SMASH!

“You think we were just going to go?” he shouted at Heath and Marko. “You think just because you had some pussies walling us at your gym, that we’d fuck off forever?”

Both Heath and Marko exchanged looks, and some kind of communication passed through because Marko looked back at the men and said, “The fuck you doing showing up at a private residence? That’s pretty low, man.”

The seedy looking man in black clothing smiled at them. “You think it was my plan? You think I’m the one that decided it? No, we take orders from our boss, and he’s right here.”

The men turned their heads back and the door of the second car door opened. Stepping out was Ryker, dressed in a black long sleeved top and dark pants. He looked lethal, nothing at all like the vulnerable man in the motel room. Something had happened from then until now, like the light had escaped and there was only darkness in him. His face was passive but chilling, and his cold eyes darted straight at Heath and Marko.

Heath straightened his back at the sight of his brother moving past the men and stopping in the middle of the yard. This was the first time since he’d gotten out that they’d laid eyes on each other.

“Been hearing a lot of shit, Heath,” he said, glaring between Heath and Marko. “And I’ve been paying close attention to it too. I know what you fuckers did. I’ve checked the dates. Knew what you were up to every single time you skipped a day of work or missed out on fighting on the side.”

“What is it that you think we did?” Marko snarled in return.

“Don’t fuckin’ act like you don’t know what I’m talking about,” Ryker retorted, stepping even closer, and it was then I saw the gun held tightly in his hand.

“We did nothing.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it. Now, this doesn’t have to be violent. We don’t need to take care of it out in the open here –”

“What’re you doing?” I let out in alarm, moving out onto the porch. “After everything you said to me, why are you acting like this, Ryker?”

“What I said to you had nothing to do with him,” he coldly replied pointing at Heath.

His eyes were on Heath, that look of revenge so abundantly clear on his face. But no… he wouldn’t, would he? He said he wasn’t going to chase after me – he didn’t want me! So why look at Heath like he wanted to kill him?

“This the slut he fucked you over for?” laughed a man from behind Ryker.

My heart started pounding harder in my chest, and when Heath turned to look at me, I felt even more anxious than before. He looked frightening, and it was no mystery people skirted around him these days. That look left you immobilized in one spot.

“Get in the house, Allie,” he demanded in a low, no bullshit tone.

“You don’t want her to see you dead, huh?” Ryker cut in, nodding his head like he was a mad person. “You don’t want her to know you’ve been the prick cleaning out our cash houses, causing nothing but trouble with our men and our town?”

My breath escaped me as I glanced from Ryker to Heath. I didn’t know what to think at this point. I couldn’t even say I was surprised either.

Heath looked back at his brother. “Shut the fuck up, Ryker. Really, you fuck-heads come around my home, makin’ bullshit accusations –”

“It ain’t fucking bullshit!” Ryker hollered, angrily. “Be a fucking man and acknowledge what you’ve done!”

“I didn’t do shit,” he replied steadily. “And you don’t have any fucking proof of the contrary. You’re just a crazy, angry little man that lost his girl to his better older brother, pinning shit on me just to bring me down. Now you’re trying to give a shit about your pathetic, drugged up little gang, with their pussy ass attitudes, roaming the streets and fucking shit up, but I bet you were crying like a little sissy bitch about ‘em leaving you to rot in prison all on your own. You can’t tell me that isn’t true.”

I couldn’t believe what Heath was saying! I wanted to physically shut his mouth up, goading his clearly enraged younger brother who was holding a goddamn gun in his hand! I couldn’t stop my shaking. Even Marko was shocked at what he’d said, looking uncomfortably at all the men as they started to grab at their own guns.

“Please, stop,” I begged. “Please, no more –”

“You don’t fucking know shit,” Ryker shrieked, raising his gun and pointing it at Heath.

Oh, God. Oh, God no.

“You fucked up with the wrong people! But you’re right, asshole, I am crazy! Crazy is the only thing that kept me going while you stole my woman, lied to my face, and started stealing from our houses!”

“You gonna shoot me?” Heath snapped, raising his arms out wide and stepping closer to the edge of the porch. “You gonna shoot your older fucking brother, you piece of shit? Well, don’t just stand there, motherfucker! Fuckin’ shoot me then! Go one! Pussy –”

Three shots fired, but Ryker had faced the gun to the sky, letting off the bullets while he screamed at Heath. I jumped back, hand to my chest. I was going to faint. I was about to keel over and land straight on my head!

“You’re fucking dead, Heath,” he went on before turning to his men. “Grab him!”

When the men started to move, Heath turned to Marko. “Get Allie to her Mother’s now.”

My eyes widened. “Heath –”

“Don’t start, Allie,” he interrupted sharply, glancing back at me. “Do as you’re told. You need to get out of this house in case someone comes around again.”

Before I could argue, Marko was already grabbing me by the arm and steering me into the house. I tried pushing him away, looking over his shoulder as the men began to surround Heath, their guns pointed at his face.

“You have to help him,” I begged Marko. “You have to help him, Marko! Please, don’t let them take him! They’ll kill him! Are you listening to me?! They’ll kill him!”

But Marko kept restraining me, forcing me to watch as they led Heath away from the house and to the cars. I cried and kicked, feeling completely and utterly helpless.

“Calm down, Allie,” he told me.

Calm down?

How the fuck was I supposed to calm down?

“You just let them take him!” I shouted. “You let him go and you didn’t say a word! You didn’t care!”