Page 40 of Ripper
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Everybody cleared out for the rest of the day, getting back to work, some of ’em back out on the streets looking for those Fuckers so they could get the damn information we needed. I knew that every one of us was itching to fuck with them, to teach them a lesson, and give them a taste of what it’s like when they roll up on another damn club’s territory, but we couldn’t. For the first time, we weren’t gonna be striking back hard and fast. We were gonna play this one smart because if we didn’t, we may not make it out this time. I knew that fucker was rounding up every last prospect he could find, and now he had people like Anna, I could only imagine the shit we’re gonna be dealing with soon.
I sighed, sauntering over to the fridge to grab myself a beer. I heard stirring coming from the living room, and I made my way in to see that Claymore was patched up now, laying there, finally coming to. I took a long swig of the cold one in my hand, sitting at the edge of the couch next to him while his dry lips parted.
“Where the fuck is everyone?”
“Everyone went home, man. You’ve been out cold. Will’s got you on some serious pain meds. I’m here to babysit you,” I said.
“I barely even remember what happened.”
“Some Freeway Fucks knocked you on your ass and stole your shit. Happens to the best of us.”
“I don’t know where the fuck they’re all coming from. It’s like every damn corner we turn, every job we try to do, they’re always there.”
“Ray may be rounding himself up a band of fresh meat, but so are we. Speaking of, Ronnie finally made prospect. Gonna be a while before she’s running with the rest of us, but at least now I get to see a whole lot more of her. She did great. Impressed Tank enough,” I murmured.
“Damn. Well, let’s just hope that Ronnie turns out better than the last lady you had on your arm.”
“Oh, she will. I thought I was rid of Anna for a good while, but now she’s back, and I have a feeling we’re gonna be seeing a lot more of her. The last thing I need right about now is for her to get her claws into Ronnie.
“If Ray’s taken her in, then we can practically expect trouble to come knocking on our door. I hope Tank’s got a plan because the more muscle we lose now, the harder it’s gonna be to defend the fucking club when we’re down too many men.”
“He’s waiting for intel. He’s got some of the guys out canvassing the place looking for any of those Freeway Fucks who might be scared enough to talk. He’s got a couple more hitting up some bars trying to ask some hard questions, but I don’t know if that shit’s gonna be enough. I say we strike hard, but I don’t make the rules. Let’s just hope we get a handle on this thing before it gets way out of hand.”
“I’m starting to think it already has,” said Claymore.
He rested his head back down on the pillow, turning over with what little energy he had, probably hoping to drift back off to sleep for the next few hours. I sat there finishing my beer, having a good long time to think about all the shit we’d been dealing with. I knew that soon, Ronnie would be in the ring with the rest of us, and part of me worried that she’d get hurt. I thought about what it would be like taking her out on her first run, teaching her the ropes, and helping her understand that a lot of this life was really life or death. Though, I worried that she wasn’t gonna get too much time for any of that because shit was about to get real too fucking fast. I sighed deeply. The sun was starting to come up now, and I heard a bike pull up out front. I opened the front door, standing in the doorway while Archer made his way up the porch stairs to take over.
“How’s the patient?”
“He was up earlier, but he’s been knocked out ever since I gave him that last round of meds. Don’t think you’d have too much trouble,” I said.
“Yeah, well, we’ll know he’s feeling better when the ginger kicks back in. Man’s gonna want to order some diner burgers soon enough.”
“I think after having his head bashed in, he definitely deserves ’em. Have fun babysitting,” I teased, tapping him lightly on the shoulder before taking off.
I pulled into my driveway, feeling the morning breeze on my skin as I slipped out of my jacket. I slung it over my shoulder, pulling out my keys to unlock the door when I heard someone clear their throat behind me.
“You’re home late, Ripper,” she said, and I grit my teeth.
“Can’t seem to get anything through that thick skull of yours, huh? I ain’t want nothing to do with you, Anna. Get the fuck out of here before I make sure you don’t live to see another day,” I warned.
“You really gonna do that to me, Ripper? After everything we’ve been through together?”
“We’re on opposite sides of this shit now. If you knew what was best for you, you would’ve stayed gone. You just had to come home and start meddling in shit that has nothing to do with you.”
I was too damn tired to be dealing with her right now, and I reached into my holster for my gun, pulling it out, and pointing it directly at her. Her eyes widened in shock, her brow furrowing, and I could see the hurt behind those strikingly blue eyes.
“Ripper? You don’t have to be so damn reckless. You do know that if you fire that thing off, the cops are going to find you at your house, and they won’t think twice before hauling you off to book you,” she said.
“If it means never having to deal with you again, Anna, then it’s a chance I’m willing to fucking take.”
I inched closer to her, and I could’ve sworn I saw her lip quiver, the arrogance she’s been oozing finally halting as her life quite literally flashed before her eyes. I smiled because for the first time in a long time, she had no fucking control over me. I was the one holding all of the cards, and I was sure as hell gonna make her just as miserable as she was making me.
“I didn’t come here to fight with you, not about this,” she said.
‘Then why the fuck are you here?”
