ask a serious question.
“Could she have taken the chance to run?” I look between Cash and Riot for their reaction. Cash doesn’t give anything away, but Riot immediately starts shaking her head.
“No. Something shifted after last night. She isn’t running. She’s my wife now.” His words are confident, like he knows for a fact she wouldn’t run, but we barely know her. Just because he thinks she’s his soulmate and married her without her consent doesn’t mean she wouldn’t still take the chance to get away from us and all this.
Cash is next to speak. “It’s possible. Which means she’s out of danger for now. She’s smart and resourceful. If anyone can make it out of here on their own, it would be her.” He gives Riot a look not to argue before continuing on. “Right now, we have bigger problems.” At his words we hear what he’s talking about. Doors slamming and footsteps pounding the dirt in the distance. “We need to move. Find an area to defend. Whatever happens, we are leaving in one of those vehicles.” We all nod in agreement before moving into the shadows.
And just like that, we move as one, trusting each other with our lives. I can’t wait to see our fathers’ faces when they realize their plan for tonight is about to backfire.