Page 56 of Duke

“These pricks still haven’t earned their patch. They are complete shit-heads who follow Zach like puppies.” Will yells between rounds.

“Fuck!” A bullet whizzes by my head, “Go… go, run!” I yell pushing Carmen down the hill.

“Go ahead! Get them outta here. I’ll stay back,” Will yells.

“Here take these.” I push the keys to the truck into her hands and race back up the hill. I was trained never to leave a man behind. It’s in my blood.

Will shoots me a grin as he rolls out from behind a tree firing in rapid succession.

“What the fuck old man? You turned on us?”

“You got two choices kid.” I stroll into the light like Cary Grant in an old film. You’d never guess I was just shooting to kill. The punk lowered his gun and pissed his pants when Will shot his friend in the side. He’s bleeding like a motherfucker, but he’ll live.

If we let him.

The butt of Will’s gun kisses the prick’s temple.

“No.”

“Ya’ sure. It’s your call, Prez.”

I grunt, pressing the heel of my boot into the dirt, “Get ‘em into the truck. We’ll deliver them to Cortez with the girls. It’s his call since it’s his girls these two fucks were about to hurt.”

My glance drops to the schmuck squealing like a pig as he rolls around in a puddle of his own blood.

“Leave this one. He’ll bleed all over my damn truck, leaving DNA and shit everywhere. I’ll call it into a contact of mine.”

“Duke?”

“Hey, Christy—shit. There’s no easy way to say this.”

“What did you do?” She sighs.

“I got those girls. They were up in the mountains. He was gonna ship ‘em to the border in a few days…”

“… what’s the collateral damage? Fuck it. Just get the hell out of there. Cover your tracks and text me the address.”

“Will do sugar. I’m sorry. Next time I’ll let you in.”

“There better not be a next time.”

“Well… that’s the thing. Zach is out. I’m in.”

“Christ.”

“I know. But I’m givin’ you my word, Christy. I’m gonna run shit differently.”

“You better,” she huffs.

My feet deftly maneuver the rugged terrain and I’m back at the truck, vaulting over the side into the bed. My knuckles rap on the window two times.

Smith puts it in drive. My eyes cut up to the sky; I wish I were with her tonight.

My fists clench, pounding the cold metal in frustration.

My life just took a turn I didn’t see coming.

I’m gonna have to deal with Zach, clean up the mess he made out of the MC and unload those hot cars. I won’t be able to get back to her for weeks… maybe even months.

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