Chapter 11 #2
When Danny reached into the trunk and started to unload, the guy followed suit.
Their attention was on transferring the shipment, so Shotgun gave the nod, letting us know it was time to get a move on.
We each followed as Shotgun led us out of hiding and into the abandoned parking lot.
As we got closer, I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my veins, bringing every nerve in my body to life—not out of fear, but out of eagerness.
I, like the rest of my brothers, wanted to take this motherfucker down, find out exactly what he knew, and get this bullshit over and done with once and for all.
Unaware that we were inching closer, Danny and Miller continued to move the product from the Mercedes’ trunk over to Danny’s.
All was going as planned until the sound of a car driving by off in the distance caught Miller’s attention.
He glanced over his shoulder, and his face grew pale with fear when he saw us advancing towards them.
Hell, by looking at his frightened expression one would’ve thought the guy was watching a pack of angry wolves charging towards him.
I couldn’t blame him for being rattled. Seeing the five of us in our leather cuts, muscular builds, and tattoos would make any man uneasy.
We were just a few yards away when he reached for his revolver and aimed it in our direction. “Who the fuck are you?”
Viper continued to charge forward, completely unfazed by the fact that the barrel of Miller’s gun was pointed directly at him. Miller’s hand started to tremble with apprehension as he placed his finger on the trigger. “Stop right there or I’ll blow your fucking head off.”
Hoping to diffuse the situation, Danny looked over to him and started stammering, “Hey, man. I-It’s cool. I know these guys. They’re business associates of mine.”
“What the fuck are you talking about?”
“They just want to ask you a few questions.”
“I ain’t answering a goddamn thing! Not now. Not ever.”
Concerned for Viper’s safety, Shotgun and I stepped in front of Viper, shielding his body with ours as Viper warned, “Put the gun down.”
“That shit ain’t gonna happen, motherfucker.”
“Have it your way.”
Viper pulled out his Glock, then everyone else did the same.
Miller’s eyes widened, leaving no doubt that he was intimidated by the sight of all of us standing in front of him with our weapons drawn.
Danny’s knees were practically shaking, making it more than evident that he was equally as freaked when he started yammering, “Look guys. It doesn’t have to go down like this.
We all just need to calm the fuck down.”
“You got any idea how bad you’ve fucked this thing up?” Miller asked Danny. “Your ass is gonna be on the line for this shit. It’s all gonna come back on you. Wait and see.”
“Wouldn’t have come to this if you hadn’t fucked with the last shipment.”
Miller was getting more anxious by the second. He was barely able to keep his grip on his weapon as he barked, “Got no idea what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“We think you do,” Viper growled.
“I’m done with this shit.”
The guy’s arm stiffened, and there was no doubt he was about to pull the trigger when Danny lunged in front of him, taking a bullet to the shoulder.
As Danny collapsed to the ground, I fired off a round, shooting Miller in the hand.
Miller immediately dropped his weapon and started shouting a stream of curses as he cradled his hand to his chest. “Motherfucker!”
I charged over to Miller, placing my gun to the asshole’s head, then looked down at his hand and snickered. “That’s gotta hurt like a bitch.”
“Fuck you, asshole.”
“Better watch yourself,” Widow warned. “He’s not a man you’re gonna wanna piss off any more than you already have.”
Miller looked up at me, noting the fierce expression on my face, and said nothing more.
In fact, he was completely silent as Shotgun and I dragged him over to the Mercedes and locked him in the trunk.
Once he was detained, Viper turned his attention to Danny.
He knelt down beside him as he asked, “There a reason why you pulled that stunt?”
“He was gonna shoot you,” Danny muttered with a grimace. “Figured I’d do what I could to stop him.”
“I see.” Viper’s brows furrowed as he pulled back Danny’s t-shirt and studied his wound. “Looks like he got you pretty good.”
“Yes, sir, but I’ll be all right.” Danny glanced over at Shotgun as he admitted, “Those fucking ice pics hurt worse than this.”
“Somehow I doubt that,” Shotgun replied.
Viper stood and extended his hand to Danny’s good arm. “We need to get you back to the clubhouse so Doc can tend to this wound.”
Menace and I went over and helped Viper get Danny to his feet, and once we had him loaded into the SUV, I grabbed a towel from the back and offered it to him. “You’re gonna need to keep pressure on it. We’ve got a long drive back to Nashville.”
“Thanks, man.”
Danny took the towel and pressed it against his shoulder as he leaned his head against the window.
It was clear the guy was hurting, but he didn’t breathe a single complaint.
Instead, he sat silently as we prepared to leave.
Menace got in Danny’s car, and Shotgun and Widow got in the Mercedes.
Once they were set, Viper and I loaded up in the SUV with Danny, and we started back towards Nashville.
We hadn’t been driving long when I glanced back at Danny.
The towel in his hand was almost soaked through with blood, and his complexion was becoming paler by the second.
He was struggling, even more than he had under Shotgun’s handy work.
Considering what he’d put him through, it was hard to believe that he’d taken a bullet for us.
The guy definitely had balls, just like his sister.
The thought had my mind drifting to Delilah.
I had no doubt she’d lose it if she knew her brother had been shot.
While it wasn’t news I could share with her, there was a possible silver lining to it all.
By taking that bullet, Danny might’ve taken the first step in getting his life back—but he’d have to survive first.