Chapter 31
CLUTCH - I ALMOST MISSED IT
Razor looked like he was debating something, like he had a war going on inside him with how to proceed with his sick little game.
This whole situation was eating at me; I could only imagine what it was doing to Four, Cal, Dani, Marisol, Axel and Carmen.
I heard murmurs and then someone walking up beside me. I assumed it was one of my brothers until I heard Cypher shout, “What are you doing, Meg?”
Meg stepped into my view beside me, letting out a huff, “Are you seriously telling me you don’t know who that is?”
Cypher was moving across the clubhouse, laser-focused on Meg.
“Don’t bother, Cypher. I know how this goes.”
Razor did not look pleased when Meg turned to him, motioning her hand in a ‘let's get this moving’ motion. When he didn’t pull off the bag or move, just stood there glaring at her, Meg huffed, turning to Cypher who was coming up beside her, “You are seriously far too smart to be this stupid.”
The room was silent until Meg said, “It’s Lacey,” just as Razor ripped the bag off and scowled at Meg for apparently ruining his fun.
I would have laughed at his reaction if this wasn’t a life or death situation. He all but stomped his foot and pouted, like a deranged toddler.
Cypher looked at Lacey and then back at Meg, “I don’t understand why? She doesn’t mean anything. I told you that.”
Razor grabbed Lacey by the throat, shaking the girl, growling “I knew you overplayed your importance.”
Lacey tried to turn her head, but Razor was holding her tight. Her eyes glistened as she whimpered, “Cypher, what about everything we shared? What about how you told me it was so easy to be with me, that I understood you like Meg couldn’t because she was just a stupid baker.”
Cypher paled and then looked furious, “I… that isn’t what…”
But Meg cut him off with a laugh and a sad smile on her face.
He turned to her with a pleading look on his face. “I swear that isn’t true; there is nothing between us. I was just trying to help her… she said…”
Meg cut him off, throwing her hand in his face, “Oh, I know. She sold you a sob story about needing to support her family, her mom and sister. She told you that Razor threatened her family if she didn’t comply with everything he forced her to do.”
Cypher looked shocked, but Meg wasn’t done. “But she was lying, and you fell for her sweet little tears. You fell for her…”
Cypher stepped right into Meg, “No… fuck that, Meg. I didn’t fall for her.”
Lacey whimpered, “Cypher, please, he’s going to kill me or.. or worse.”
But Cypher’s eyes didn’t leave Meg. “I swear, I know you are mad at me. I know I broke your trust. I know I fucked up. But I have never loved anyone but you, never fallen for anyone but you.”
Meg looked away from him, and I noticed Dani’s eyes were on Meg now and not Four.
What… wait…
Meg nodded; it was so subtle that I almost missed it and then she turned to Cypher, stepped into him and hugged him. He looked so shocked, but the tension that he was holding seemed to release a little, until something shifted in his face and he looked down at Meg as she stepped back from him.
She looked into his eyes for a moment and then said, “I don’t know if I believe you, but I guess we will see.”
Razor huffed, “Will you shut the fuck up and let me get to the…”
Before he could finish his sentence Meg shifted and held up a gun, firing as soon as it was lined up. She didn’t hesitate and I don’t think she missed.
Lacey dropped, her weight pulling Razor forward, as all chaos broke loose.
The man holding Dani screamed as he dropped to the ground and then she was moving.
I took that as my cue to join in and drew my gun moving forward taking out anyone in my line of sight.
I heard Axel grunt and saw him drop to his knees, but then everything stopped as Marisol stood blood splattered over her, gun held in both her shaky hands pointed right at Razor.
Only five of his eleven men were left standing and they all backed up, unsure of what to do next, now that they were definitely outnumbered and Razor had a gun pointed at his head.
Razor smiled, “Marisol, sweet girl. You look so brave and tough right now don’t you…” he all but cooed at her,” Let me share a little tidbit of information for you. What Clutch hasn’t pieced together fully yet.”
Axel tried to sit up but he groaned in pain and laid back down on the ground at Marisol’s feet.
“What do you think you should do Marisol? Shoot me? Or help your baby daddy?”
Marisol was shaking so hard, Razor made to move towards her but Meg held up her gun in his direction, with one shaky hand. I looked at her and noticed she had her left arm wrapped around her middle, her hand clamped onto her side. But she moved toward Razor, “Don’t fucking move, asshole.”
Blood was staining the side of her shirt, and dripping over her fingers. Cypher was staring at her in shock, horror written over his face. “Meg...” He whispered.
She didn’t look in his direction, didn’t react. She was solely focused on Razor and everyone else was focused on her. Until I saw a slight movement behind Razor and caught one of his men aiming his gun at Meg, I moved without thinking, diving for her, shooting at the same time he did.
Shots went off all around us, hot searing pain lanced through my left pec and shoulder.
I tried to push some of my weight off of Meg, but my hand kept on slipping and I didn’t want to expose her.
So I held steady over her until the final shot was fired, I waited listening for any indication of what exactly happened.
I felt someone grab my arm to pull me off of Meg, but I fought until I heard Four, “It’s ok brother.”
I rolled to my back, giving her space, breathing hard, she turned her face to me, she looked so pale and she gave me a weak smile, and a soft “Thank you.”.
I looked up and saw that only Razor was left standing, well kneeling. Angel holding a gun to his head, and people moving around checking bodies, checking on Dani and Carmen.
Mara ran up to Marisol who was on the floor shielded by Cypher, followed by the doctors. Marisol waved her off, saying, “The blood's not mine, check Axel… please.”
Gregory moved forward to Axel, talking low, assessing him. Gavin moved over to me, but I pushed him away pointing at Meg, “Check her first.”
I knew I took a bullet, but I didn’t know how bad Meg was and based on the blood and location... Cypher was scrambling up, slipping and then crawled his way over to her.
Gregory looked up at Angel, “He needs emergency surgery, we need to call an ambulance.”
“Make that two,” Gavin added.
Cypher had Meg’s head in his lap softly stroking her hair, tears streaking down his cheek.
Angel looked conflicted, “We can’t have the sheriffs come onto the compound like this…”
Cypher growled, “Are you fucking kidding me?”
Angel pushed the gun harder into Razor’s head, turning slightly to look at Cypher, “Do you want Meg treated for her gunshot wound in prison?”
Gavin closed his eyes for a moment, “I… I can… I can do it in a sterile room. I need supplies though.”
Four was beside him with Dani, both of them taking notes for what he needed. Dani reached out a hand, almost subconsciously and gave my shoulder a squeeze, from where I was propped up on my knees beside Meg and Gavin.
Razor started laughing, then let out a wet cough, “Ugh you guys are fucking pathetic. I guess I will ruin the surprise about the game.”
I noticed now that he had a wound on his left thigh and in his stomach. Either someone missed or wanted him to suffer.
“Shut the fuck up, you’ve caused enough damage.” Angel roared.
Razor looked up at him, blood on his teeth, and pushed his head harder into the nozzle. “What are you going to do? Shoot me?”
Four moved beside Angel, “Say what you gotta say Razor, Say it now or you can save it for when you spend some time in the shed with me.”
Dani was talking to Ledger and Torch and then they were moving, gathering prospects to clear the parking lot before they left to get whatever supplies the doc’s needed.
Razor didn’t flinch or hesitate, he coughed and then spit out some blood, “Your ex wife was all too happy to sell off her son in lieu of her being taken. I didn’t even have to threaten her all that much.”
Four clenched his fists at his side, and Razor kept going, “And Marisol…” he stopped choking and coughing for a moment, then continued, “Your sister knew you were pregnant and she was still willing to be used in this little game… wanna know how much it took for her to participate? How much are you and your unborn baby worth to her?”
Marisol let out a gasp, Mara had arm wrapped around her, close to where Gregory was working on Axel.
A whimpered sound came out of Carmen, and I had to squeeze my eyes shut for a moment. The room spun and I wasn’t feeling the greatest, so I dropped to the ground, finding it easier to be on my uninjured side.
“It can’t be true, Carmen.. Tell me it isn’t true.” Marisol cried out.
I opened my eyes to see Carmen take a shaky step towards her sister, the last person standing behind Razor. But Torch was moving towards her gun drawn, “You don’t get to go anywhere near her. Tell the truth. Did you sell out your sister?”
Carmen looked at Marisol, a sob tearing out of her. Her words coming out between choked tears, “H…he was g..going.. t..to kill me and I…I owed money an…and he offered to pr…protect me af..ter.”
Marisol’s usually tanned complexion was pale and the look of horror that crossed her face was heartbreaking. No one was making it out of this whole.
Marisol closed her eyes, then asked, “How much?”
When Carmen didn’t answer, Marisol opened her eyes and screamed, “How much did he offer to pay you?”
“Fif..fifty… g…grand.” She was shaking, she was crying so hard.
Marisol stood, staring at her for a minute. Then she turned to Torch, her voice devoid of emotion, “Take her to the shed with, Razor.”
Torch looked conflicted, “Marisol, maybe take some time to think about it…”
She cut him off, “Time… Time?… she was willing to sell me off to a psychopath trafficker and knew I was pregnant, she went to my first appointment with me, when…” She shook her head and then squared her shoulders, “Put her in the shed, if Axel or Meg die so does she.”
Shocked gasps echoed across the room, but Marisol didn’t react. She turned and moved slowly walking to the hallway that led to the rooms. Mara chased after her.
Torch looked to Angel who nodded, and with a sigh he escorted a distraught Carmen out back.
Razor wheezed, pulling everyone's attention back to him.
Four motioned for everyone to get moving, “Lets get Razor into his accommodations and get what we need to get everyone patched up.”
“What if he doesn’t last long enough to be questioned?” I asked, feeling heavy all of a sudden.
Gavin sighed and then took a deep breath, looking up from Meg. “Once you three are stable. I can help with that.”
Four and Angel dragged Razor out back, a trail of blood following them. So much blood had been shed today. So much pain… we did this… we…
The prospects came back saying they only found two more men outside, but took care of them, then let Ledger know that the guard at the gate was dead.
Ledger got everyone's attention, handing out guard and clean up duties. Assigned a crew to accompany him to grab all the supplies and another to turn the kitchen, which had industrial steel counter tops, into a clean room for the doctors.
Everyone was moving, the motion making me feel nauseous.
So I closed my eyes for a moment and pictured sweet blue eyes looking at me.
I let myself numb the pain with memories of her laugh, the soft smile she saved only for me.
And as the pain creeped in, I made a vow to be a better man.
For her, for me, for everyone who suffered because of the missteps we made.
As the pain pulled me under, I whispered, hoping somewhere she still knew, “I love you.”