“That bitch betrayed us, and she’ll probably betray you too,” he says to Dorian. And I’m already on my way over.
Dorian catches movement out of the corner of his eye and turns to me. His gaze follows me the thirty steps it takes to be nose to nose with the motherfucker who’d just called my woman a bitch. Pulling my gun from my back, I use the butt to break his nose, then shoot both of his kneecaps. His brothers, like the cowards they are, stand back in horror as their brother screams in pain. They don’t even attempt to rush me.
“Shut up,” I growl, pointing my gun down at his head as he lays on the floor. Since he can’t control his screams, I put a bullet in the man next to him. “Shut up or I’ll smother your screams with the bodies of your brothers.” He puts his fist in his mouth, biting hard to keep from crying out.
“Does anyone else have something to say about her?” I ask to the entire room, spinning around so that I address not only Death Mob, but the Underground too. “I have plenty of bullets for everybody.” The only sound is the rush of adrenaline I hear in my veins and the heavy beat of my heart.
My eyes move to Dorian, who gives nothing away. I don’t need his approval or respect. My offer of bullets was extended to his ass too. Placing my gun in the back of my jeans, I give Death Mob one last look of warning before reclaiming my spot next to Diem. Her hands are clasped so tightly in front of her that her knuckles are white. Her arms tremble slightly and I hope like hell it’s not from fear of me. When she looks up, a hint of a smile crosses her lips as her big brown eyes thank me. Shooting her a wink, I let her know it’s all good.
Dorian goes on about respect and knowing your place. About how each of them could have been saved if they would have just disappeared. How their greed had finally caught up to them and their desire for power had sealed their fate. What was it with him and this power trip? He was the most powerful man in these parts. Was that not enough? Did he really have to make this big speech?
When his men move to form a line in front of Death Mob, I know he’s wrapping it up. I look down at Diem, who is white with fear at what her eyes are fixing to witness. Taking a gun from his back, Dorian stands in the center of the men. When he says the words, “This is for Dirk,” I move my body in front of Diem, blocking her view.
The sounds of gunshots surround us, as the men fire round after round into the bodies that continue to fall. I keep my eyes on Dorian, watching his every move. When the last body falls, I move back beside Diem. A tear runs down her cheek as she squeezes her eyes shut. With my thumb, I reach out and wipe it, and she jumps at my touch.
“It’s me, baby,” I whisper. “You’re okay, but I need you to hold it together until we get out of here.” Her eyes dance in her head, trying to find something to focus on that isn’t the pile of dead bodies. “Look at me, Diem,” I command, a little sterner. She does, and I know she’s fixing to break. “Keep it together. Don’t let him see you weak.”
Slowly, she comes back to reality. I can almost see the shield as it creeps down her face, concealing her feelings. Brushing the backs of her hands across her face, she stands a little taller and nods. “I’m okay.”
I turn just as Dorian approaches, giving her another couple of seconds to get her shit together. By the time he has her in his sights, she’s back to the trained killer he raised her to be. “This is your glory to have, Diem. Your hard work paid off and I won’t forget it.”
I clench my jaw, wanting nothing more than to slap him like the bitch he is and tell him to eat shit. But when he looks at me, I just look right through him. “Shady,” he says, nodding his good-bye.
Two men leave with him as the others stay to clean up the bloodbath. Clark comes over and instructs me to get Diem out of here, and I waste no time leading her to the car with my hand on her back once again. I call Rookie on the way, telling him we’re leaving. I’d let him know where we’d be as soon as I found out, and he was waiting only a few minutes away.
I usher Diem into the backseat. Like a puppet, she follows my every command. I’m not even sure she hears me. I’m anxious to get to Rookie so I can be with her. The closer I get to him, the harder she breathes. Then her eyes start to blink rapidly, trying to control the floodgates I know are coming.
Finally, I spot Rookie’s bike on the side of the road. I pull over, and get out to see Diem getting out too. “I need some air,” she says to no one in particular. Crossing her arms over her chest, she starts walking down the narrow road toward nowhere.