Chapter 25
Patch
Walking away from Anika was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Seeing the lost look in her eyes again almost killed me. I hated it the first time, and it was even worse the last time. And that will be the last time. I won’t leave her again after this.
My priorities have shifted since she’s been around. Even though I thought I didn’t want a life with her, with any woman for that matter, she made a place inside me. My life is all about her now. Making her happy, making her see that there’s a future that’s brighter than our pasts.
“You ready for this?” Kal asks as we kneel behind the bushes.
“I’m ready,” I tell him. “I don’t make it out of here, you keep her on track, brother.”
“You got it.” I nod my head as he motions for us to move. He called in backup from another club we’re friendly with, and now it’s time.
We creep up like a thief in the night. We move through the yard of their clubhouse in silence. Guns are drawn and ready. Anticipation hits harder with each beat of my heart.
Some of the guys move around back and the sides as the rest of us head for the front door. Tide is in front, ready to kick the door in on command. He glances back as we all shift into position, and Kal gives him a nod. I watch as Tide raises his leg and kicks the door down. Then we move.
Everything seems to move in slow motion. We enter the clubhouse, and shots are fired. People fall to the ground in a pool of blood. Adrenaline washes through me as I take in every one of these assholes until I see him. The main one who raped her. The one that made me rape her.
Anger surges inside me as I rush toward him, shoving my gun into my jeans. This is personal. I know I wanted to keep a few alive to torture, but seeing his face, I need him now.
I crash into him, sending us both tumbling to the floor. A few more shots are fired around us, but my focus is on him. I raise my fist and punch him in the face before he bucks his hips and sends me flying. Then he stands over me with a gun in his hand, aimed right at me.
Everything slowly flashes behind my eyes as he smirks at me. My life, my death. Anika.
“Fight me like a man,” I growl, spit flying from my lips.
“Like a man? More like an animal. After what you did to that poor girl,” he mocks. Anger surges in my veins. I fling my leg out, knocking him to the floor before I roll to get on top of him. His gun’s no longer in his hand when I punch him once more.
His hands find my throat and squeeze. He rolls us so that he’s on top now. I’m gasping, trying to suck air into my lungs, but it’s doing me no good. His grip is too tight. I grab his arms, trying to pry him off me as shades of black sneak into my vision.
“Die, you piece of shit,” he growls as he continues to choke me. Then I see her. The bandage around her wrist was lying on that bed. I see her face, the lost look in her eyes. The tears, the sadness. And something kicks me in the gut. She needs me.
I muster up my strength and manage to roll us again.
I slam my fist into his ribs, causing his grip to falter.
We fight for dominance when I feel it. Something stabs into my side, my chest, and I roar in pain.
Over and over, it goes in as I scream. I find his hand and wrestle the knife free before bringing it to his throat.
“You motherfucker!” I roar right before sliding the blade across his throat.
Blood sprays all over both of us as his hand comes to try to stop it.
It’s too late. It’s too deep. I roll off him and drop onto the floor, trying to catch my breath.
I glance around and see the commotion of the other guys.
There are a lot that are dead. Thankfully, none of our guys, though.
I shift and scoot back, shoving myself up against the wall as I hold my side.
“You good?”
“Fuckin’ stabbed me,” I tell Ban. He walks over and kneels in front of me.
“Let me see.” I move my hand, and he pulls my shirt up to check my wounds.
“Those are pretty deep. You’re losin’ a lot of blood, Patch.”
“I’m fine. Did you find Alan?”
“Yeah, he’s over there.”
“Bring him over here,” I tell him. I try to shove myself to my feet, but I’m weak. I know there’s a lot of blood oozing out of me, but I won’t stop until I know that motherfucker is dead too.
I pick up a gun lying close to me as the guys drag a kicking and screaming Alan toward me.
“Nice to see you, asshole,” I say as they set him on his knees in front of me. My head feels fuzzy, dizziness trying to take over me. I shake my head and refocus.
“This can wait, Patch,” Binker says as he looks at my now blood-covered shirt.
“No, it can’t. This ends now,” I tell them all. I raise the gun in my hand and notice the slight shakiness of my hand. I can feel the energy slowly slipping out of me, but I need to finish this.
“We need to get you help,” Kal roars as I move my gaze to his and back to Alan.
“You fucked her over. You caused her pain,” I say through the gasps for air.
“Fuck you!” he squeals. Then I pull the trigger. He goes down with a thud, and my arm drops to my side, suddenly feeling too heavy for me to hold up.
“Patch?” Kal asks as he moves toward me. I hear gunshots, knowing the guys are taking care of whoever is left of the Bad Ryders. A small smile tugs across my face.
“Patch?” Kal says again. I can feel my head lolling to the side now.
“You promised me, brother,” I say softly.
“You don’t get to do this, Patch!”
“You promised me,” I tell him once more as everything slowly slips away.