Page 50 of Lies Beneath Secrets

CHAPTERFORTY-NINE

Con

“When you call in a favor, you don’t fuck around.” Shane says as he looks over our now-dead club members. “You know what them tattoos mean?” he points to one of the dead men that isn’t a club member. The heart stencil with a long line striking through it is one I have seen quite often.

“They’re damn Flatliners.” Rubbing my hands over my face.

“Shit,” Pace says coming to our side. “This could get messy. We need to hide these fuckers. They can’t be traced back to us. No way would we win a war with them. Especially now.”

“You do know I am still an officer of the law, right?” Shane raises a brow at Pace then looks over to Knox who has Kendra still tucked under his arm. They share a silent conversation before Shane speaks again. “All I see here are a couple of Skeleton Crew members who were killed during a gun raid though.”

“Sounds about right,” Knox says then looks over to me. “Let’s get these girls the hell out of here.” I nod in agreement and we go outside.

Siena has Gabby inside Knox’s truck still, parked a little further away from everything. I make my way over to them and rip open the door to find Gabby curled up on the floor of the passenger side seat. “Gabbs,” I say, causing her head to lift up from her knees. A bright smile flashes across her face before she jumps into my arms. “Thank you,” I mouth at Siena, who only smiles at me and nods.

“Where’s Lauren?” Gabby asks into my neck, and it takes everything I have in me to not break down right there.

“She’s—”

“She’s in the hospital,” Shane says, coming to my side. “Someone called in an ambulance. Good thing too. The boy was also shot.”

“Kaleb?” Knox asks. He has Kendra picked up now, holding her close to his chest. “I need to get her to the hospital too. You okay to drive?” He looks at me.

“Yeah,” I answer, knowing full well he can’t. “Siena, get in the truck too. That gash looks like it needs stitches.” I don’t hear the words that come from Siena because I’m too busy getting Gabby into the truck.

“I’ll just stay back and clean this mess up for you, I suppose,” Shane says through the rolled-down window.

“That vote is looking good, Shane,” Knox calls out from the backseat.

CHAPTERFIFTY

Lauren

Warmth surrounds me like a giant blanket, engulfing me. Keeping me safe. A steady beeping rhythm fills my ears as my eyes crack open. Tugging at my hand stops me from trying to push myself up the bed. That’s when I notice I’m hooked to an IV. Something is clipped onto my finger. I turn my head to see two bags hanging from a metal IV rack; that’s when I realize I’m in a hospital room. When my gaze lands on a large bouquet of flowers, my memory decides to flood back to me.

The gunshots.

Blood.

I take off the little finger clip and push myself up, doing my best to get the blanket off my legs. Pain in my back freezes any movement I try to make, and that steady beeping I heard when I woke speeds up. “Fuck,” I hiss and lie back onto the bed. Only seconds later, a nurse comes inside the room.

“Trying to make an escape?” she asks, coming to my side and taking hold of my hand to put the clip-like thing back into place. “Leave that one on there,” she tells me, then looks over a monitor. “I need to check your bandages.”

“What happened?”

“You were shot, dear. It collapsed your lung. The young man you came in with was also shot. He is doing just fine.” The memory of lying on a couch while two people stood over me comes back. One of them must have been Kaleb. Someone stood behind them, holding a stuffed black horse. Then more gunshots.

“Gabby? Where is she?” I try to get up again, but the nurse gently holds me to the bed.

“Your daughter? She’s just fine. I sent her and your husband down to get something to eat. Poor thing looked famished but refused to leave your side. I had to convince that man of yours to take her out of the room for a little bit. I don’t think he has slept since he’s gotten here either.”

“My husband?”

“Yes, dear,” she assures me. “Now I need to go on to the next patient. Do you promise to relax? They’ll be back soon.” I nod my agreement and watch her leave the room. I try to do what she says and relax into the bed. The steady rhythm of the beeping lulling me off to sleep again.

“You’re one lucky bitch.” My eyes fly open, meeting King’s harsh glare. He steps closer to me, hand engulfing my mouth before I can let out a scream. “How are you going to get out of this one? No guardian angel to help you now.” His hand then goes to my throat, squeezing hard, bringing his other one to join in. My hands claw at his, doing their best to pry his fingers away. I only can get my grip on one of them before it slips back. Then I try for his face, his eyes the target this time. Its only small scratches I can do until the fight in my limbs starts to fade. My heart hammers loudly in my ears as the pressure in my throat intensifies. I can’t live through a gunshot only to be strangled by this man. There’s no way.

As my vision begins to darken I catch a glimpse of Con behind King, knife to his throat.

---