Page 99 of Waging War
“Motherfucker.” A sharp pain shoots from my shoulder when I finally roll to a stop and try to sit.
I’ve managed to stop with one leg halfway in a sand pit and the rest of my body on the rough green surrounding it.
Rapid footfalls sound from beside me. “Shit, are you okay?” Hazel asks once she reaches me.
I roll my shoulder joint when she helps me to stand, and then search for Bruce. “He’s headed toward the drop. Come on.”
Our feet beat the pavement as we round the corner of the nearest building. We race toward the dock, only to pull up short when we see Jack and the Wolves aiming their guns toward the semi.
“What the fuck is going on?” I ask the group.
Jack jerks his chin toward the truck. “We were taking out his guys when Cooper saw him jump inside.”
I take in the chaos surrounding us. Jack, Cooper, and a few other wolves have gashes along their necks and faces. At the front of the truck, bodies are littered on the ground, and on top of them lies the deputy, staring at us with blank, lifeless eyes.
“Christ,” I mutter, assessing the damage.
A rattling sound shakes the empty truck bed. From the darkness, Bruce’s gravelly voice echoes. “Don’t come any closer or you’ll be dragging her dead body off the concrete.”
He grips Samantha in a punishing hold as he yanks her along the metal ramp leading from the truck toward the ground. The flashing orange and red lights from the semi illuminate him in a terrifying glow.
Sam’s mouth is duct-taped, hands bound behind her back. Tears slide down her cheeks when he presses a gun to her temple, using her body as a shield.
“Bruce!” Jack bellows as I step to his side, ready to block him. “Give us the girl.”
With her head wrenched back, her whimpering pierces my gut like a hot iron. Regardless of how our friendship started, the last thing I want to see is any more death.
“You’re all so weak,” Bruce spits. “Look at you, letting some godforsaken sense of honor keep you from joining me—from gaining power.”
“Samantha!” Jackie calls as he rushes past me. He stops when Bruce swivels toward him.
Sam’s eyes widen as Bruce sneers, “Looks like your old man’s a traitor after all.”
She struggles to look at him before turning wild eyes on Jackie.
“I knew dragging you along might come in handy.” Bruce says, pressing his lips just under her ear, taunting Jackie further. “Did you know that you’re the product of an affair between this man and astreet whore.”
Jackie’s jaw clenches, but he remains silent.
“He doesn’t care about you. He’ll toss you aside the same way he did his wife and daughters.”
“Listen to me, Samantha. I loved your mother—”
“You’re the reason her mother is dead!”
Tears continue to stream down Samantha’s cheeks.
“You killed her, you fucking prick!” Jackie shouts.
I take another step.
Bruce’s arm flies up toward the sky as he fires two shots. “Shut up!”
The pounding of feet echoes across the pavement like thundering hooves. Sam goes still in Bruce’s hold as we all shift toward the source.
“Freeze, Diablo!” Félix shouts from the center of his small group. He’s in full uniform alongside his fellow officers, with Sasha falling into rank beside them. “It’s over.”
Bruce is sweating profusely, staining his gray suit. His eyes whip around wildly, looking for an escape. Sasha readies her weapon.
