She Belongs To Him

Chap. 17: What A Shame

• the warehouse in flames •

~earlier that morning~
Morning had come after a short, restless sleep. Lane had woke up with bags under his eyes, his joints sore. He dressed his naked body with the clothes he left on the floor. The ones from the night before. Looking through his schedule book, Lane headed to the garage to grab a different outfit with his meeting with Ronin McGinnis, an Irish ally that made and washed his counterfeit cash weekly. After the scuffle between Katie and two of his gang men, Lane decided that it would be best if he were to go and make sure everything worked in the right order.

As Lane walked down the hallway, he started to slow down at the sight of Katie's sleeping quarters. She primarily shares it with Rebel, whom wonders over to either Lola or Frankie's room for sex. The crime lord thinks back to him hitting her the night before in the club. Guilt clutches his stomach, making his face twist in disgust. And then she confessed how awful her uncle, Gail, treated her, which only tore Lane's heart a little more. But not enough to shake his ego.

The crime lord had walked into the garage and went to his favorite Cadillac, popping the trunk. He grabs his black duffle bag with his spare clothing. He kept them there due to the possibility of making a getaway from the police or having them stolen by any of the others. He changed into his white shirt and earthly grey cardigans, slipping on a pair of black pants with docker shoes.

When breakfast was served, the only one who wasn't present was the blonde herself. Rebel claimed Katie was still sleeping hard. Lane knew what he had done had not only frightened her, but caused her to fear him even more. He knew that not only did he have to punish Lola and Rebel for what they had done, but Katie as well. He allowed Ace to stay behind and make sure Katie was secure until he could come back and think up a great enough punishment.

After they picked up his delivery from Ronin McGinnis's gang, Lane took both Lola and Rebel aside. He beat them long and hard, unleashing his frustration and anger out upon them. The crime lord still could not think up a punishment great enough to set an example for the others but harm Katie to the point where it was too much for himself to handle.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

~Now~

Lane's knuckles are bloody, the skin on his knuckles cut. They itch and sting all at the same time. He rubs his forehead in frustration, lost in thought.

"Boss," the sound of alarm in Axel's voice catches Lane's attention "you're going to want to see this."

Lane put the window to see a heart clenching sight. The warehouse they were all housed in is bursting into flames. The crime lord's eyes widen at the sight, anger filling him.

"No!" Lane screams out in frustration, smacking his fist against the passenger seat in front of him. "No! No no no!"

The other two Cadillac's behind them honk their horn. Lane shakes his head and quickly thinks.

"There's another location, out in the forest." Lane nods, deep anger festering inside of him. "Go there. Now!"

"What about Ace? The girl?" Axel worries.

"Ace will get her and bring to to our location. He knows where all of them are." Lane nods to Axel, "Now go!"

Axel speeds away in the black Cadillac towards the dark Pinewood Forest. The other two Cadillac's follow close behind.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

No one speaks as they are all gathered around the television. There are purple and green lines through the screen. The sound of, newscaster on the daily news, Giselle Merriweather's voice fills the room. Her pasty face and bright red hair stands out almost as much as her pointy nose. On the television screen, behind the newscaster, is the burning warehouse. Lane rubs his sore knuckles as he watches.

"There was no sightings of how this may have happened." Giselle says on the television, "The building was not owned by anyone but was believed to be home to thugs or a meth lab."

Max shakes her head and crosses her arms. "Ridiculous!"

Lane holds up a hand for silence, continuing to listen closely. Lola holds onto Rebel, who is covered in bruises and cuts.

"Everything inside was burned, even two bodies that were found." Chills run up and down everyone's spine. "Both victims, both unidentified, were found burning in the fire. The examiners who braved coming out here to examine the burned bodies believe one victim was a woman, the other is unclear at this time. Back to you, Rick."

Jett turns off the television, standing still. No one speaks. Rebel and Lola cry softly. Lane sits there staring at the black screen, his mind racing.

They found two bodies. Lane's chest begins to lift as he breaths in and out deeper and heavier. The only ones that we left behind was Ace and Katie.

The crime lord's hands begin to shake, a tear forming in the corner of his eye. In a flash, he grabs his wooden chair and throws it against the wall, breaking one of the legs. The gang all stand still and remain silent as they watch Lane walk off into his office. When the door is slammed shut, everyone relaxes.

"So...Angel is gone?" Rebel is the first to speak, "And Ace?"

"Something doesn't add up." Phoenix shakes his head, "What could have started the fire?"

Axel shrugs. "Perhaps a stove wasn't turned off."

"Maybe Blondie started the fire." Margo suggest, a slight smirk on her face. "Thought She could make a fast one on us."

Max shakes her head. "Don't be so smug, Bitch. Just because she's dead, doesn't mean he'll automatically pull down his pants for you."

Margo rolls her eyes at Max. Lola looks between everyone in annoyance and anger, tears filling her eyes. Rebel feels her female lover tremble.

"Fuck those two! What about what I lost-we lost!?" Lola cries out with heat in her voice, "What about our things? Our clothes? Our stash money?"

Rebel lets go of Lola and stands up, her face scrunches up. "You're so damn heartless!"

Rebel runs straight into, Frankie, her male lovers arms, who is annoyed by both Rebel's outburst and Lola's selfishness. Though he didn't care for Katie at all, Ace was his friend.

"Enough of the love fest." Max stands up, shaking her head.

Max grabs her red leather jacket and goes to Lane's office doors. She knocks twice before opening the door. Max peaks her head inside to see a shocking sight. Lane is hunched over with his wounded hands buried in his dark hair, his head hung. She can't see them, but she knows there are some tears.

He must have really had something for that kid. Max purses her lips together. What a shame.

"Boss, I'm gonna take the motorcycle in the shed up to Willy's Gas Station and get a few things, okay?" Max says cautiously to Lane, "Maybe get us all something to eat like pizza or corn dogs-whatever Willy's has today."

Lane sniffles nods his head, not speaking. Max softly nods to him before closing the doors.

Hey readers! Sorry I haven't written in a few days. I've been procrastinating due to my own laziness yet I've been excited to further the story. If anyone is curious, YES I am going to continue "Safe With Me" story, but I am focusing on this story because I have A LOT of ideas that I want to be written, published, + done with so my readers can enjoy as well as I. Please bare with me 🙏🏼 What did you think of the chapter? Will Lane ever find out what really happened? What will Katie's supposed death do to him? What will he do now that his warehouse is burned to the ground? And with all those books! Comment below please ☺️❤️🙏🏼