“You’re too late,” he sneers, and a sinister smile spreads across his face.
Just then Saint comes around the corner of the garage holding a woman, his arm around her neck and a gun pointed to her head. She grips his arm but otherwise looks like a space cadet with the same black pupils as Justin. I’m convinced these two junkies are so fucked up they have no idea what’s happening.
“Hope this wasn’t your getaway ride, Justin. She was too busy using to check the time. Guess she missed the signal.”#p#分页标题#e#
I still have my gun trained on Justin, and I see defeat cross his face. I guess relying on a junkie to be on time wasn’t the smartest plan. I look back over at the woman, and I realize I recognize her. It’s Layla’s mother. Jesus! Layla told me she was with O’Leary at the warehouse, but I had no idea how far deep in this shit she was. I don’t have time to figure this shit out right now. I’ve got to make sure Layla is safe.
“Fucking useless bitch,” he rants disgustedly. “All she had to do was drive the car. Four years of planning this shit out, and she’s too busy getting high to remember her one goddamn job. I’ve put up with that asshole O’Leary, and fucked that crazy bitch,” he nods at Claire, “to get my payday, and she can’t do one goddamn thing. But, hey, maybe I can have a little fun with your Cherry. I’d bet you would pay for me to give her back to you.”
“Put her down. Now! There’s no way out of here. It’s the end of the line,” I shout, and I see him jump. He glares at me and then makes his move. He pushes Layla roughly off his shoulder and she lands with a loud thud on the concrete. She utters a small cry, and I see red.
I’m distracted by her falling, and for a moment my attention is diverted. I lower my gun and make a move towards my girl. As I step towards her I catch a glimpse of him out of the corner of my eye, pulling a kitchen knife out from behind his back.
My body is already in motion but he’s closer to Layla. He stands above her and raises his arm. I see his intention is to bring the big knife down on her, and I react.
In a split second I aim my gun at his head and pull the trigger. No hesitation. Direct hit.
The loud pop rings through the garage and Justin hits the ground as I reach Layla.
I hear Layla’s mother start to scream, and I don’t know if she’s upset he’s dead, or if she’s so strung out she’s just in a panic over a loud noise. I don’t give either of them a second of my attention as I go to my girl.
“Layla, baby, look at me,” I say, frenzied. I rub my hands over her face and head, trying to see if she’s okay. I don’t know where she hurt herself, but, thank God, she’s semi-conscious so she must have hit her head when she fell. Or maybe it just the drugs he slipped her.
Suddenly Jeanette is by my side, helping me wake her up. “I think he drugged her, but it must not have been much. She’s still breathing and her eyes are opening,” she says.
Layla looks up at me with foggy eyes blinking slowly. She doesn’t say anything so I guess she must be drifting in and out of consciousness. “Look at me, Cherry. I’m right here. Are you hurt? Talk to me, baby. I love you so much. I’m right here.” I’m rambling but I don’t give a fuck.
Jeanette helps me in looking her over, and she sees a big bruise already forming on her hip. “She must have banged her hip on the ground when he dropped her. Fucking hell, I’m glad that dick-bag is dead. I want to kill him all over again for that shit. Do you have any idea how difficult that was to watch and not be able to do anything?” She looks up at me and gives me a small smile, like she’s trying to make an inappropriate joke, maybe trying to get me to calm down a little. I feel like my whole body is shaking. It probably is. I’m sure I’ll laugh later.
“I need to get her to the hospital and make sure she and the baby are okay. I don’t know what that motherfucker gave her,” I say and pick Layla up.
“Two steps ahead of you, big guy,” Jeanette says, jangling the keys to the truck in her hand. “You sit in the back with her. I’ll drive.”#p#分页标题#e#
Saint walks over with Layla’s mother and looks at me with a questioning raised eyebrow. I know that look. He’s asking if we should take her out back and clean up this mess completely.
I look at the woman who was once the epitome of elegance – never a hair out of place and always perfectly dressed. She was a cold bitch but had her shit together. That woman would be ashamed if she could see herself now. She was a shitty mother and a pretty shitty human being, but I don’t think she would be standing here if it wasn’t for Dean O’Leary. That man ruins lives and his wife is no exception. I look back at Saint and shake my head.