Twenty-Two (H.S)

Chapter 44

....H's POV....

We had only been gone for not even a day at this point yet so much had happened. Luckily Zed had got some prior intel on where the gang usually hung out and it turned out to be pretty spot on so we showed up there right on day break. We parked a little bit away and suited up, grabbed our weapons and made the small walk to the edge of their camp. It wasn't very big or organised but it looked crazy. 

Zed and I made our way to the entrance and after speaking with the guard they let us in, a crowd had gathered watching us while they waited for their leader to come out.

"And what do we have here?" A tall burly man came out from a run down building in front of us, giving us the once over "Surrender your weapons" 

"We're not giving you shit" Zed spat, I pushed my hand against his chest, it wouldn't help us if he just angered them.

"It appears some of your men have killed our friend, someone from his compound and we're here to find the little fuckers that did it" I glanced around at the men standing before us, they all looked a little rough.

"Oh yes" The leader clapped his hands together "I have taken care of them already, we wanted no harm, those two idiots were simply there to keep tabs on you and were under strict instructions not to be caught but it appears that they were found out by your little friend and therefore he was shot as a result"

"Taken care of them?" Zed questioned.

"Yes... they were shot, not more than an hour ago" The leader said matter of factly, Zed and I shared a glace between each other, we didn't expect that.

"Oh...well then.." I started to say.

"You see we have a proposition for you" The man said walking slowly towards us, I raised my eyebrows at him in curiosity "I got my men to watch the goings on at your camp and it seems you have it pretty sweet over there so I want to make a deal with you"

"I'm listening"

"Me and you" He said gesturing back and forwards between us "A fight"

"What kind of fight?" Zed asked.

"A cage fighting match, leader to leader"

"What's the rules?"

"Rules?" He threw his head back laughing "There are no rules"

"Okay let's go talk about this properly before I agree to anything"

"As you wish" He bowed sarcastically and we followed him into the building he had walked out of before.

....

When it was all set and organised and we both knew what was to happen Zed and I emerged from the building. The leader, which we had found out was called Jasper, had given me a few hours to prepare for the fight which was to happen at 4pm this afternoon.

"Are you sure I can't fight in your place?" Zed tried to argue as we made our way back to the truck.

"Nah it has to be me" I shook my head "I wouldn't let you do it anyway though"

"Why not? You've got people that need you, people that love you, I've got no one"

"That's not true" I argued but he shrugged his shoulders and we climbed into the truck. I needed to contact Jax on the radio and inform him of what was going on. 

I relayed all the information to Jax after I had made sure that Em couldn't hear our conversation, Jax reassured me she was asleep right now so I was thankful she wouldn't be aware of what I was getting myself into. Jax was concerned like I knew he would be but I really had no other choice, if I didn't go along with this plan and do this fight then these guys would just keep coming back and more of my friends could potentially get hurt.

I had made sure there were set rules in place and each party knew what would be happening, thankfully Jasper was easy to reason with so I didn't have any trouble with him. After this fight there would be one winner and I just had to make sure it was me but I had made a plan with Jax and Zed if I did happen to lose. 

....

"Are you ready?" Zed asked, I glanced at the time 3:45, time to head over for the fight. 

"As well as I can be I guess" I shrugged dragging myself out of the truck. I had managed to have an hour long nap so that helped a little.

"Fuck Jasper and his gang, you've got this man" Zed slapped my back. I liked his optimism but I was still a little nervous and my own optimism was wavering by the second. 

"I'll meet you over there, just gonna radio Jax real quick" I said reaching back into the truck for the radio and holding it up to show Zed who just nodded in response and started walking over to the other camp. 

I leant against the truck and took a minute to process what was about to happen, either way this turned out it wasn't going to be the best situation, no cage fighting ever ended with both people perfectly fine so I knew either way I'd be feeling pain today.

Pain is something I had become well acquainted with over the years, we'd met each other when I was quite young and it never left me for years. The physical pain from my abusive childhood and the emotional pain of losing my sister had come together as one giant fuck you level of pain and for years I didn't care. I drifted through my teen years drunk, high, fighting, fucking and not giving a shit about anyone else let alone myself.

But that's all changed now. 

I didn't know all those months ago when I had sent Jax and Nate out to the city that later that day they would come back with the girl I would fall in love with.

She changed everything for me.

I no longer carried around all of the pain, it had slowly disappeared. Even when I was shot and I was physically in pain, as long as she was with me, I was okay.

I ran my fingers through my hair and looked up to the sky, I put my hand on my chest "I love you Harper" I whispered and closed my eyes. I guess this was it. I held the radio up to my mouth and pressed the button so I could speak.

"Jax you there mate?"

"Yeah H, I'm here" Came his reply a few seconds later.

"It's time" I sighed.

"Umm Em is here.....I... I haven't told her anything, you said not to until afterwards"

"That's okay Jax, thank you, can I talk to her?"

"Sure lad, here" He replied before Embers sweet voice came over the radio.

"What.... what's going on H?"

"I don't have time to explain it all now but Jax will tell you everything, I love you so much Ember, please don't ever forget that"

"H" Her voice was wavering and I knew she was worried, all I wanted to do was hug her and tell her it was all going to be fine, but I couldn't, I couldn't tell her that because I didn't know that for sure and I didn't want to lie to her, if this was her last memory of me it wouldn't be me lying to her. "Why does this feel like goodbye" 

"Em" I sighed "I love you okay"

"Okay... I... I love you too" I knew she was crying at this point and it broke my heart, I just hoped that Jax would be there to comfort her.

"Can I talk to Jax now please?"

"H?" I heard Jax say.

"Look after her"

"Always, but I won't need to, you'll be back here tonight"

"I have to go, bye Jax" I threw the radio back inside the truck and slammed the door shut. I guess I was as ready as I'd ever be for this fight.