Page 65 of Marx

Judge

My head pounds as I look around at the carnage. It was only by sheer luck that we arrived just after twelve SUVs, filled to the brim with gang bangers and cartel members. I’m not sure what the hell is going on, but I’m damn glad we got the call to turn around when we did.

We don’t even wait for orders, pulling our guns and taking out anyone that doesn’t look friendly. Some of my brothers head around the back, in case the house is surrounded, but I concentrate on the front and the front only. My gaze is fixed on the front door and I hope like hell that Kaia and the kids are in the bunker, safe and sound. The problem is, I know Kaia better than I know anyone, even with us being separated all these years. That woman is stubborn as all get out, and the fear I have coursing through my veins that she is actually not tucked away safe, is killing me.

I ride toward men, firing at will, watching with satisfaction as they drop, one by one. Some drop by my hand, others by the snipers sitting on the main roof and one of the cabins to my left. For some reason there are men screaming out the front door onfire, and I’m not sure how or why that’s happening but I bet it has something to do with Pops. Or shit, even Elio. I don’t know what they’ve done to the house, but there seems to be walking injured everywhere. The men who made it to the house seem to be running screaming from it in matters of moments. Noticing a gang banger scaling a side wall I head that way, gun raised to stop him from entering through the window to the dining room. My finger twitches on the trigger when he goes flying back into the bushes, screaming. Aiming my bike for him I notice blood the closer I get. I skid to an idle, staring down the barrel of my gun at a man who is full of nails and other shrapnel. His eyes are clenched shut, blood pouring from them, and it’s a shame that he doesn’t see my bullet coming. Revving my engine I blow dust over his body as I head around the side, eager to cut off any more brave fuckers who think to infiltrate the house my woman and kids are in. And that’s what they are.Mine. I just have to convince them.

Lovely

It’s complete and utter chaos. Men in suits or jeans and baggy hoodies seem to be coming out of the woodwork. I may have been almost choked to unconsciousness, but that doesn’t mean I can’t still put up a fight. It’s ironic, I guess, that as much as the Keep taught us girls to be meek little housewives, it also bred a protective instinct within the women for their children. There is no way that Bee will suffer at the hands of anyone, not on mywatch. If I have to die to protect her, then so be it, but you best believe that I will take as many of these men down with me as I can.

“You need to get to the bunker,” Blanche whispers, our guns trained on the doorway, picking men off one by one as they make the mistake of walking past.

“I’m not leaving you,” I grit out, not looking in her direction. “You saved me, Patience. You and our brothers saved me and got rid of the monsters. I will not leave your side.” I glare at her and her busted lip curls at the edges, her bruised and swollen face lighting up.

“Well then, little sister, let’s see how many more evil doers we can kill.”

We move slowly through the room, eyes on the doors and windows in case another unfortunate soul dares to walk past. Serpiente is still lying where Marx left him, his breathing shallow, likely due to how mangled his face is. Although I’m sure Marx broke ribs so perhaps the guy was unlucky and one punctured a lung. Either way, I don’t care too much. He deserves everything he gets.

Peeking out the window next to me I watch my wild man in the front yard, stomping and slashing through men intent on harming us. I know later tonight, in the dark and quiet of our room Johnny will tell me that he’s evil, dark and dirty and doesn’t deserve someone like me. I know he will. What he doesn’t understand is that he deserves someone better than me. Someone who can give him the world. Does that mean I’ll give him up? No way. All it means is two people who think they are undeserving of the other, will spend the rest of their lives proving we are worthy until we inherently believe it. Because weareworthy of each other’s love.

A groaning, scraping snatches my attention, drawing it to the broken man clawing his way to the doorway. He’s coughing upblood and trying to wheeze out for help. I watch him with pity, before bringing my switchblade down on his calf, pinning him to the floorboards below.

“Gunfire and screaming seems to be settling down,” Blanche murmurs, peeking out the door, gun drawn and ready to fire.

I nod, not that she’s looking in my direction. I sneak a peek out the window again, this time seeing the men standing with hands on hips, looking at the carnage around them. Mad Dog stomps through the fallen, aiming his weapon at their heads, pulling the trigger once before moving on to the next. It’s been a massacre. One that should have taken place in two different states, however it came to us instead, almost destroying our home.

“Shit, Mom! Are you OK? Holy fuck, Aunt Lovely, areyouOK?” Niko looks stricken as his gaze flicks between the two of us, both of us looking worse for wear.

Blanche’s face took two punches from Serpiente. She has dried blood around her nose and mouth, a split lip and a black eye. I was choked out and I know from experience that I can look forward to burst blood vessels and bruising around my neck. My throat is hoarse, my voice barely above a whisper.

“We’re fine, baby,” Blanche answers for us.

The look on Niko’s face is filled with disbelief and shock and I can’t help the giggle that bubbles up inside me. I burst into peals of laughter and even though it hurts I can’t stop.

“Ah Mom, do you think she’s in shock?”

“I’d say that’s a pretty good guess, kiddo,” Vi says, walking in from who knows where.

She has blood on her jeans, and some of her shirt is missing along the bottom hem. She must catch me staring because she shrugs, her dark hair bouncing, “tore some off to stop a flesh wound.”

“Please tell me Rider was shot in the ass again?” Blanche begs.

“Worse,” Vi answers, her lips twitching, she lets out a snort, “I have no idea how it happened, what with him wearing his cut, but somehow the bullet grazed his nipple.”

“Wait, first the ass then the nipple? Jesus, the guy can’t catch a break,” Niko mutters.

“I dunno, could have hit his junk,” Vi replies.

“Leave my nipples out of this!” Rider yells, stomping into the dining room. He jabs a finger in Serpiente’s direction, “He’s to blame! I’m taking his ass to the Office. I’m going to carve said ass til it’s scarred like mine. Do you know how beautiful my ass was before one of his men shot at it? And now I’ll have a fucked up nipple too!” he lets out a low growl before lunging toward Serpiente.

He grips him under the arms, yanking him to move him. “What the hell-” he yanks once more, pulling him so hard that my switchblade moves through more of his flesh. Serpiente wakes screaming, giving Rider a fright who throws him down on the ground. “Look what you made me do!” He yells in Serpiente’s face. He kicks his injured leg, then pulls out my switchblade handing it to me.

Without a word he throws the gurgling, moaning man over his shoulder, stomping out of the room bitching about nipples and asses. We stare after him and I can’t help the huge smile I have on my face. As ridiculous and gruff and grumpy and hilarious the DRMC is, they really are the very best of men.

“Roman’s here,” Niko says, gazing out the window.

We watch as the slick town car slowly moves up the long drive, bobbing as it runs over anything and anyone in its way. Marx stands to attention, the hard line of his body held so tight I feel like he’ll snap at any minute. It’s a guarantee. I don’t think as I let my feet carry me out of the room, down the hall litteredwith broken and battered bodies, out onto the porch. My man is right there, like a coiled snake ready to attack. Even the comfort of his men, standing shoulder to shoulder with him isn’t working to calm the rage inside him.

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