Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
TAYA
Stepping out of my shower, I dry off and dress in a pair of black cutoffs and a pink T-shirt. My hair is thrown up in a messy bun, and my boots are on my feet.
With my phone in hand, I leave my house and march up to the main house to hash shit out with my father.
Both anger and heartache have fueled me since I overheard what was said about Smoke’s intentions. There has been no communication from him for hours, and for that I am grateful but equally pissed that he has not reached out to find out why I left.
My brothers see me coming with smiles on their faces, before they see the rage on my face.
“What’s wrong?” Carson asks me.
“Where is Dad?” I march past them both.
“In the kitchen,” is called behind me.
My heart is racing in my chest; I am shocked that you can’t see my T-shirt move with how hard it is beating. My palms are sweating, and my skin feels like it is on fire. I am that angry and hurt.
I know that my father loves me, as do my brothers, but for them to meddle in my love life like this, especially when they know that I like Smoke, and to use that to their advantage is what hurts the most.
“Why, Daddy?” I blurt out, entering the kitchen.
He looks up from his paper.
“Why what? What is going on?”
“You asked the club to step in and protect me after the visit from Evander?”
His aged face gives nothing away; he simply folds his paper, laying it on the table, giving me his full attention. He breathes in a heavy sigh, settling back in his seat. My brothers enter the room, taking seats at the same table as my father.
“When Winston told me what happened with that rich fucker, I lost ten years off my life, honey. Me, your brothers, and the guys can’t be around you all of the time.” He sighs. “I thought that if you had extra protection, I could breathe easier, and we could send a message to Evander that you were off-limits, being linked to the club.”
“But why Smoke? Why have him fake date me?” My blood heats up, my voice rising in anger. “You knew how I felt about him. You used my feelings against me.”
“What was he supposed to do, Tay? Would you have let the club have a member watch over you? No, you are as stubborn as a fucking mule. Dad had to do something,” Corbin jumps in.
“He could have fucking asked me. What happened that day fucking scared me, you twat. Speaking to me and making me see reason, I might have let the club help, but instead, you all went behind my back.” My voice cracks.
“I am sorry, baby girl. I should have come to you, but when you have kids of your own, a daughter, you will know why I did what I did.”
Leaning against the wall behind me, I sigh, my chest still heaving, and my anger slowly dissipates.
“He fucking used me. He used this situation to get me into his bed.” I scoff, pain radiating through my chest. “I should have fucking known better than to go along with it, but he is fucking smooth,” I murmur, brushing a stray tear way.
Corbin scoffs, folding his arms across his wide chest.
“Sis, if you think that man used this situation to sleep with you then you are fucking delusional. He has had the hots for you for years, but you never seemed to give him the time of day. That is why he fucks everything that moves,” he counters, making my eyes go wide.
“What? No.” I shake my head, standing up straight.
My father goes to add something, but the loud crashing sound from the front of the house stops him.
We all go running, my brothers beating me to the front door, and as soon as it swings open, shot are fired. A bullet whizzes past my head, embedding in the wall next to me. I duck down when I hear men shouting.
I hear my father yelling, telling me to get back inside of the house, but I move toward the closet next to the front door and pull out the rifle that we store there. Stepping outside, I see three blacked-out SUVs.
“Ahhhh.” I see Corbin go down, but he shoots one guy right in the chest.
Rushing to him, I see that he got shot in the side, just below his ribs.
“You should be inside.” He grunts as I pull him behind the fence.
I look over and see men in suits coming from the direction of the three vehicles, my father and brother aiming their guns at them, shooting. Some fall to the ground, others get hit but keep coming.
There are fifteen men from what I can count, all jacked up with weapons.
“FUCK,” I hear Jesper call out. “I’m hit.” My heart is racing, trying to escape out of my chest and run away.
“Stay down,” my father calls.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I dial the one person I know will come to help us.
“Taya, what can I do for you?” Tote’s voice comes through the device.
“Men came onto the farm. Shooting at us. We need help, we are outnumbered,” I scramble to say, breathlessly.
“FUCK. We are on our way, sweetheart. Hang in there.” He hangs up, and I drop my phone, moving to the side. I take aim with my rifle and shoot at the closest fucker who is firing.
I hit him in the chest, and he goes down, then I aim and get the brute in the head. Take that, you prick.
“To the left,” Corbin says.
I look to where he is directing and see one guy walking over to a downed Jesper, gun raised.
“Not today, cunt.” I fire, hitting him in the back.
Jesper looks in my direction and nods, before he scrambles to his feet, running toward the barn where four men are walking.
I chamber the next round and aiming at another man, I shoot and hit him, taking him down.
Scanning the area, I look around, not seeing my father or Carson.
“Where did Dad and Carson go?” I ask my brother.
“No clue. They took off when I started shooting.” Corbin looks pale, his skin covered in sweat.
Blood seeps through his fingers, and I fear the worst.
“You do not die on me, Corbin, do you hear me?” I sob.
“I’ll t-try, baby Sis.” His breathing is labored.
It is as if hours pass before I hear a voice shouting that we are all clear.
Dropping my gun, I see Jesper and Winston, along with two other farm hands step out of the barn. Seeing the carnage that now litters my land, my heart feels numb.
I killed today.
Never have I taken a life before, and I am not sure how I am supposed to handle that.
“Go round up the bodies. The pigs are going to eat lavishly after this,” Winston comments.
“Taya, are you hurt?” he calls to me.
“N-no, but Corbin is. He needs to go to the hospital.”
“I will have a doc brought here. Can’t take him to the hospital, sweetheart. Gunshot wounds need to be reported. We need to get rid of these bodies without the police knowing,” Jesper says, holding his arm.
“He will fucking die. Call 911.” I scramble to look around for my phone but do not see it.
Fuck. I cry harder, my stomach twisting so tight I might vomit.
Dirt, blood, and sweat cover my body as I lean over my unconscious brother.
“Do not leave me, Corbs. You can’t leave us.” I check his pulse, and it is there, thankfully.
“Taya.” Hearing my name, I look up.
Carson walks toward us, blood running down the arm that dangles at his side. Tears streak his dirty face, and the pain that shines from his eyes is enough to tell me what I do not want to hear.
“No,” I whimper while my heart stops dead in my chest.
“It was quick. The guy came out of nowhere.”
“No. Don’t. Do not tell me that Daddy is gone. I won’t hear it, Carson. Please,” I beg between sobs.
He comes to my side, his knees buckling next to me. Wrapping his good arm around me, he kisses my head, sobbing with me.
“Daddy is gone, baby girl.”
The words he says, uttered as a painful whisper, break my soul.
I will never be the same again. My daddy is gone.
At the sound of motorcycle pipes getting louder, my world goes black.