10. Arsen
ten
Arsen
There were a few ways I imagined this night going down, and in a blaze of fury was my top choice. Being able to watch it all burn to the ground, leaving nothing but ash, would somehow be symbolic of the end of our father’s reign. Which I feel still might be on the table when we’re done here. So, while this night can still end in a hundred different ways, one thing I knew would for sure happen, regardless of if Ali were here, was Riot would at some point in time lose his shit. I know Cash had somewhat of a plan coming in here, but everything changed the moment we realized Ali wasn’t out of danger.
So, playing nice was our next course of action. But the moment Ali’s life was threatened, by her own “family” no less, we knew Riot’s good boy behavior was over. Cash didn’t even bother trying to hold him back, probably because he also wanted to go after the bastard spewing shit to our woman. No wonder our fathers were doing business with the Blacks. Cut from the same cloth and all that.
I watch with amusement as Riot charges towards Richard, who is sneering down at Ali, but my amusement immediately vanishes as from the corner of my eye I watch Cash’s father pull out a gun. He starts to say something as Cash moves to pull out his own, but I can’t comprehend anything as my body moves on reflex. Turning my body slightly, I duck down and dive for my brother as a gunshot echoes around my head. I shove Cash to the floor, my body covering his for a second before he rolls me off and returns his own fire.
“Fuck,” I curse as I reach for a small table, quickly flipping it, just in time for us to duck behind as another foreign shot goes off. “Now what?” I ask, pulling out my own guns before peeking around the corner. Across the room, havoc breaks out as people start screaming, shoving, and pushing each other to find safety. But something else catches my eye. Men decked out in tactical gear. Yay, their lackeys are showing up. “We have incoming,” I say, shifting places so he can take a look. As he checks the issue for himself, I slip off my mask; no need for it to get in the way for what’s to come.
“Okay. We expected this. Plan stays the same. Blood for blood.” he says, looking around the room. “I count ten, maybe fifteen. Nothing we haven’t been up against before.” I snort at that.
“Careful, Cash, you almost sound like Riot.” He returns my snort.
“Riot is with Ali. He will keep her safe. Let’s worry about getting out of here alive.” I nod my response.
He’s right. “On your mark,” I tell him, taking a deep breath and centering myself, but as I do, I realize the room has gone quiet. A little too quiet, that is, until Riot’s voice rings out.
“Ready or not, here I come.” And then the gunfire and more screaming and Riot’s manic laughter starts.
“Okay, on Riot’s mark then,” I mumble instead just as Cash jumps up and starts firing as well. I follow suit, realizing that the goons we spotted before were a lot closer than we thought. I’ll have to thank the psycho later.
I start to move around the space, shooting only when I have the shot, but either these men weren’t professional or we are just that good because their numbers dwindle quickly. After a few minutes of bullet tag, a few of us switch to knives and hand-to-hand. I even spot Ali in the mix going toe to toe with a grown man. If chaos had a physical form, this would be it.
I’m just dodging a punch to my face when movement catches my attention. This causes the follow-up knee to land in my stomach, the air whooshing from my lungs as Ali comes running up behind the dude and jumps on his back like some crazy spider monkey. Her legs wrap around his middle as one of her arms goes around his neck. Her free hand comes down in an arc, a blade glinting in the dim light of the room as she slams the knife down and into the man’s chest, repeatedly, until he goes limp. She pushes herself away as he slumps to the floor, a smile on her face. “That’s three for me so far,” she states, getting ready to turn, but I stop her before she can get far.
“What?” I ask. Her words not making sense.
“We are playing the killing game,” she says all matter-of-factly before lunging forward and slamming her lips down on mine and then running off. Somehow that made sense and doesn’t surprise me in the least. I watch as she practically bounces away like a child on a sugar high.
Suddenly I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand on end, which has me spinning on my heel as I watch three slimy snakes try to sneak away. This is even less surprising as James, Henry, and William use our distraction, and the chaos they all started to scurry away like the rats they are. Rage boils as I swipe a knife from my belt and send it flying towards them in one swift move. I don’t even care which one I hit, but when the blade lands in my father’s thigh, causing him to scream out in pain, it’s like a symphony to my ears. The other two don’t even bother stopping to help him as they tuck their tails and run.
William’s head snaps up, his eyes meeting my rage-filled ones as he grabs the knife by the hilt and yanks it out. His blood drips to the floor as he stands there glaring at me before tossing it to the floor and limping away.
Glancing around the room, I meet eyes with Riot and Cash, both fighting off the last of the armed goons. “They’re getting away!” I say.
“Go! We’ll be right behind you!” Cash yells back, and then I’m gone. My feet pound the floor as I race after the men who tried to destroy us. Adrenaline floods my body as I push myself harder than I ever have. When I get to the spot I last saw my sperm donor, I spot the trail of blood leading me straight to them. The trail leads through the kitchen and out to the garden, and as I breach the back doors, I spot my father limping down the steps. The other two are nowhere to be seen, but I’m not worried about them.
“Oh, William,” I call out. The sound of my voice has him freezing mid-step. “Once a coward, always a coward, right?” I taunt as I take a step closer, pulling out the last of my knives and placing it in a throw position between my fingers. From where I’m standing, I see his arm twitch at his side. “You always did need someone else to fight your battles, didn’t you?” I taunt some more as I move closer.
“You know, son, you have always been a disappointment,” He calls back, still not turning around. A coward afraid to face his own son. “Why fight a battle yourself when you can have pawns do it for you?”
“You were the one who taught me, when you want something done right, you do it yourself.” I’m at the top step now, looking down as he stands five steps below me. He lets out a low chuckle, sounding almost defeated as he slowly turns to face me.
“You’re right. I did teach you that, and I still live by it.” As if we read each other’s minds, or maybe it’s the stubborn glint in his eye that I notice, but as he raises his arm, I let loose the blade. At the same time, a gun goes off.
A few things happen in that split second. I watch as my blade hits its mark, causing him to stumble back a step. Blood begins to ooze from his mouth as he stares down at the hilt protruding from the center of his chest. Burning pain suddenly lances my stomach as a gun drops from my father’s hand, followed by a feminine scream coming from behind me, piercing the air.
In slow motion I watch my father’s eyes roll to the back of his head as he falls to the ground, and a sick sense of satisfaction fills me before the pain from a second ago returns with a vengeance. My hands come up automatically as the pain has me falling to my knees; my hands come away covered in blood.
“Arsen!” Ali comes rushing up behind me, eyes wide with panic.
“My flame.” I call to her as she shoves my hands away from my stomach and pushes me to the ground. My back hits the cold concrete, sending a shock of pain through me once again.
I groan out only to hear Ali snap back at me. “Well, you’re the idiot who got shot; now stay still.” She yanks off the coat jacket she was wearing before wadding it up and placing it on my gunshot wound. I wince at the harsh pressure she applies before taking in the woman before me. She’s covered in blood yet somehow still looks just as beautiful as ever, but that’s when I notice a tear slide down her cheek. Her eyes, now watery, snap up to mine. “I swear if you die on me, I’ll bring you back to life just to kill you myself.” I chuckle at her words, but it’s cut off by a cough. Ali’s panicked eyes flare before she starts yelling.
“Cash! Riot!”
A cold, gripping feeling begins to take over as my eyes start to feel heavy. I know I shouldn’t go to sleep, but the pain is too much.
“Arsen! Stay with me.”
I’ll stay, baby. I promise.
“Arsen, you need to stay awake! Riot! Cash!”
I just need a nap, my flame. I’ll feel better after a nap.
“Please, Arsen. Stay with me. I just found you. I just got you back.”
I told you, baby, I’m staying.
I promise.
I just hope I can keep that promise.