Lethal Temptations (Tempted #5)(24)

Where was she? Why couldn’t I see her? I need to see her.

Just one more time.

Her voice faded, leaving me in silence until I heard Jimmy shout. I was torn in two, one half of me willing to succumb to the oblivion the drugs provided, the drugs he injected into me. The other half struggled against the poison, reminding me I had a duty to my club and to Jack. I needed to fight.

Fight.

No one fights harder than you.

For what? What am I fighting for if you aren’t here?

Her. The girl you’re trying so hard not to fight for. The girl you won’t let in but the one that can make you better. Fight for her.

My eyes opened wide as Jimmy reared his hand back and slapped Reina across the face.

Stupid prick.

“YOU SPEAK TO ME WITH RESPECT,” he yelled.

“He will kill you,” I slurred, fighting with whatever strength I had left to keep my eyes trained on him. “Joke’s on you, Jimmy,” I managed.

That’s it, stay in the game. Keep fighting.

“What’re you talking about?” Jimmy laughed.

“She’s not some whore we take chance a piece on,” I said, licking my dry lips as I tried to form a grin. “You just laid a hand on the president’s old lady.”

“What’s he saying?” he asked Reina. She turned her head toward me and I closed my eyes, working up the strength to give her a nod.

“He’s saying you’re f*cked,” she said. Then she called him a * and so help me God if I wasn’t half dead I would’ve laughed.

“In case you haven’t realized you’re tied up at my mercy, the only one who is f*cked is you,” Jimmy sneered. I guess she insulted the motherf*cker. “Well, maybe not quite yet but we can fix that,” he continued, before snapping his fingers. “And I know just the person to give you one last f*ck,” he said, turning around and smiling as his eyes met mine. “It’s brilliant!”

I lifted my head as he stalked towards me, kneeling in front of me before he cupped my chin and forced me to look him in the eye.

“You want to play me, try to fool me? I’m no one’s fool. What was it you said? That you were just having a go at her before Jack came and finished her off? Yes, I believe that was it,” he said proudly. “Going to make your lies become your truth,” he warned. “And that’s how we’re going to deliver my demands to Mr. Parrish,” he released my face and turned to his henchmen. “Let’s go boys, need to set the mood!”

I drifted out, falling into the darkness that beckoned me. His voice loomed in the air. His threats and his promises echoed off the walls as I remained paralyzed by the drugs, unable to defend, to fight, to wage war against this motherf*cker.

I became incoherent to whatever he said next as everything faded to black.

“Don’t lay down and die,” a voice whispered, but I was too far gone to decipher if it was Reina’s voice or the ghost of my dead wife.

In the darkness I searched for her, desperate to see her one more time, hopeful that if I did it would erase the image of her lifeless body in my arms. I’d kiss her one more time and her lips wouldn’t be cold like they were the last time they touched mine.

“Christine? Chris! We have to talk,” I shouted as I stalked through our apartment, searching for her. I needed to fix this shit with her, needed to know how deep she had become with that douche bag Brantley. I prayed to God I wasn’t too late that she didn’t turn her back on me, that she didn’t give me or my club up to the cops and more than that I prayed she didn’t give up on us, on who we used to be before I became Satan’s soldier.

Before I sold my soul to the devil.

I heard the water running in the bathroom and started down the hallway, glancing down at the water that saturated the floor. My boots sloshed through the water as I followed the stream to the bathroom and watched as it poured from the saddle of the doorway. I lifted my hand, tried to turn the doorknob, but it was locked.

“Chris!” I shouted, pounding my fist against the door.

Nothing.

I didn’t hesitate as I took a step back before charging forward, driving my shoulder into the door, tearing it off the hinge with hardly any effort. I pushed the door out of my way as the water made its way past my boots. I turned my head and then I saw her.

My world stopped.

She was faced down in the tub, her arm dangling over the edge with a needle hanging out of it.

“No, no, no,” I cried, pushing my legs through the water before bending down and lifting her body from the tub. I dropped to my knees, holding her as the water continued to run, overflowing the bathtub, drenching me. I turned her over so, her face was visible and noticed the shade of gray her skin had already turned.

“Oh, God,” I whispered as my eyes filled. I blinked through the tears, clearing my vision so my eyes could do a sweep of her body, hoping to find a shred of life left. My eyes fell on the needle still sticking out of her arm, the rubber band tied tightly around her bicep.

A nightmare.

I was living a nightmare, the same one I inflicted on the parents of those young kids that overdosed on my product. Did they find their children with my needle still in their arm? The blood stopped flowing for those kids but the poison stuck. Their hearts stopped, but the needle stayed.

Just like the woman in my arms.