Chapter 23
twenty-three
Regret weaves its way into my bones. I know I shouldn’t be here alone.
I should’ve asked for the help I know I need, the help I know my friends would’ve given me.
But it’s too late to turn around now. I wait several long seconds parked on the shoulder across the street from the warehouse Cooper told me about.
The Renegade’s colors hang from a post next to the unassuming entrance sign.
I’m sure they’re running coke out of this place.
Coke or guns, it’s always been one or the other when Cooper is involved.
Sometimes I’m embarrassed to think I ever loved him, but we all grow up and let go of our girlish ideals at some point.
When someone shows you who they are, I’ve learned it’s always best to just believe them.
Taking a deep breath, I pull through the open gate.
The grounds are dim, only a few exterior lights on the corners keeping it from total darkness out here.
Three bikes sit parked towards the back corner of the building, and a thought finally occurs to me.
How did I not consider he wouldn’t be here alone?
Did I really think he was going to show up all by himself when he’s been nothing but a fucking coward since the day I met him?
I had a slim chance at the upper hand when it was just me against Cooper.
But three on one? I don’t think those odds work in my favor.
“Fuck!” I shout, leaning my head against the steering wheel. Ultimately, it changes nothing. If I don’t go in there now, they will come for my son. And I can’t have these people anywhere near our home.
“Just me, a Glock, and the sheer audacity to hope this doesn’t go horribly wrong.” I tell myself, scoffing at my ability to make light of this fucked up situation.
A put on my big girl pants and get out of the Bronco, tucking the Glock into the back of my jean shorts and covering it.
Walking to the door, my heart pounds against my ribs so hard I’m sure they’ll crack.
My fist pounds against the door before I can stop it, and surprise nearly knocks me on my ass when it opens.
“Megan?! What the hell are you doing here?!” I ask, rearing back in shock.
“Hello to you too, Lily.” She replies with a sneer.
“What the fuck is going on here?” I question, and she just smirks.
“Isn’t it obvious? Catch up, sweetie.” Megan says, laughing drying at me.
“Let her in,” Cooper’s voice sounds from somewhere inside the building, and she moves aside.
Walking into the space, I see pallets on one side of the room.
Silver packages wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and stacked high on each one.
Cocaine, I should’ve known. Cooper stands in the middle of the warehouse, flanked by two men I know well.
Slade, his best friend since we were kids and his right hand man in the Renegades, stands to his right.
Dex, the one man I would never have guessed would get into something like this, stands to his left.
Dex and Allie were the only people I truly hated leaving behind when I ran.
Was I wrong about them this whole time? Is my judgement truly that flawed?
“Lily, so good to see you again. Despite everything you’ve done to fuck up your hair and your body,” Cooper digs, and I see Dex wince next to him. Megan sidles up next to Cooper, and he wraps an arm around her waist. There’s no stopping the laughter that bubbles out of me.
“Oh god, this is just too good,” I say, laughing so hard I have to work to breathe. “Her? This was your plan to spy on me? Megan?”
“Shut up, bitch. Our relationship didn’t have anything to do with you! Cooper loves me!” Megan snaps, and Slade snorts out a laugh before coughing to cover it up.
“So it was you who took the money from the shop?” I ask, and she just smirks, all the answer I need. “Of course. Couldn’t earn it like an honest man, could you, Coop?”
“The money was just to get your attention. I was really hoping they would see through your bullshit innocent act and blame you. That would’ve been a much easier way to separate you from your friends. Where’s my son, Lily?” Cooper asks, his voice cold.
“Anywhere but here, Cooper. Next question?” I spit back, knowing my attitude was always my downfall with him.
“I told you there would be consequences if you didn’t listen to me, you stupid cunt. Where the fuck is he? I will kill every single person in the bumfuck town you call a home.” Cooper shoves Megan away, stepping towards me.
“What? You said she wanted to come home, Cooper. You said we were here to bring her and Jax both back.” Dex asks, the truth finally making some sense.
“Oh, is that what he said? Tell me, did he tell you I left him all alone, and he was so heartbroken over it? Maybe something worse like I ran off with another man?” I ask, and Slade’s eyebrows shoot up. Bingo.
“Shut your mouth, Lily. Our business is our business.” Cooper’s control is slowly slipping as he moves more erratically.
“What do you mean, bring her home? You said we were gonna be a family, Coop. You said I was the only one you wanted.” Megan whines, and I choke out a laugh.
Without warning, Cooper pulls a gun from behind his back and points it straight at me. I take the smallest step back, but I refuse to cower to him ever again.
“Did he tell you that the night I left he beat me so severely I have permanent nerve damage in my shoulders from falling on broken glass? That I couldn’t take a fucking deep breath for nearly a year without my ribs aching?
Or that it took SIX FUCKING MONTHS for my broken cheekbone to heal?
! Did he tell you that, huh? Why the fuck would I ever come back to you?
You threatened my child, Cooper. And I love him more than I ever feared you.
So yeah, I left. And I’ll be cold and fucking dead before you ever sink your poisonous claws into him.
” I shout, seeing the confusion and regret on Dex and Slade’s faces.
They had no idea why they were backing him up tonight. This is where blind loyalty gets you.
“I didn’t sign up for this, Cooper. This isn’t what we agreed to.” Dex says, giving me an apologetic look.
“You do whatever the fuck I tell you to do! Your ass belongs to me!” Cooper yells, and Slade flinches. He’s never been the order-taking type, even when we were kids.
“Yeah, I don’t think so, Coop. We all knew you knocked Lily around, and we should’ve spoken up then.
And for that, I’m sorry, Lil. But I won’t be a part of this, Cooper.
You’re talking kidnapping and murder, and I’m not interested in spending the rest of my life behind bars for your stupid ass,” Slade says, walking out the door.
I hear the rumble of his motorcycle outside, and I laugh.
“Fuck him, we don’t need him,” Cooper says, the hand pointing the gun at me shaking with its weight. He’s strung out as usual. Unfortunately, that makes him even more dangerous.
“I’m not sure who this we is, Cooper. I told you I would help you because I love Lily.
Allie and I told her to stay far away from you from day one, but we couldn’t save her.
I think you need to just put that gun down and get the fuck out of here.
You’re obviously not gonna get what you want here.
You definitely don’t deserve to know that boy of yours.
Seems like it would be better for everyone, and for the Renegades, if you took your piece of trailer trash here and just disappeared.
” Dex says, motioning to Megan. Cooper laughs maniacally, scratching his head with the barrel of the gun.
“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to, old man?” Cooper shouts, turning around and shooting Dex in the leg.
The man drops to the floor, grabbing his leg as a stream of cuss words falls from his lips.
Megan screams, falling to the ground and covering her head.
I take the opportunity while his back is turned to shove him as hard as I can.
His chest hits the ground, the gun clattering on the concrete and sliding under one of the large pallets.
I pull the pistol from my back, aiming straight at Cooper’s chest. For the first time in my life, I’ve got Cooper exactly when he always had me. At his mercy.
“Don’t you dare fucking move, you son of a bitch.” I tell him, my finger hovering over the trigger. He laughs loudly, rolling over and pushing up on his elbows.
“What are you gonna do, Lil? Kill me? You don’t have it in you.” Cooper jabs, and I fire a shot into the pallet of cocaine behind him. He cowers down, never expecting me to even pull the trigger. “Jesus fuck, you crazy bitch!”
The sound of the door opening behind me distracts me for only a moment, but that’s all it takes for all hell to break loose again.