“Not yet, darlin’. Let’s show him what happens to rats,” I say pulling her attention back to mine. I reach into my boot and pull my knife free, twirling it between my fingers.
“Oh, he’s gonna show us his knife throwin’ skills,” Leo chuckles causing me to grin. Kenna cocks her head to the side, raising and eyebrow.
“Oh, come on Babygirl. You had to know I have skills,” I tease her at the same time I throw the knife at the asshole on his knees. My eyes stay on hers and hers widen telling me I hit my mark.
“That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” she says softly. Leo steps up next to me and slaps a hand on my shoulder.
“Stop showin’ off and kill these fuckers. I’m hungry.”
Kenna laughs and holds her hand out to me. I know what she wants and it’s all hers to take. Sliding the gun out of my waistband I pass it back to her and take a step back. One after another, they all fall to the ground as we watch in silence. Well, most of us anyway. I don’t think Leo could do anything silently these days. His hoots and hollers fill the air.
“God, that feels good,” Kenna breaths as she shoves the gun into the back of her jeans. I watch her face, noticing her wince but she doesn’t make a show of the pain she’s still in. Instead, she grabs the blade Leo gave her and walks toward Donnie.
“Little fuckin’ cunt! You think you’ll get away with this?” He hisses at her. She laughs and kneels next to him, blade in hand.
“I think I already have. You see, you were stupid to stay around here. Did you think my guys over there wouldn’t find you? Did you think you could hide behind Phillip forever? You’re a piece of shit that doesn’t deserve to walk my streets of Miami.” raising the blade to his throat, we all look up when we hear clapping. Well fuck. There’s the rest of the Rats with Phillip dead center.
“What a show that was. Too bad it has to end here,” Phillip muses from the head of the pack. Kenna smirks and drags the blade through Donnie’s throat as he spits and sputters. Blood coats her hands as she lets his body fall to the ground and stands.
“You knew the whole time who I was didn’t you?” She asks. Phillip nods slowly but never takes his eyes off her.
He shrugs his shoulders and says, “What difference does it make now? We’re here and this is the end. Why our father didn’t want his own son to take over is beyond me. He’s a foolish bastard. He made the mistake of underestimating me; much the same as you did. This city is rightfully mine and I’m here to take it.”
“Like hell you are!” I roar stepping up behind Kenna. The need to push her behind me, to protect her is almost overwhelming me but I stand tall behind her letting her have her space to breathe.
“You don’t play a role in this, Phoenix. You tried to be the big bad biker, but this is between family!” Phillip roars while I chuckle.
“That’s where you made a mistake, Phillip. You aren’t my family. Phoenix is. These men are. You are nothing to me. You know, I almost felt bad for what our father did to you. It disgusted me that he could just toss you aside, but now I see the real you. The one that should be tossed aside. You make me sick.”
It all happens in the blink of an eye.
Chapter 25
Life is rough so you gotta be tough – Johnny Cash
Kenna
“You little spoiled bitch” Philip barks out, aiming his gun right at me.
“What the fuck is wrong with you, Philip? Put the gun down before I blow your fuckin’ head off,” Phoenix roars to my half-brother. Philip simply smirks at him, and before I know it, I hear the gun go off. I can’t feel the sting, but the sound of a bullet exiting the chamber. That is what jolted my attention before me, to see my half-brother pull the trigger, aiming straight at me.
It all happened so quickly, the pressure that went into my chest, the sudden difficulty breathing and my back hitting the ground below me. Sounds of the men around me screaming, of more bullets being released. All of it slowly starts to go quiet.
I look around, watching as Phoenix barrels off shot after shot. I try to speak, but when I go to take in a breath I can’t. I can’t breathe, no matter how hard I try.
He finally drops down to the ground where I am, his lips are moving but nothing comes from his voice. What in the world is going on? I can’t feel pain, or anything...I’m just so confused.
I grab at his hands, needing him to help me figure out what’s going on. He places his hand over my chest and pushes down, his mouth moves again, but no words are coming out. He rips off his shirt, bundles it up and places it over my shoulder while his free hand comes into view, I see blood...and then it hits me. That’s my blood.
I’m shot. Philip actually shot me. The weaselly little bastard!
“Ph-hoenix,” I gasp out, trying so hard to talk.
I watch as he mouths the word “no” to me.
I listen, nodding slightly, but even that hurts. Shock. I have to be in shock. That’s the only way any of this makes any sense. I shake my head from side to side, biting my lip through the discomfort, trying to get in breaths where I can, but it’s no use. I still can’t get a full breath, instead I’m forced to take these tiny breaths, unable to catch up, to open my lungs as much as I need to.
“Don’t you dare try to talk right now, Babygirl!” His voice is full of command, and yet so much fear is in his tone. I smile, not at what he’s said, but the fact I can finally hear him.
“Fuck, someone get an ambo here, NOW!” Leo’s voice surrounds me. I’m no longer terrified because I’m right where I need to be. I’m with Phoenix, and no matter what this man will never let anything happen to me. Kind of funny, coming from the girl who just got shot in the chest.
“Phoenix,” I murmur out, voice raspy and brittle.
“Dammit, Kenna. Why can’t you ever fuckin’ listen to me? Breathe, baby, just breathe. You can say whatever it is that you gotta say, later.” Phoenix presses a soft kiss to my forehead, holding pressure firmly on my shoulder.
I can’t listen, cause I’m as stubborn as a damn mule and he knows it.
“I love you.”
“Fuck, baby. I fuckin’ love you too.” I can’t help but let the tears slide as he tells me. I never imagined when all of this started that I’d grow to love him. I thought this would be purely business, for the greater good of Miami. Never did I think that I’d suddenly become head over heels for the man before my eyes. That he would grow into my walking, beating heart, but here he is, and he’s oh so perfect.
“They’re ten minutes out!” Leo yells over to Phoenix, and as I look up to him, I see his eyes are glossy as fuck, and my big tough guy might even start to cry.
“I’m…gonna be…fine,” I mumble, and Phoenix nods.
“Damn right you are baby, cause ain’t no one gonna cap you.”
I look over in the direction that my brother once stood, seeing him on the ground, blood surrounding him.
“Move…me,” I growl out, knowing how the police are going to show up; and this will be a fucking shit show, with too much press, if he doesn’t.
“No.”
“Leo! Move me!” I try to yell, catching his attention. I watch as he looks to me, and then to Phoenix.
“Move. Me.” I repeat, beginning to cough. “Have…to…move me.” I try to get my point across as best as I can, but all these two do is look at me, and then at each other.
“Bad press. Move me,” I grumble, grabbing onto Phoenix’s neck.
“Shit, she’s still got you”
“She’s always got me” Phoenix retorts, sliding me up into his arms, keeping pressure on my shoulder.
“Leo…grab Phi-lip’s gun. Wipe it and toss it.” I direct, he nods his head, and does as I command. I see Phoenix throw his hand up in the air and the next thing I know, the brothers are on their bikes and getting out of the area. Good, it’s the smart thing to do. He’s finally starting to think like I am right now.
I move my arm, yanking my cell phone out of my back pocket, and call Phoenix
’s phone. He acts like he’s going to ignore it, but I interject. “Answer it.”
Phoenix grumbles, removing his hand from my chest for a moment, but I cover my hand over my bleeding wound, grimacing as I apply pressure. He looks to me, confused and answers the phone. “Keep the line open, will help with police” I murmur, he sets his phone on my stomach as he walks me towards the road.
As we approach, Leo comes riding up on Phoenix’s bike. “Figured you need this for your knight in shining armor story. I’m gonna go clean up our rodents; a few of ‘em are still kickin’ and I’ll make sure they’re good and alive for when you two come back to the club” Leo hops off Phoenix’s bike and goes running back in the direction of the trailers.
The sirens begin to greet us, and finally I can rest. I know that I can close my eyes and that they’ll take care of me. I just need to stay awake long enough for them to get here. Just a few more moments.
“Kenna.”
“Kenna!”
Chapter 26
Phoenix
I fucking hate hospitals. I hate the smell, the color of the interior, the whole fucking atmosphere. Hospitals and doctors are one in the same. They tell you what they think you want to hear to keep you calm but it’s never the fucking truth. They whisked Kenna away from me and that pissed me off a little further than I already was to begin with. Thank fuck we knew a few of the cops that came out here questioning us on shit. I basically told them to get fucked because I wasn’t answering shit until I knew how my girl was doing. I pace the hallway because sitting in that stuffy ass waiting room was not happening. I hear the doors open behind me, but I know it’s not about her, it’s more assholes coming in from the waiting area.
“Phoenix.” I hear him call my name. I turn my head and look over my shoulder to see my brother standing there with hatred in his eyes.
“What are you doin’ here?” I ask my voice gruff.
“How is she?” Straight to the point, Ascher doesn't fuck around with other questions and I’m grateful for that.
“I don’t know. Haven't heard shit from them. I’m about to lose my shit here, bro.” Ascher moves towards me, resting his hand on my shoulder as he tries to calm me. My body is taut with tension and I can feel the rage simmering in my blood. I want to finish what we started. I want to bring Phillip back from the dead and watch him die all over again only this time a slow agonizing death at my hands. I shake my head trying to clear all the thoughts of my poor Kenna bleeding the way she was. It was so much blood for a shoulder hit.
“Stop thinking whatever it is you’re thinking, Phoenix.” Glancing over at Ascher I know he’s right, but this is my life lying on a gurney somewhere. She’s my fucking world and I might be losing that. A single tear slides down my cheek at the thought. I can’t lose her. I won’t lose her.
“Bro! I mean it. Stop that shit. She is a fighter. She will pull through this, how could she not?”
“You’re damn right she will!” A woman’s voice blasts from behind us.
Ascher and I both spin around to see a caramel colored beauty strutting toward us wearing a dirty oily coverall. Her aqua colored hair and giant hoop earrings are a stark contrast to the rest of her. My eyes move over the woman until she snaps her fingers pulling my attention.
“I’ll assume since you are the one wearing the blood that you are Phoenix?” The pissed off look in her eyes makes me wonder who the hell she is. Clearly not a family member.
“Yeah, I am. Who are you?” She raises an eyebrow and crosses her arms over her chest making Ascher chuckle. She shoots him a side eye but keeps that pissed off glare trained on me.
“First of all, congratulations at making my girl fall in love with you.” The fuck is she talking about? I’m about to ask, when she steps forward and slaps me across the face. I’m too stunned to react, so I just stand there gawking at her. “That’s for letting her get hurt! What kind of man lets his woman get shot? And don’t you dare try to give me the, no, I tried to protect her bullshit. If I was a betting woman I wou-” Her rant is cut short when the doctor comes through the door.
“How is she?” I ask stepping in front of the feisty little woman.
“She’s recovering. We removed the bullet, but she lost a lot of blood. She’s still weak but you can go see her now. Down the hall on the left.” I nod my head and start through the door when that girl follows me.
“Oh, hell no! Don’t you even think you get to go in there before me! You have lost your goddamn mind. Kenna is my girl. You come second. And why the hell didn’t anyone mention how hot you two are? Sweet baby Jesus. I might just have an orgasm from looking at all that sexy,” she grumbles, as she storms down the hallway next to me. I turn my head to look at Ascher, but he just shrugs. Following the little mouth to the room, she steps inside and gasps. She stumbles back a little and Ascher moves in to catch her.
“She looks so bad,” she whispers.
“I can hear you. I’m not dead.” My heart swells. My sweet Kenna just as mouthy as ever.
“You’re here,” she says locking eyes with me. I walk toward the bed, grabbing her hand in mine, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
“Where else would I be?” She smiles up at me when the woman clears her throat once more and comes to stand at the end of the bed.
“Excuse me, Miss Thang. You want to stop with eye fucking and introduce me?”
“Thought we already met?” I ask cocking my head to the side, a smirk on my face.
“Winnie! What did you do?” Kenna asks nearly breathlessly.
“Babe, she hit me,” I tell her. Kenna raises her eyebrow at her friend.
“Babe, she hit me. You, big cry baby. It was a love tap,” the woman mimics me.
“Phoenix, this is my best friend, Winnie.”
“You heard the woman, best friend. Which means I can’t be replaced even by someone as sexy as you,” Winnie snaps, looking me up and down again. I chuckle but Kenna holds tighter to my hand. I know she’s weak and needs her rest. Leaning down, I press a kiss to her lips, closing my eyes and savoring this moment with her. She’s mine. She’s alive.
“Get some rest, Babygirl.” Her eyes flutter but she shakes her head no.
“Don’t leave me alone.”
“I’d never leave you.”
Epilogue
Winnie
Holy mother of hell. I often wonder if this humid weather will finally let up, maybe if global warming will somehow turn into a global freeze where my hair won’t frizz or stick up in a million directions.
I know it’s pointless though, and it’s damn sure why I keep my hair pixie short. That, and the fact that I look flawless as fuck with short hair, and then you add my crazy colors. Mmhmm, all the Papi’s want a piece of the Win-Win.
It’s been the longest Wednesday of my life, that’s for sure. I’ve already finished two custom paint jobs, and I’m waiting on a shipment of supplies that is never seeming to show up. I thought to myself, sure Win, you deserve a short day! I had it all planned out, I’d just finish these two paint jobs, wait for the damn truck to show up, but nope – nothing.
Now I’m sitting here, twiddling my damn thumbs on my counter, waiting to see a truck magically show up outta thin air because my two guys decided to be jackasses and call out today, which left me stuck at the shop by myself.
Whatever, though. I got some work done, straightened up a bit. At the end of the day, all is said and done, but it would be lovely for this truck to show up, so I can go relax. And by relax, I mean go over to Kenna’s house and lay on the beach. That’s what best friends are for. What’s hers, is mine. We’re more of a sisterhood anyway, each other’s main bitches.
I turn around, grabbing my phone off the counter and decide to kill some time by playing a puzzle game. I may not be the smartest chick, but I do love me some puzzles. Time flies, or so I think it does when I only notice that an hour has gone by.
I slide my hands on the counter and bring myself off over the ledge, hitting the ground
and wondering how else I can pass the time. It’s only been an hour. Ugh! I flip open my Spotify, connect it to my sound system and Niykee Heaton’s Bad Intentions come blasting through the speakers.
I can’t help but move my ass to the beat, swaying my hips, singing along to the lyrics. “Your biggest secret you been keeping from me, is how well that ass moves in them shorts, girl” I jolt at the sound of his voice, turning to face him, the guy I probably shouldn’t be paying too much attention to, but I just can’t help it.
“Ascher.” I roll my eyes, doing my best to send a message that I want him to leave.
“Winnie the Pooh,” he smirks, leaning in my door. I grumble at his damn cute little nickname for me, ready to tell his ass to go fuck himself but catch the bag that’s in his hand, and then the whiff of taco’s hits me.
“I thought you might wanna eat, and I need a little paintjob on that bad boy outside.”
I completely bypass the food, needing to see what kinda baby he brought me to dazzle up. I peek through the window and can’t say I’m surprised, although I did expect him to bring something newer.
“Pontiac GTO. Hmm,” I murmur, walking through the door and out into the sticky mess that I call home. “Definitely needs a fresh coat” I comment, running my fingertips along the surface. The heat from the sun blazing down the metal warms the pads of my fingers up as I trace the defined edges of the car.
“She might just need a rim job too.” Ascher says from behind me, suggestiveness evident in his tone. I can’t help but smirk at his games, but he already knows I’m a girl who loves to play.
“Yeah, she might, but I’m not talking about the car.”
“Neither was I.” His eyes sparkle in the sunlight, daring, taunting me like no other.
“Just because we got close after Kenna got shot, doesn’t mean I’m gonna fuck you, Ashie.”
“Damn straight, girl. The only one doin’ the fuckin’ is gonna be me, ramming my cock inside that tight little pussy of yours until you beg me to let you cum.”