Purge (Death Crusaders Motorcycle Club) (13 page)

“I just need your phone.” I
reply, taking it from his hand.

I quickly dial Blade’s number
but no surprise, it goes to voice mail. I turn to the man while keeping one eye
on the approaching van.

“Sorry.” I say to him and
sprint for the edge of the road and a cluster of houses.

Maybe I can lose myself there
and direct Blade to me before Mark shows up. As I run I dial Blade again. This
time he answers.

“Who’s this?” He barks.

“It’s me you moron! Don’t
hang up.”

“Jen?”

“Who else?”

“I didn’t recog-”

“Shut up. I’m at the corner
of Larkin and Van Ness and I’m on foot but Mark is looking for me.”

“Gimme that back!” The man
shouts, snatching his phone from my shaking hands.

“But I just got kidnapped.” I
plead.

“And I called 911. You have
to go back to the intersection so the police can find you.”

I kick him in the balls. He
bends over, dropping his phone and sinks to his knees on the hot pavement. I
scoop it up and take off running again. I expect to see the white van bearing
down on me any second now. Mark had to have seen the road I ran down. I pause
long enough to dial Blade again.

“Yes?”

“I’m on Larkin and Spring
now.”

“Can you stay put? I can’t
input the streets in the GPS fast enough to find where you are. Just stay put
for ten seconds.”

“Are you really that slow at
typing?” I ask.

A sudden screech of tires
makes me look up in panic. I start to run when I realize it’s the Land Rover. I
am so relieved I just about collapse right then and there. Blade jumps out and
scoops me up into his arms covering my faces with kisses. I can’t believe I’m
safe at last. He finally set me down on my own two feet to get a good look at
me just as the man I kicked runs up.

Blade steps in front of me
drawing his gun. “Who the fuck are you?” He demands.

I grab Blades arm forcing it
down. “It’s okay, I just borrowed his cell phone.”

“Oh…why’s he so pissed off
then?”

“She kicked me in the nuts!”
The man yells.

“Well I’m sure she must have
had her reasons.” Blade replies.

“She tried to steal my phone
and when I wouldn’t give it over she kicked me.”

“It was an emergency.” I
argue. “I had to cal-”

The squeal of tires and the
wine of an engine cuts short my complaint. The white van is rapidly
approaching. A hand appears out the driver’s window and as I turn to run
towards the Land Rover I hear the bark of a 9mm. Blade grabs my arm propelling
me in front of him. We run around behind the Land Rover so that we have
something solid between us and the white van. The back driver’s door opens and
out climbs Piper and the little boy we found in the bathroom.

Chapter Fifteen

Endgame

“What the hell is he doing in
here?” I ask as they crouch down beside us.

“I couldn’t leave him there.”
Blade replies. “We have to keep him safe.”

“What you thought it would be
safer to bring him to a gun fight?”

“Give us the boy!” Mark
shouts from the white van.

“Go to hell!” I shout back.

“How many guys are in that
van?” Piper asks me.

“Just the two of them.”

“Hey Mark!” Blade shouts.

“What’s up Blade?” Mark yells
back.

“We aren’t giving up the kid
so why don’t you just walk away from this one.”

I turn to look at Blade.
“What? You can’t let him go. He’s the one the girl ID’d as the shooter. He
killed Alex.”

“I realize that, but this is
bigger than him. He may have pul-”

“
May
have?” I hiss.
“Whose fucking side are you on now?
He
pulled the trigger.
He
killed my best friend. I don’t give a damn who ordered it. Mark killed Alex.
How many times I gotta say that. He doesn’t walk.”

“The kid Blade. Give up the
kid and she walks and we never go after her again.” Mark yells.

“Sorry Mark. The lady says
the kid stays with us.”

“Did you find out who died on
the construction lot?” I ask Blade.

“Yeah it was the kid’s uncle.
The dad’s MIA right now and we need to find him before your friend over there
does so we need to get a move on.”

The second Blade finishes
talking Mark and his buddy open up again. We hit the dirt and wait as Blade’s
beautiful Land Rover is chewed up in a hail of lead. When it stops again it
felt like it lasted five minutes but it was probably more like five seconds.
Piper presses something in my hand; it’s a small handgun.

“I know it’s tiny.” Piper
says. It’s actually my backup weapon.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a .380.” He explains.
“It’s kinda hard to conceal this.” He says, indicating his Beretta.

“Are they still there?” I ask
Blade.

From my position I can’t see
a thing.

“Yeah, they’re still there.”

“What are they waiting for?”
I ask. “They are waiting for something aren’t they? Why else just sit there?”

I move around so I can see by
looking under the Land Rover’s carriage. If I was a good shot I could probably
hit somebody’s ankle from here. I’m not a good shot. We wait another couple
long minutes before Mark breaks the silence again.

“Time’s running out Blade.
Come one Jen, this is really between me and Blade and Piper. Why don’t you just
go? Walk out of here and no one will try to shoot you. Go over to Main Street
and hail a cab. Save yourself girl.”

“How is it time’s running out
Mark. You know what I think? I think you guys are almost out of fire power.
Seems to me time has run out for you.”

Before he can answer an
unmarked car enters the intersection and parks right by Mark’s van giving them
another vehicle to hide behind.

“Looks like reinforcements
just came.” Says Blade grimly.

“That car actually looks
kinda familiar.” I say to Blade.

“It should. It’s your basic
unmarked police cruiser. No we really got a problem. You can bet whoever is in
there has brought some real firepower.”

“Jennifer Clarkson, are you
still there?” Asks a familiar voice.

Oh shit. I know that voice.
The last time I heard it was the night Officer Regan was being murdered. Well.
I thought she was being murdered.

“I’m here Officer Regan.” I
call out. “Why don’t you show your face you murderous bitch!”

“Come on Ms. Clarkson,
there’s no reason we can’t be civil here.”

“What are you doing here?” I
ask.

“We need the boy.” She
replies.

“Why? He’s not even the eye
witness.”

“He’s the last person left
who knows what really went down that night. I’m sorry Jen, but he’s just a
casualty of war. When you think about it, it’s really Blade’s fault he’s in the
middle of this.”

“What? Now I know you’re a
crazy bitch.” I yell back. “What has Blade got to do with anything?”

“His club came back and
forced the war with the Advocates and the Sleazebags. If they hadn’t returned
this would have never happened so if you still need to point a finger at
someone point it at Blade. He may not have been president then but he sat at
the table where decisions were made and he wholeheartedly supported the war.”

“So are you trying to tell me
that Mark did not kill Alex?” I ask.

“Oh no, he killed her alright
but he was following my orders.”

It’s a long fucking shot but
I have to try. I can barely see her legs in a tiny gap between vehicles. I hold
my breath and squeeze off two shots. They go sailing over the car nowhere near
her.

“Save your ammo.” Blade
advises.

“That woman used me to find
the girl. In fact she’s probably been following us all day. Here people had to
have been responsible for killing Mikey’s family.”

“So we’ll get her, but not
today Jen. We’re outnum-”

Suddenly the air erupts in
flying lead. Piper’s Land Rover shakes and vibrates from the impact of the
rounds. It lasts for maybe twenty seconds before it stops. All four tires are
flattened and there’s not a single window left intact.

“What the hell is she
shooting?” I ask.

“Probably an M-4 or an M-16.”
Piper replies. I used both of those guns in Afghanistan. It’s gotta be one of
those.”

“Do we even have a plan
here?” I ask. “Or are we just going to sit here until our only cover
disintegrates?”

“I got a buddy that lives in
Cave Junction.” Piper replies. “He’s on the way but we gotta hold out for a few
more minutes.”

“So when he gets here we
attack?”

“No,” Piper replies. “When he
gets here we get our asses out of dodge; that’s what we do.”

“And we let them walk?” No
fucking way! That’s not acceptable.”

“If we stay we’ll certainly
die.” Blade cuts in. “Remember, we have to protect Mikey and get him into
witness protection. That’s the only way this has any kind of happy ending. I’m
sorry Jen but for today Mark and that woman walk.”

“Fuck! Fuck…fuck…fuck!”

Out of pure anger I point my
tiny gun and just blast away in the direction of the unmarked car. I just keep
pulling the trigger over and over again until the slide locks back and the gun
is smoking and empty.

“Angry much?” Blade asks.

“Shut up!”

Mark and his buddies use this
exact moment to open fire again. The three of us huddle behind the engine
block; the only part of the car that offers us any real protection. The truck
rocks with every round that strikes. I can feel fragments of metal and glass
falling into my hair. I look down at Mikey. He’s leaning up against the wheel
well with his eyes closed and muttering under his breath. I’d imagine he’s
praying.

When the unholy din finally
dies out Officer Regan calls out to us. “Last chance to walk away alive Jen. I
advise you take it. I’ll give you 90 seconds to make up your mind. After that
we won’t stop shooting until the four of you are dead.”

“Where’s your friend?” I hiss
at Piper.

“We still need more time.” He
replies. “Try reasoning with the woman Jen. Sounds like she really doesn’t want
to kill you. Just keep her talking. If she’s yapping her mouth she’s not
shooting so…”

“Got it.”

“Hey uh…Regan. How about I
walk out of here with the boy? I’ll go back to Be…to Mexico and take him with
me. You’ll never see either one of us again.”

“Can’t do that Clarkson.”

“But he’s not even a witness.
It was his sister and you already murdered her. Let me walk with him. I swear
to god you’ll never see us again.”

“Sorry bu-”

“But why not?” I plead,
interrupting her. “The boy is not a credible witness. He didn’t see anything
and he’ll say anything to-”

“This is not just about what
his sister witnessed that night Clarkson. He can ID his mom’s shooters. He
can’t walk. It’s too much a risk.”

I’m running out of ideas to
keep her talking. The second she stops talking it’s all over for the four of
us. Blade elbows me in the ribs.

“Say something.” He urges.

“I don’t know what to say.” I
reply.

As the seconds pass the more
despondent I feel. Today I die. I mean I could just walk away and save myself
but that’s not me. I have to stay.

“Walk away.” Blade advises.

He must have been reading my
mind. I shake my head.

“He’s right.” Piper says.
“You can go free. You’re the only one of us who can. Even if we gave up the
boy, and we won’t, they’re still going to kill Blade and me. Save yourself
Jen.”

I shake my head emphatically.

“Please Jen.” Blade pleads.
“Save yourself. When I die I want to know that you’re back in Belize enjoying
life again. You belong there and not dead in some street in Cave Junction.”

“I can’t. No way I’m leaving
you guys.”

Blade addresses Officer
Regan. “Hey lady officer. I want to make a deal with you.”

I grab Blade’s arm. “No way,
you don’t make deals for me with her.”

“What’s your offer?” She
yells back.

“We turn ourselves in and you
let Jen walk.” Blade hollers.

“Done.” Officer Regan
replies.

“You can’t do this.” I hiss
at him.

“Relax Jen,” Piper replies.
“He’s just buying us some time. My buddy will be here any second.”

“Come on out.” Officer Regan
instructs.

“Just a second. I need to say
goodbye to Jen.” Blade says.

“Then say them and be done
with it.”

“Just got a text.” Piper
says. “He’s two blocks away.”

“Alright,” Blade begins. “We
empty our weapons now. Aim for the tires not for them. We take out the tires
and we’re home free. On my count. Three…two…”

I hear the squeal of tires
behind us.

“One…Fire!”

Blade and Piper start blazing
away. I watch as the van and the sedan rock from the impact. Almost immediately
the van loses two tires.

“Let’s go!” Blade shouts, as
he grabs my arm and propels me backwards toward the waiting pickup.

Piper is literally dragging
Mikey with him. The driver’s window of the truck is down and someone is
shooting steadily at the unmarked car. All four of us clamber into the pickup
bed as the driver continues to fire. I can hear the heavy rounds from the M-16
walking its way towards us. As our getaway vehicle peels out several rounds
impact the side of the truck. Two holes appear inches from my head and go all
the way through and out the other side of the bed. The engine screams as
Piper’s buddy redlines the engine in a last ditch effort to get us out of
harm’s way. As we speed down the road our driver begins to weave. As time
passes it becomes dangerously erratic, sideswiping a parked car and narrowly
missing a telephone pole before screeching to a halt half into someone’s front
yard.

Piper hops out and runs
around to the driver’s door. I hang out of the bed watching. Piper yanks the
door open and to our surprise a man falls out on the ground at Piper’s feet. I
look back behind us. So far no one’s following. Piper bends down and checks for
a pulse. He stands motionless for a few seconds before shaking his head. Piper
climbs into the cab, slams the door and steps on the gas. I flatten myself into
the bed of the truck, one arm protectively around the terrified Mikey. Blade in
turn puts his arm around me. I expect to feel the bite of a bullet any second
now as Piper winds through side streets in an effort to lose anyone that might
be following us. If we managed to disable Marks van and the unmarked car
they’ll still call for backup. We need to put some miles between us and this
dusty town.