Chapter Six. #2
Slut and whore were the favourite words bandied about around Allegra.
Shotgun now refused to attend the clubhouse unless it was for church, and he left straight after.
A widening rift was growing between him and the club due to the old ladies and their attitude.
Chance had tried talking to him, but Shotgun wasn’t willing to listen to old lady bullshit around Allegra.
He also worked in his workshop and refused to man his store.
He’d hired a manager for that. The old ladies couldn’t corner him with misguided bitching, and that was a relief.
Shotgun understood their viewpoint, but they didn’t have the full facts.
When they did, they’d be mortified and would try to make it up to Allegra.
Shotgun could stop the verbal attacks by coming clean, but his gut screamed it wasn’t the right time.
Any drama now would distract Hellfire’s focus away from where it was needed.
Shotgun realised he was needed at the club for planning meetings, but wouldn’t attend.
As soon as he set foot in there, one of the old ladies made a beeline for him.
He heard a rumble and glanced in his mirror and saw a Harley coming up fast. It wasn’t Hellfire; naturally, he recognised his own club.
The rider pulled alongside, and Shotgun offered a head tilt to Crunch, the VP of Satan’s Warriors.
Crunch pumped his fist, and Shotgun nodded again.
They rode together for a while before Crunch took the turning for Deadwood.
Shotgun held his fingers in the air and circled, and Crunch gave a salute. Heading for home, Shotgun stayed on the I90.
Shotgun – April 2023
“Venomous Fangs are riding,” Chance announced over the phone.
“Be there soon,” Shotgun confirmed.
He cut the call and turned to Rain.
Rain’s lips pursed.
“Time to leave,” Shotgun said, and Rain offered a curt nod. Unlike other family members, who’d been flown out, Rain would stay for a few nights at ENS Pharmaceuticals.
“You come back to me,” Rain hissed as he reached out and cupped Shotgun’s neck. Rain touched his forehead to Shotgun’s, and they stood there for a few seconds. There was no need for words.
“Do my best,” Shotgun replied.
He would. He’d do everything in his power to return to the family he was building.
And after this shit, he’d be telling the club, too.
Shotgun was done living life in the shadows.
If standing and fighting a war that wasn’t his, and protecting innocent strangers, didn’t show what type of man Shotgun was, fuck it. Hellfire didn’t deserve him.
“Fuckin’ love you,” Shotgun ground out. He put as much feeling as he could into it. He needed Rain to understand that he was Shotgun’s future.
“I know. If you don’t return—”
“Then look after Allegra.”
“Promise,” Rain swore.
There was a noise, and they turned.
Allegra stood staring with wide, watery eyes.
“Come here,” Shotgun ordered.
“You can’t go.”
“Baby, get over here,” he repeated.
“Shotgun, you can’t go.” Allegra shook her head.
“Allegra, I’ve got to. This is what I do. Protect people.” Shotgun didn’t need the fight now. He needed support.
“I’m pregnant. You can’t leave,” Allegra said.
Allegra
That was my last card to play. Shotgun couldn’t go out into a war, which might kill him. I selfishly didn’t care about the faceless others out there. I cared about Shotgun. Disappointment crossed Shotgun’s face, and Rain hissed.
“That’s low,” Shotgun murmured, holding my eyes.
“It’s the truth. You knocked me up.”
“No, you’re not. You’re saying that to force me to stay,” Shotgun fired back. There was anger in his eyes.
“Yeah, I am. I’m telling you I’m expecting and need you. You have to stay.”
“Honey,” Rain said, and I held up a hand and cut him off.
“No. Rain, don’t patronise and shush me. I’m fuckin’ pregnant. Make a choice: those faceless and nameless harmless people or your baby. Choose carefully, Shotgun.”
“We’ll speak when we get back,” Shotgun said, and my heart tore in two. He was still going. Putting strangers before me.
“You lied, you said you loved me.”
“I do, babe, but I’m not playing this bullshit game. If I don’t go, innocents will die. My brothers might die, so I’m leaving. Now come here and kiss me,” he ordered.
“No. Go.”
In agony, I turned and walked away.
“Allegra. Don’t make Shotgun leave without a kiss goodbye!” Rain called, appalled.
“Why not? Shotgun thinks he’s invincible; he can kiss me when he returns,” I retorted and headed to the bedroom. I grabbed the handles of the suitcases I had waiting.
“You’ve packed,” Shotgun said.
“I’m going on vacation for two weeks,” I replied. I walked past Shotgun, and he reached out and caught my arm. Shotgun’s eyes warmed as he stared into mine.
“You’re angry right now, baby. I understand. But I fuckin’ love you with everything I have.”
“No. You. Don’t,” I bit out. “Stay safe.”
“Speak to you later,” Shotgun stated, giving my arm a little shake.
“Yeah. Sure.”
I kept walking and put the cases in the vehicle. My laptop and camera equipment were already in there.
“Babe, I’ll drive you to the airport,” Rain offered
“No. I don’t want you to. Bye,” I said woodenly and climbed into the car. I noticed the concern on Rain’s face. He tapped on my window, and I wound it down.
“Hey, I love you.”
“Yeah. Just like Shotgun does. But not enough to make him stay. Goodbye,” I replied and drove away.
Shotgun and Rain stood staring after me. I didn’t stop, turn around, or run to them sobbing. My heart breaking in two, I kept heading out and didn’t look back.
Shotgun
“Fuck,” I cursed as agony raced through my body.
“You’re okay,” Rain soothed, and I forced my eyes open.
“Shot?”
“Yup. In the lower back, luckily, the bullet missed paralysing you and doing any major damage,” Rain replied.
Didn’t fuckin’ feel it. Agony raced down his spine, and Rain hit the button for pain relief.
“Did we win?” Shotgun demanded.
“Yeah, the city held. Fangs are either dead or locked up,” Rain answered.
“Hellfire, did we lose any?”
“No. The club came through intact, although some were wounded. RCPD have been literally wiped out.” Rain hesitated, and Shotgun felt fear grow. “We lost nearly all the Unwanted Bastards. Inglorious, Chill, and Razor survived. Nobody else.”
Shotgun stiffened. The loss of the cops was tragic, but the Unwanted Bastards MC? That was devastating. “Rage?” he forced out through stiff lips.
Rain looked to one side, and Shotgun braced. “The prospect, Grey, the former FBI guy, died. Calamity and Drake are critical. It’s touch and go with them both.”
“Fuck!” Shotgun yelled and punched the bed.
“The others have lost people, too. It’s a bloodbath out there.
Bodies of allies, the Venomous Fangs. Idiotic fucking civilians who wouldn’t listen and thought it was just a gang war.
Hundreds, if not thousands, have died. If the Air Force base and National Guard hadn’t disobeyed orders, we’d have been slaughtered, and Fury would have the city. ”
Shotgun closed his eyes. “There a list of the dead?”
“Yes. You don’t need…”
“Rain, read it.”
Shotgun lay there, helpless as he listened to the names Rain read out. He knew easily half of them, and it destroyed him. Too many good people had died. More were critically injured and could join the death list.
“Allegra, have you told her I’m here?”
Rain looked uncomfortable. “You should rest.”
“What aren’t you saying?” Shotgun demanded, instantly suspicious.
“Shotgun, you don’t need to know yet.”
“Is Allegra hurt?” Shotgun ordered, sitting up in bed, worried. Pain raced through him, and he regretted the movement.
“No. Allegra’s fine as far as I know.” Rain still avoided his eyes. Shotgun felt a sinking feeling. Whatever Rain was hiding was bad.
“Spit it out,” he ordered.
“I went home to grab some clothes when the call came in. In the bathroom were three…”
“What? Rain, what?”
He let out a breath… “Pregnancy tests. All positive.”
Shotgun paled and stared at Rain. “Allegra was telling the truth?”
“Yeah. There was a letter. Allegra’s gone.
She basically states that you prioritised Hellfire over her and the child.
That you didn’t believe her when she told the facts.
Allegra says she won’t accept being second best to Hellfire MC.
Shotgun, Allegra thinks you’d put the club before the baby, too. She stated… we’re finished.”
“Fuck!” Shotgun cursed and tried to get up.
Rain pushed him back down. “Stay in bed.”
“Rain, we need to find her.”
“It’s too late. We’ve no idea where Allegra’s gone,” Rain said.
“We’ll get people searching,” Shotgun replied.
“Allegra flew out privately, and from Italy, we’ve lost her completely. She’s off the grid, and the family won’t say where she is either. The entire family has warned us to stay away. They’re not interested in explanations,” Rain said, lowering his head to rub his neck.
“It’s not fuckin’ excuses.”
“Nana claimed we didn’t put Allegra first. That you had to play hero, and I backed you up. They’ve made it very clear: any goodwill we had is gone. They’ll protect Allegra until the day they die.”
Shotgun closed his eyes. Guilt raced through him. Allegra hadn’t lied. She’d told the truth, and he’d accused her of trying to manipulate him. He’d belittled her, and even when she’d sworn she was being honest, Shotgun had called Allegra a liar.
He’d badly fucked up.
“I’ll fix this,” he promised Rain. Rain held his gaze. There was so much hurt in them that it cut Shotgun deeply. Shotgun would find Allegra, bring her home, and make her realise she was the most important thing in their lives.