CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Starlet
The next night, while Brick is out inspecting the acreage that came with the cabin, I finish cooking Shepard’s Pie made with fluffy mashed potatoes, ground beef, onions, corn, peas, and carrots all layered in a deep pan. There’s a fresh loaf of French bread from the market up the street and icy cold beers. I lower the temperature in the oven to keep the pie warm and then set the table—a two-seater dinette that Brick managed to fit in a corner off the kitchen.
After we made love last night, Brick handed me an envelope. I opened it, curious to see what was inside. It was the deed to the cabin, listed in both of our names.
“You’ll always have a place to go, Starlet, no matter what happens.”
Kinder words have never been spoken to me. As I gaze around the comfortable space, appreciating Brick’s eye for detail, I finally feel at home somewhere. His unshakeable patience and love has started to help me heal. Juanita warned me this would happen eventually, that if I let someone love me, I’d start to forget the past. I might not be able to forget my father or Sammy, but the pain is fading. When I look in the mirror every morning, I don’t turn away in shame. I actually smile at myself.
Life is worth living. I’m worth something, too. To Brick, Juanita, and my new family—the Iron Norsemen.
I glance at the clock, wondering where Brick is. He should have been back a half hour ago. I wipe my hands on the towel hanging on a hook over the sink, then start for the door.
I hear a loud pop that immediately makes my heart beat erratically. I know there’s hunters in the area. Or maybe Brick ran into a snake or something and had to shoot it. The cause doesn’t matter, I’ll never get comfortable with that sound.
I rush outside. “Brick? Is that you?”
No answer.
I hurry around the back of the cabin and don’t see anything. There’s plenty of daylight left, so I’m not afraid to wander into the woods alone. The property backs up to a branch of the Red River—surrounded by Cypress, Loblolly, and Sweet Gum trees. The loud gurgle of water attracts me, and I end up on the riverbank, swatting at gnats and mosquitos. There’s enough room for a narrow pier where we could launch a boat for fishing.
I imagine lounge chairs and a fire pit, relaxing on the weekends with friends.
Pop-pop.
Something isn’t right—the hair on the back of my neck stands on end as I survey the immediate area. Brick should be here.
“Looking for me, sweetheart?”
I whip around at the sound of Silver’s voice. He’s standing a yard away, a pistol pointed at my head.
“Why are you here?” I’m not afraid of Silver anymore, especially after what happened with Checkers. But if he hurt Brick… “Where’s Brick?”
Silver’s evil laughter tells me all I need to know. Those shots I heard earlier must have been for him. Please God, let Brick be okay.
“Did you think I’d let you get away with murder, Starlet?”
“Murder? Who?”
“Checkers. Danny. Ice.”
“You’re delusional, Silver. I don’t know anything. The last time I saw Checkers…”
“He had a gun pointed at your head.”
The fact that Silver remembers that much surprises me. “Yes, he did.”
“You should be dead, baby. Your very presence confirms my suspicions.”
“Of what?”
“Stop fucking around, Starlet. If I pull this trigger, you won’t walk away this time. Checkers had a soft spot for you. I don’t.”
“If he did,” I say, trying to stay calm, “he had a funny way of showing it.”
“Doesn’t matter,” he says, wiping sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “I can’t believe you traded your old life for this shit pile.” He waves the pistol around. “Life with me would have been better than this, baby.”
“Where’s Brick?”
“Start walking, Starlet. You’ll get a chance to say goodbye before I put a bullet in his head.” He points southeastward and I reluctantly do as he says.
One thing I remember about surviving a situation like this is never to surrender complete control to your assailant. Because once you do, you’ll never get it back. My father used to tell me things like that, just in case a rival MC kidnapped me. Create a diversion, Starlet, give yourself enough time to make a run for it. Why, after all this time, is my father’s voice ringing inside my head?
I glance over my shoulder at Silver. There’s fresh scars on his face, probably from Brick’s fists. Instead of making him unattractive, it adds to Silver’s physical appeal. He’s like any other piece of shit outlaw, graced with looks and a strong physique, but no morals. And I’ll be damned if I’m going to end up a victim today. At least one thing is certain, I’ll never have to marry him. I can’t stop the chuckle.
“Find something entertaining?” he asks.
“Sure,” I say with reckless confidence. “The fact that two months ago you wanted to marry me. Now you want to kill me.”
He grabs my arm and forces me to turn around, keeping the gun aimed at my body. “Is that why you think I’m here, baby? To kill you?”
“Isn’t it?”
“That’d be too easy for you, Starlet. No. I have a better plan. The cartels are always looking for fresh meat south of the border. And with your light coloring and gorgeous body, you’ll bring top price at auction.”
My blood runs cold at what he’s suggesting. “A sex slave?”
He grins. “Exactly. Now keep moving, we’re almost there.”
The ground is uneven in spots, rocky with thick patches of vegetation. I’m wearing heeled cowboy boots, not ideal footwear for the great outdoors. If I pretend to twist my ankle, it might give me a chance to run away. But if I do, will that expose Brick to more danger? My gut feeling is that he’s already severely injured or even dead. Tears burn my eyes as emotions start to kick in.
Why is this happening? How did Silver know where to find us? What the fuck am I going to do?
We clear a clump of trees, and that’s when I spot Brick on the ground. I gasp and let out a mournful cry, turning on Silver. “What have you done?”
He shrugs. “Returned the favor. Go ahead, check on him.”
I rush to Brick’s side, dropping to my knees. He’s unconscious and bleeding from a bullet wound in his right shoulder. I gently turn him over, checking for any signs of life. Thank God, he’s breathing, but there’s so much blood loss—the ground around him is stained with it. I glare up at Silver. “You ambushed him.”
“Maybe.”
“He was inspecting the property.”
“Never let your guard down, Starlet. You never know what’s lurking in the shadows.”
Even my father faced his enemies in the open. “You’re a goddamned psychopath,” I spit, kissing the top of Brick’s head. “I’m so sorry, Brick. For a fleeting moment, I dared to dream big for us, I really did.” The voice of evil and fear inside me that had always been present but went dormant over the last few weeks resurges. Only this time, it’s tainted by hate and regret, because I’ve experienced love now. Before, I didn’t have anything to lose but my own life. Which wasn’t much. But now… “Why can’t you walk away, Silver? You’ve satisfied your bloodlust. Isn’t that good enough?”
He stalks closer, but stays at a safe distance. “This isn’t open for negotiation, Starlet. Brick is going to die. The only reason I’m giving you a chance to say goodbye is because it will make my revenge that much sweeter—knowing you had to watch him die. That’ll give you something to dream about while a different man fucks you every hour of every day for the rest of your pathetic life.”
My bleak future plays out in slow motion in my mind. Me, chained to a dirty mattress in some hovel in the middle of nowhere. Sweaty, filthy men paying to beat and fuck me. In order to keep me quiet and compliant, my pimp shoots me up with heroine. The images are so real, I’m suddenly sick to my stomach. I turn away from Brick and throw up.
Silver chuckles and claps his hands. “Always had a weak stomach, didn’t you?”
As I swallow the bitter taste in my mouth, I know the best thing I can do is attack Silver. He’ll be left with no choice but to shoot me, ending this nightmare. I’d rather die with Brick than live without him. Honestly, if I knew he had a chance to survive, I’d willingly go with Silver. But the Devil’s Crusaders president is a maniacal lunatic with an endless need for vengeance. I sit up again, staring Silver down, reading the patch on the left side of his cut … menace to society. A special patch given to members who reach certain benchmarks in their criminal careers. It makes me want to kill him.
“Did you ever care about me?” I know better, but I need to hear him say it.
Silver kicks at something in the dirt, then cocks his head. “Why are you asking me now? Want me to stroke that twisted little ego I know is buried somewhere underneath all the crazy inside that head of yours?”
I’d give anything to be a man for five minutes, able to take this bastard on equal ground. But the difference between fantasy and reality is that I’m the weak daughter of the founder of the Devil’s Crusaders, and Silver holds all the power, including the gun.
“I’ve never given a shit about you, Starlet. Never wanted to marry you. Sure, a quick fuck once in a while, but nothing more. You’re just another stupid cunt. You did me a favor by running away—now I can get rid of you without worrying about honoring MC tradition.”
Ready to launch myself at him, I start to get up. But Brick grabs my ankle and I freeze, hoping Silver won’t notice. Brick shoves something hard and metallic in my hand. It’s a gun—a tiny one. Then I remember, he keeps a Derringer strapped to his ankle inside his boot.
“Do it,” he whispers.
I raise the weapon and take the single shot.