Blood Love

Now: Still Day 4

Jason kicked down the door of the decrepit apartment with little patience, little discretion, and little care. Honestly, he just didn't care anymore. Hayley was in the hospital. He could lose his baby. Richie was unfortunate to be in the current path of his destruction.

"Richie!" he bellowed, plunging into the apartment, tearing everything to shreds. Nobody in the kitchen. Nobody in the bedroom. That just left—

The hair on the back of his neck prickled, his old instincts kicking in. He ducked, just as the sharp pop of a gun echoed. The bullet whizzed by and lodged in a wood cabinet. Jason grabbed his gun and pressed himself against the cheap plaster, resolve harder than stone. Richie was good, but not Jason's level good. He was just another punk-ass kid puffed up with arrogance. Probably a rich brat looking for a little fun. He saw his fair share of those who always got in way over their head when they realized daddy wasn't going to protect them from the cartel who wanted their head on a stick.

"Jason!" Richie called, coking his gun back for another round. "Man, what took you so long? How's the little bitch?"

"Four," Jason growled.

"Huh?"

He stepped around the corner just in time to meet Richie, pressing the nose of the gun into the other man's chest. Richie grinned smugly, masking his emotions well. Or maybe he was just that stupid not to be afraid. "You didn't leave town. I think I'm insulted."

"I 'ain't afraid of you."

That said everything Jason needed to know. He tucked his gun away and laughed, crossing his arms. Richie's brown furrowed, gun wavering the slightest bit. "What are you doing?"

"How old are you? Nineteen? Twenty?"

"It don't matter."

"Nineteen it is, then. Do you know who I am?"

"That don't matter, either."

What a little bastard. Jason could take this kid down with his eyes closed. How he'd let him get this far was beyond him. Probably it was Hayley. No, of course it was Hayley. He tended to go in blind, foggy rages when something happened to her. Clear thinking was never a priority in those instances. They required more of the shoot now, think later mindset.

"Never put a gun up against somebody," he said. "You know why?"

"Why—"

He never even got the words out before Jason disarmed him, dropped the gun, threw his fist square in Richie's face, heard a satisfying crack, and pinned his arm behind his back. "That's why."

His cockiness waned. "You didn't get my proof."

"Yeah, we don't always get what we want, now do we?" he pulled harder, and Richie grunted with discomfort. "Back in my day, we didn't blackmail people to do our shit for us like a bunch of pussies. We fought for our status."

"I'm . . . gonna . . . waste you."

"Are you? I'd like to see you try with a dislocated shoulder."

"I don't have a—son of a bitch!"

Another sickening pop preceded Richie's shoulder sliding out of socket, and at that point Jason dropped him. He slouched to the floor like a pathetic sack of bricks. Not worth his time. Not worth anything.

"You underestimated me," Jason said. "That was your first mistake. Never underestimate your opponent. And never try to bring back the syndicate your opponent killed Shane to end."

Realization settled in. He uttered a simple, "Shit."

"Yeah."

His face was turning all sorts of colors of the rainbow. "Kill me, then. Just get it over with."

Jason thought about it. He really did. He'd come in with the resolve to put a bullet in his ass and walk away. Go back to Hayley and never leave. But he was better than that. He was becoming better and he would be better. "I'm not killing you. You aren't worth my time."

"What are you gonna do, then? You can't just leave me here."

"You're right. But know this." He gripped his shirt, yanking him up, ignoring his cries of agony. "You ever come near us again, you ever breathe in my girlfriend's direction again, and I will end you. I will show you what it feels like to wish for death, understand? This is a love tap in comparison."

He didn't wait for a response, just threw him to the ground and pulled out his phone. "I have a body for you to deposit."

Butch laughed. "Dead or alive?"

"Broken. But very much alive."

"Damn. Really? Didn't expect that."

"Whatever. Listen, Ricky's beeping me on the other line. I need you take him into . . . unfriendly territory. Son of a bitch needs to earn his balls."

"Ooh. I like that. I can definitely do that."

Jason clicked to the other line, heart pounding in his chest. "What is it? Is she okay?"

Ricky sighed heavily, sounding just about as tired as Jason felt. "She's going in for surgery."

He was out the door in seconds. "When?"

"Now."

"I'm on my way."

"No, I'll be here. Just take care of everything."

"It's already done."

"Damn, really?"

"Really. Don't move. I'm coming."

And the only thing left, the only thing remaining, the only thing that mattered, was her.

Hopefully Richie didn't mind him borrowing his car.

***

Not everything I wanted to get in there and short like the rest but hopefully it's satisfying enough. I'll add more later, just thought you might like something to read!

-EJ