Healing Gabe (Last Hangman MC Book 3) (20 page)

“Why?” I growl at her, I’m seething and having her this close just makes me want to wring her neck.

“What can I say? You messed with the wrong crowd by trying to do the right thing. No good deed goes unpunished, isn’t that the saying?” She shrugs.

“I’m going to fucking kill you like I just killed your perfect man. You two really do deserve each other.” I take the two steps that were separating us.

“Not before I get through with her.” Viv walks to us, pointing a gun at Annie.

“You wouldn’t kill your own sister. I know you, you act all mighty and strong, but you’re still just a little girl inside. You’re weak. I’m the strong twin.” She smirks.

“You think? I told you I didn’t have a sister anymore. You’re just another fucking stranger and nuisance in my life. I don’t even hate you. I feel nothing for you.”

“You can’t feel nothing for me. We are supposed to be one! Would you really kill your own niece or nephew? An innocent child?” Annie screeches.

“That’s what happens when you’re a backstabbing bitch. I will not let the spawn of Satan walk this earth, I’d rather be dead than let you have his kid.”

“Are you sure you are going to be able to live with that?” I ask Viv, rubbing her back.

“I’ll deal with that later. For now, goodbye, Annie.” She doesn’t hesitate and puts a bullet through her head. We watch Annie fall limply on the ground. I wrap my arm around Viv’s shoulders and bringing her small frame to mine. Needing to hold her and touch her.

“I’m so sorry Doll.” I say softly.

“Don’t, it’s not your fault they were twisted motherfuckers.” She sighs.

“I know, but still, a lot of this could have been avoided.”

“It’s going to be alright, go check on your sister, she needs you.” She lifts her chin in Nic’s direction. She’s holding an inconsolable Sanders, but looks like she’s about to lose it too.

“Are you sure?” I kiss her softly.

“Yes, go on, I’ll be okay.” She kisses me back softly and I go to my sister.

The rest of the Kings are on the ground, all dead.

“I’m sorry man.” I pat Sanders’ back.

“She was fucking innocent! It’s all your fucking fault!” he yells at me and punches me and I let him. I don’t like being punched, but he needs to let out the pain and anger he’s feeling.

“It’s going to be okay, Sanders.” Nic says softly.

“How can it be okay when I just lost my wife?” He looks at her, completely lost. I feel for him, I know how it feels.

“I’m here, I’ll help you.” She holds him and he lets her.

“You going to be okay, sis?”

“I’ll get there. Go get your woman.”

“What’s with you two sending me off to each other.” I shake my head and make my way back to Viv, I walk past Jared’s lifeless body. She’s kneeling by Annie’s dead body. I don’t know what she’s saying, but the next thing I know, she’s turning towards me and telling to me watch out. The rest is a blur.

CHAPTER 23

Viv

I can’t believe I just killed Annie.

I can’t bring myself to call her my sister anymore. Not after all the backstabbing bullshit she’s done over the years.

She was the sweet, innocent one, the perfect one. What the fuck happened for her to be this messed up?

I knew my parents’ death had messed with her head but I never thought it was this bad and that she would side with Jared.

I wonder if she was really in love with him or if it was just to make sure they wouldn’t kill her, but who would willingly put themselves through such a life.

I guess I’ll never know the real reason, and honestly, I don’t care anymore. All I want to do is live my own life, be happy and have a family. Gabe and I lost so many years of happiness we could have had thanks to Jared and Annie.

Gabe and I are going to have to sit down and talk about everything, what happened today, the past and what we want for the future. Now that Annie and Jared are gone, we can finally look forward without fear of one of us being taken away. It’s going to be a tough day, but if we come out of it together, it’ll be worth it.

I can’t believe he told me he loved me. The timing couldn’t have been more wrong, but I would have gone in peace, knowing that he really does love me. I don’t know if we’ll make it out of this unscathed, but no matter what, we love each other, we know it. That’s all that matters in this moment.

I kneel down next to Annie’s lifeless body and take a good look at her. It’s her, no doubt about that, a part of me thought she might have been a mirage. I think back to her confession and whilst it blows my mind, I feel nothing. I mourned for my sister twelve years ago, I don’t know who that stranger was in front of me.

“I wish things happened differently Annie, that you would have come to me back then instead of seeking help from the devil himself. I meant what I said, I haven’t had a sister in years, I lost her years ago. I wish you would have stayed that Annie, my Annie. In the end, you’re the one who brought about your own death, you were lucky to have twelve extra years. I hope you were happy otherwise all of this would have been for nothing.” I close her eyes with my fingers and turn my head to see Gabe walking towards me. I smile softly at him, relieved to see that he’s okay and that we’re both going to be okay. I stand up and walk towards him, ready to start my new life with my man. My happiness is short lived. “Watch out!” I yell at Gabe and run towards him. He turns around to and sees Jared standing up. Gabe doesn’t have his gun or anything to protect himself with. The scene in front of me plays out in slow motion. I run as fast as I can to Gabe and crash into his side, shoulder first, tackling his massive body to the ground. I hear a loud
bang
resonate through the warehouse and a sharp pain in my left side.

“No!” I hear Gabe yell, but he sounds like he’s on the other side of the warehouse. I continue to fall to the ground, half on top of Gabe when I hear another loud
bang
but don’t feel any pain this time. “Please no, Viv, look at me please.” I hear Gabe’s voice and I feel his hands pressing on the left side of my chest.

“I love you, Gabe.” My voice is raspy. I’m in so much pain and it’s so hard to keep my eyes open.

“I love you too, Vivian, please, don’t leave me. Don’t say goodbye, fight this for me.” I feel my eyes close, my breath hitching one last time, before the darkness takes me.

March 27
,
2003

Dear diary,

Today was supposed to be a good day.

It started perfectly. Annie and I went shopping in New Orleans. I miss it there. We haven’t been there since our parents died, Trent never let us stray too far from the compound. It was weird at first, but seeing so many familiar places was good. We went to our favorite Chinese place that we used to go to once a month with the best orange chicken around.

We went to the mall and bought so many new clothes. The only good thing about Trent is that he throws money at us so we can buy whatever we want. I don’t care how it makes me sound, I’ll take his money and spend it. The man is fucking creepy and always trying to get us to agree to do things for him, but we aren’t giving him the satisfaction.

It’s one thing to buy our silence but it’s another to try to play matchmaker with the VP of a fucking MC who is sleazy and creepy as fuck. Trent wants me to be with Jared so the Kings and Bastards will merge and overpower the other MC in Louisiana.

I hate when people tell me what to do, and even more so when it means me having sex with someone I can’t even look at without shuddering.

After coming back from shopping, we put our stuff away and went out for dinner. Unfortunately for me, as we were leaving the restaurant, Jared was waiting, as if he knew where I would be. Fucking creep. He wanted me to go out with him and I didn’t want to. All I wanted to do was go home and watch some of the movies I bought earlier. He wouldn’t relent and I didn’t want to make a scene so I didn’t have much choice but to go along with him.

He decided that he wanted to go to a bar even though I’m only eighteen. He said it’d be okay because he knew the owner. I didn’t want to go in at all. I don’t want to drink around him or have him drink around me. I don’t want to be inebriated when I’m around him. I’m too scared of what he could and would do to me. I know what he’s capable of.

I tried to leave but he wouldn’t let me. He pulled me around the side of the bar, which was secluded and started yelling at me, telling me that we should get together, that it’d be good for family business or some shit I didn’t care enough to listen to. All I wanted to do was make a run for it.

Then a stranger walked up and started arguing with Jared, I’ll be forever thankful to him, who knows what would have happened to me otherwise. I’ve never seen the guy around but damn, he’s fucking hot! Tall, over 6ft for sure, with broad shoulders, a very lean and toned body, short beard, dishevelled black hair, plump lips that you want to suck on and a nice set of thighs that make you wanna sit on his lap. I’ve never felt like this around any guy. He is sex on legs and I wanna know more about him.

I at least, want to be able to thank him for saving my life. I mean he got punched and got his cheek lacerated because he saved me and that deserves at least a thank you that I don’t remember having the time to say.

Luckily Cabe was there with a couple of his men to break up the fight between Jared and my savior. As much as I’d love to see Jared get his ass kicked, the other guy didn’t deserve to be pulled into this mess. I’m glad he fought for me, but it’s not going to end well for him. You don’t want to mess with Jared.

Of course, as Annie came to pick me up, the mysterious guy saw her and I saw an instant connection. I was long forgotten. Well, I’m not even sure he was ever interested in me, but it hurt nonetheless. Annie always gets the attention from guys with her sultry looks. I swear we’re identical except for our eye and hair color but I look like an innocent angel and she looks like an exotic creature all the men want. I often thought about dying my hair, but then I would just be copying her. All I want is to have someone look at me like how my saviour looked at her. Maybe one day.

Even though I saw him first, they had a connection and she called dibs. There’s not much I can do. We always followed and respected each other when it came to calling dibs. I can’t go behind her back and try to seduce him if she has her eyes set on him and clearly he reciprocates.

I hope things will fix themselves at the club so Trent will leave me alone. I’m sure that if I tell him what happened tonight, he wouldn’t give a damn and would just call me a fucking prude before telling me that it clearly shows how much Jared likes me.

I can’t believe he’s willing to pull this shit with his own niece.

I hate him, I hate my life, I hate that Annie and I have to go through all of this.

I sometimes wish I could end this nightmare, but I don’t want to leave Annie alone, that wouldn’t be fair.

I hope with time things will get better. I can’t wait to be able to get away from this place.

Viv.

CHAPTER 24

Gabe

This can’t be happening. I can’t lose Viv, not again.

Why in the hell did she jump in front of me? She should have let me take the bullet. It would’ve been a lot easier for me to handle than having to watch her limp body take her last breath in my arms. I cradle her to my chest. Aleck and Ant shake and shout at me, but I don’t hear them. All I want is to be left alone with Viv.

Aleck pushes me away and I try to fight him but don’t have any strength left. He and Ant carry Viv outside, while Nic applies pressure on her wound.

My world has just come crashing down. The one thing I dreaded the most happened all because I said those three fucking words. I should have kept my mouth shut, I knew something would happen if I said them.

She can’t leave me. I can handle all the bullshit that went on today, but not losing Viv. No, I can’t handle that at all.

I feel numb, I haven’t moved an inch since she was shot, I’m sitting on the floor, resting my head on my knees, holding my head. I hear someone shout my name. I look up and see Bennett limping over to me. I had no idea he was here. I look around as he walks towards me. Sanders is holding Jenny’s dead body. Annie is on the ground, with a hole in her head. Jared is face down on the ground, with half of his brain missing. I don’t know who shot him, but I’m glad that motherfucker is finally dead. I just wish I could have been the one who put a bullet in his head for shooting Viv.

“She’s a fighter, she’ll be okay, but you need to get your ass to the hospital and be with her. She needs you Brother.” he says holding his hand out to me. I take it and he helps me up.

“I can’t lose her.” I tell him, my voice wavering.

“I know, that’s why you need to go and be with her. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect her like I was supposed to. It’s my fault.” he says sadly.

“We’ll talk later, come on, looks like you could use a ride.” I help him out of the warehouse and we take one of the pickups that are parked outside the warehouse.

We drive to the hospital in silence, I can’t bring myself to talk, if I do, I know I’ll lose it. I need to stay focused and get us there as soon as possible in one piece. I break all the speed limits driving to the hospital, I don’t have much choice, I need to be there for Viv and Bennett needs medical attention. I look over to Bennett and see that he’s losing a lot of blood from his gunshot wound.

“Hang in there Brother,” I tell him before I pick up the pace, breaking the speed limit.

We finally get there and I half carry, half drag him inside the ER. The nurse behind the counter sees the state of his leg and comes rushing out of the small office.

“What happened to you, Sweetheart?” If things weren’t this bad, I would find it funny.

“Got shot twice in my leg.” He groans in pain as he applies too much pressure to his wounded leg.

“Come on, we’ll take care of you.” She shows us the way to a cubicle and I follow, still half carrying him. He wasn’t this bad when we left, I guess he’s lost more blood than I thought. “You’re our second gunshot victim today.” She shakes her head.

“Was the first one a young woman with purple hair?” I ask, scared we aren’t in the right hospital.

“Yes, how do you know?” She gets Bennett on a gurney and tightens a tourniquet around his thigh.

“She’s my woman. How is she? Where is she? I need to see her.” I say frantically.

“I’ll go get a doctor for you, Sir.” She scurries away leaving me with Bennett.

“She’ll be okay, don’t worry.”

“There was so much blood. Coming out of her chest. What if he shot her in the heart?” I’m sure I feel faint, not like I’m going to pass out, but instead like the life has been sucked out of me.

“Do you really think she would give up after all this?” Bennett asks raising his eyebrow at me.

“She doesn’t get to choose whether she lives or dies. Not if she was shot in the fucking heart.”

“Yes, of course she can. She can either fight the pain or let go. Don’t give up on her just yet, it might take a while but she will be okay. Trust me Brother, she won’t leave you behind.” He pats my shoulder and groans again. “Fuck the bastard who did this.”

“I hope you’re right.” I sigh. “Who shot you?”

“One of those fucking Kings pussies. Anyway I know I’m right, so stop moping around like a fucking woman and make yourself useful, go get me some morphine, will you?” He groans yet again.

“No he can’t.” A doctor walks into the cubicle with two nurses. He looks me up and down. I must be a sight, I’m covered in blood, Viv’s blood. “They’re about to take her down to surgery now to remove the bullet and fix any damage.” I can see the muscles in his jaw work as I look at him expectantly and then he sighs. “Third hallway to your right then three more to your left. Hurry up.” I nod at him and run out, needing to see her. I don’t know what the doc’s deal is, but it seems that he thinks it’s my fault she’s been shot and that I don’t deserve to see her. He’d be right about that. Maybe he knows her though, she did use to live around here.

I let those thoughts die as I reach the last hallway and see the surgery team wheeling her towards a set of doors at the other end of the corridor.

“Wait!” I yell at them.

“We have to hurry up Sir, you can’t be here.”

“I just need to see her, she’s my girlfriend.” I run to her and kiss her forehead. They’ve already intubated her and she’s still unconscious. “I’m so sorry, Viv. Please fight, I need you to fight for me. I love you so much.” I wipe a single tear that rolls down her cheek. I don’t know if she heard me, but I fucking hope she can fight this.

“We really have to go now.” Says one of the nurses and they take her away from me, I watch the doors close slowly, feeling like they’re closing a chapter of my life. I hope I won’t be writing the next one on my own.

“Sir?” A soft voice comes from behind me. I turn around and see a really young nurse looking at me like I’m a terrifying monster. The fact that I’m wearing my cut, am covered in blood and have a nasty scar on my cheek isn’t helping.

“Yes?”

“If you’ll come with me, I’ll show you the waiting room so you can wait for your girlfriend without all the commotion of the ER.” Her voice is so soft that I barely hear her.

“Thanks, ‘preciate it but my brother is in there, I’m going to go wait with him.” I giving her a small smile and she nods, blushing.

“Alright, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask for someone to show you where the waiting room is. We’ll keep you updated on your girlfriend’s condition as soon as we hear anything.” She smiles softly and almost runs away.

I walk back towards where Bennett is and sit by him. “What did the doctor say?” I sigh, needing to keep my mind from wandering off into unwanted thoughts.

“Went to get X-rays done while you were seeing Viv. Just waiting to get the results now. How was she?”

“Unconscious and she had a tube down her throat,” I say defeated.

“Don’t give up.” The disapproving doctor comes into the cubicle.

“We’re going to have to operate, Sir. One of the bullets didn’t go straight through and is lodged against the bone.” He holds up X-rays they took whilst I was seeing Viv. At least it looks like they are quick at something, hopefully my Viv will be receiving the same level of care.

“Oh come on! Can’t you just numb the area and pluck it out?”

“No Sir. The bullet is too deep, it doesn’t look like it has exploded or hit anything vital but we need to remove it as quickly and carefully as possible to avoid any further damage.” The doctor tells him and I can tell Bennett is not pleased about it.

“I swear to God, if you make my dick explode, I’ll fucking sue your ass!” He glares at the doc, managing to make us all laugh.

“I promise Sir, I won’t.” the doc says chuckling.

“It’s not funny! The thing is huge, maybe you’ll have to strap it to my other leg or something so it doesn’t get in the way.” He shrugs and we keep laughing. He does know how to lighten up the mood.

“Thanks Brother. I needed a good laugh.”

“I’m all about pleasing you, Gabe.” He smirks and waggles his eyebrows.

“Asshat.” I chuckle and shake my head. “Take care of him doc, even though he’s a total fucking nutjob.”

“We will.” They start to wheel him down that same corridor I saw Viv in earlier, I follow until we reach the same door that is separating me from her. I lean on the wall in the empty hallway and sigh. Why does my life always turn to shit? Whenever something good happens, something a million times worse follows.

“Waiting room?” I hear the same shy nurse from earlier ask me.

“Are you following me?” I raise my eyebrow at her, standing up fully.

“I…uh…no…” she sighs.

“You sure?”

“Maybe?”

“Do tell.”

“I’ll show you to the waiting room first.”

“As you wish.” I follow her through a maze of hallways and elevators. After ten minutes we reach a quiet waiting room. Thinking about it, Charline was in this very room a few months ago, waiting to hear if Aleck would make it or not. It’s fucking crazy how life keeps repeating itself, especially when you’re in a MC.

I wish they had fucking alcohol or beer in their vending machines instead of crappy hospital coffee, but I suppose it will have to do. I get myself one and sit in one of the uncomfortable looking chairs. “So, why were you following me?” I say taking a sip and frown.

“Yeah, not the best coffee.” She takes a deep breath. “I just…I don’t know how to say this, I’m going to sound totally stupid.”

“Not judging you Hun, but if you want sex with a biker, I’m not the guy for you. That’s my woman in that surgery room fighting for her life, I’m not about to cheat on her.”

“I wasn’t going to ask for sex, well not from you anyway.”

“Oh, tell me more.” I smirk, trying to relax, clear my mind and stay positive as Bennett suggested, but it’s fucking hard.

“Well, I live next door to Ryan, and I think he’s in your club, if I remember the cut correctly.”

“You are correct. So you’re the sweet, innocent neighbour he’s been obsessing about?” I can’t help but snicker.

“Wait…what?” She looks at me dumbfounded.

I shrug. “He might be a fucking flirt and hit on anything that has tits and ass, but he’s been talking a lot about you, looks like you caught his eye as well. What can I help you with though?”

“I…uh…well…”

“Yes? I’m not going to judge you, so fire away.” I frown as I swallow another sip of the terrible coffee, making her laugh.

“Well, I know you guys aren’t saints, but I’ve never seen him bring a woman home, and I was wondering if you knew if he had anyone and maybe what he liked. I know I sound lame and inexperienced, but I’ve been through…let’s just say, I haven’t been lucky when it comes to good guys I’ve been dating and well, I thought that maybe going for a ‘bad guy’ would make me happy.” She shrugs. She’s adorable. I can see why Ryan likes her.

“Ryan is as single as they come. He’s troubled for sure but that’s for him to tell you about, I think you could be good for him. But I don’t know how you would handle club life, but if you’re willing to try, I’m sure you two could work things out. You look all sweet and innocent, he loves that in a woman but you need to have a strong character to be able to handle a biker. We can be a bit rough around the edges.”

“I’m stronger than I look and I’m not going to let another man walk all over me, not anymore.” Her breath hitches realizing what she let slip.

“A man put his hands on you?” I walk over to her and sit in the chair next to her. I don’t know her from Adam but I hate the thought of someone putting their hands on her, she’s too nice to be treated like shit.

She nods. “Not just one.” She sighs.

“That shit doesn’t sit right with us, we respect our women. Ryan will treat you the way a woman deserves to be treated, with love, care and respect. If any of them are still bothering you, talk to Ryan or me. We’ll sort it.”

“Why?” She looks up at me with a mix of fear and trust showing on her face.

“Because anyone hurting an innocent woman doesn’t deserve to live. That’s why,” I say, maybe a bit too fiercely as she blanches.

She quickly recovers and raises her eyebrow at me. “For all you know, I could be one of the bad guys.”