It did hit Rider though; he found a second later once Rider had put a bullet in the last Russian. Texas turned to see Rider on the floor.
This time, blood coated his black clothes turning them wet and darker.
“Oh, fuck. You’re hit.”
“So are you,” chuckled Rider from his slumped position.
Texas got over to him to see the red stuff pouring out of him.
He couldn’t see if it was a through and through.
But it didn’t look good. Not with the way crimson started to pool on the floor.
“Thought… fuck, thought he got you, Ri. Thought that asshole got you clean through the chest.”
“Nah,” winced Rider and pulled up his shirt at the corner to show he was wearing a sleek-cut bulletproof body armor.
Relief was immense but it didn’t make Texas feel better.
His own upper arm pain was ignored as he tried to stop Rider’s blood, or at least hold it back while he fished out his phone to call for an ambulance.
“Get the club,” Rider issued just like a boss, even as his color was seeping out of his face and every moment hurt him.
Then he put a call through to the club.
“It’s Texas. 911.” He said giving the SOS code to Lawless on the other end. “Rider’s down, we’re at the porn warehouse, get the fuck here now.”
He didn’t wait for an answer, he was too busy holding the blood inside his friend’s body.
“Honest to fuck, you better not die right now.” he warned.
“Nah, I can’t, my Icy wants to go on a cruise this spring.” He chuckled then winced. “Knew, man. Knew all along you weren’t in league with that asshole.”
Texas’ eyes pinged up and met crystal blue. “What?”
“The Russian. Unlike you, you secretive fuck, who can’t share, Charlie Timmon’s let me know what you were up to.”
Relief again.
Texas inhaled his emotions like a chick watching a rom-com.
“You said…”
“Had to make him think I thought you were with him.”
“I was just trying…”
“Yeah,” Rider said. “Dangerous fuckin’ move, man, but I get it. Wanted to get clean by doing something good.”
“You fucking killed him,” he couldn’t help the pride in his voice.
“Too long in coming.”
The boys must have rode like bats out of hell, because the warehouse was stormed minutes later, even before the ambulance. Screams of Texas’ name was heard and he yelled back to let them know where they were.
They came through the doorway like a charging dark angel army, ready to shoot the place up.
The Butcher took over with Rider while Texas landed on his butt with relief.