Page 61 of Saving You Losing Me

Jet takes a swig and groans his appreciation. “Man, this is good. Sunny must be an angel.”

Razor grins. “Just one of her many talents.”

I add, “Which is why I want to wrap this up, and I’m pretty sure your mind is somewhere else.”

He shrugs. “So, one problem sorted, one to go.”

It reminds me I still have a big problem to deal with. “Do you think Michael was involved with whatever that was back there?”

Razor interrupts. “What was that back there? I still don’t know why Tanya was there in the first place.”

That had crossed my mind and I turn to Jet for answers.

“I got word that Tanya was involved with an arms deal going down. She met some guy through one of Michael’s clubs and started a mutually profitable relationship with him, cutting Santobello out of the deal. When Michael heard it drove him nuts, which is why I guess she left his employment and came back to live here. Even though she obviously hated you, she knew he would never start a war with the Angels. Tanya wasn’t one to back down and turned her attentions to Riley, who she also met through the club. She cut him in on the deal because she needed someone to play organizer. Things were all set, and they were due to deliver a shipment this evening in exchange for millions of dollars. The crates you observed at the airfield were guns they acquired for the drugs cartel in Columbia. The plane was bound for Columbia, but word got out and made the drug’s lord jittery. He wanted to pull out, but Riley talked him round and told him they’d bring Lucy to answer their questions personally. They could find out who she told and then dispose of her. Any future dealings were put on hold until the leak was dealt with and Lucy was their insurance policy.”

I exhale sharply, “Man, that’s some serious shit. I knew Tanya was a bad apple, but even I didn’t know how rotten she became.”

Razor asks. “So, what happens now?”

“Nothing. The plane exploded with all the ammunition on board and any subsequent investigation will show an arms deal gone wrong. The drugs lord will find another way in and no roads lead back here.”

Razor glances at me with concern. “But Tanya, man. She’s your sister.”

I hiss. “She stopped being my sister when she turned against the club. She brought trouble here and turned against me by handing Lucy over to Riley when she knew we were offeringprotection. You don’t go against family, Razor you know that, and I wish I could have made her suffer more than just a shot-up knee cap. She can count herself lucky she went down with her deal because if I ever saw her again, I’d shoot the bitch like a dog.”

I regard Jet and say darkly, “You say we still have a problem to deal with. I’m guessing that involves Michael and his mob. What’s the plan?”

“He still has a hold on Lucy and Sydney’s dance studio. I’m gonna make him understand it’s in his best interests to keep his distance.”

“Do you need back up?”

“Just be there if it all kicks off. I came here for Lucy and I’m gonna make sure she’s protected. But not tonight. I think we’ve all had as much excitement as we can stand today. It’s time to leave you to your evening and take that little lady home.”

It’s obvious we’re finished up here and my mind has shifted to a more attractive proposition waiting for me with a comforting set of skills I could sure use right now. I need to forget because if I allowed the madness into my already corrupted soul, I may as well have blown myself up with my sister and be done with it.

CHAPTER 33

CLARA

There is something different about today. It may be because of what happened yesterday, after which my world tilted and I saw an escape. If I don’t, I could be dead within the year, either by Michael’s hand or my own.

“Mommy!” Sophia’s voice chases away the demons. My girls are my reason for living and any ideas I entertain of ending my life are chased away by their smiling faces and excitement for life. I will never leave my girls because if I’m not around to protect them, they will exist in the nightmare I hope to wake up from one day.

“Yes, honey.” I turn onto the highway and she giggles. “Taylor told me her mommy and daddy were kissing the other day.”

“That’s nice.”

I smile because Anna and Jared are the cutest couple and I’ve always envied their devotion to one another.

“Why don’t you kiss daddy?” Sophia asks innocently and I shiver with revulsion at the mere thought of it.

“We do, just not in public.”

Maria giggles. “Mommy and daddy sitting in a tree. K.I. S. S. I. N. G.” The two girls sing in a chorus and for some reason itamuses me at the thought of it, knowing that if I had the chance, I would push him off the tree, hoping he breaks his fucking neck.

We turn into Anna’s palatial home and as I head toward their front door, the gravel crunches under my tires and I breathe a little easier. Anna is taking the girls to school for me today and then they will come back here for a sleepover. I try to give them a normal childhood where possible and invites like these don’t come our way very often, so there was no question I wouldn’t accept it.

Jared works high up in the police department. I trust Anna and Jared with my girl’s life because they are solid citizens who don’t possess a corrupt bone in their body.

---