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“They said it was an old gang rival that killed him,”
“I know what was said. I asked him to talk to you about your accounts and he laughed in my face. He told me he was going to tell you to divorce me. Honestly, I don’t think I was going to make another twenty-four hours. Your uncle was a fucking killer. Do you know how many people he killed or was killed because of him? But his fatal mistake was underestimating me. He never saw it coming. I remember his eyes were huge when he realized he was going to die because of me. They were almost comical,” he says with a shit-eating grin on his face, and only knowing that I will have some one on one time with him once we get him out of here keeps me in my seat. I finish wrapping my hand in my napkin and look at him with equal pain and fury reflected in my gaze. “So let’s make this easy, shall we? I would hate to see any of these pretty women get hurt because you act out. I don’t know what the plan is, but I know if you are sitting here in the open after successfully hiding for almost two years, you think you have something up your sleeves. But I didn’t come here alone, and the men I run with have no problem killing men, women, or children for that matter, so get your ass up and let’s go.” He looks like the cat that swallowed the canary, so pleased with himself. He moves to stand up, but Lion’s heavy hand landson his shoulder, pushing him back down in his chair, and all hell breaks loose. Franklin stands up, turning and swinging on him, but Lion easily avoids it.
“Get out of here,” he yells to me, and then everyone is in motion. I head for the gate. Giovanni’s men leave, leaving Franklin without the extra protection he thought he had. Bones rushes in, and the bullet that was meant for Lion goes through his right hand as he reaches out to push his brother out of the way. Lion, Bones, Slim, Shadow, and a few others begin a quick but deadly shootout. Thank goodness there are no regular guests here today. In the end, the only ones left standing are Lion, Bones, Franklin, Slim, Shadow, and the other Sinners. I rush over to Bones whose hand is mangled, and wrap it in part of his shirt.
“Let’s get your ass to the hospital,” Lion says as he hogties Franklin with zip ties and duct taping his mouth before putting him on the back of the truck under the cover on the flatbed. The three of us jump in the truck leaving the Sinners to do clean up as we rush to get him toOchsner Medical.
Lion
Son of a bitch!Even though it is not a fatal wound, his injury could end his career. Skidding to a stop in front of the emergency entrance, I threw it in park before practically dragging him out of the cab of the truck and rushing him inside.
“We need help!” I yell, and nurses and doctors rush to help. “He is Dr. Broussard!” I run down what is going on, telling them he was a victim of being mugged. They rush him in back, and I make my way back out to Rebel. “Baby, I need you to stay with him. I have to get that piece of shit out of the back of my truck. Go inside, and I will be back. For all intents and purposes you are my wife and his sister-in-law.”
“Got it,” she says, giving me a quick kiss and going inside. I get back in the truck start it, throw it in drive, and head to the house, pray to a God I’m not sure I believe in for my brother.
A Few DaysLater
Rebel
It has been a crazy few days. The brothel was cleaned up and back running the next day with the girls back to work. Ms. Adelaide announced her retirement to the ladies, letting them know I would be taking over and that I have been the owner for a while now. Some of them were surprised, and some were not. Benjamin’s hand is a mess, but the doctor is cautiously optimistic that he will get the full use of his hand back. He will have to go through several months of physical therapy, but he has a great chance of getting the full use of his hand back.
Today, however, puts an end to a part of my life, a rebirth if you will, and it’s a long time coming.
“You ready?”
“Yes,” I say, taking Lion’s hand as we make our way out to the work shed. The door opens, and I almost throw up from the smell, but being tied to a chair around the clock can get kind of messy.
“Just kill me and get it over with,” he grumbles, and I know he has to be uncomfortable and itchy as hell.
“Why would I do that? I am enjoying watching you be humbled. You know, all the years I was on the run, I always thought I would have a million questions for you, I’d want to know why you did or didn’t do something, but honestly, I no longer give a fuck. There is no answer you can give me that would be satisfactory. I will tell you that you really fucked what could have been the best thing that ever happened to you.”
“Well, I never thought you were an undercover slut, but…..” his words are cut off by the crack that splits the silence in the shed from Lion’s fist connecting with his jaw. Spit with blood and teeth splat against the floor as he laughs at Lion.
“You’re an idiot, you know that?”
“No matter what I say, I’m dead, so just get on with it.”
“As much as I hate to do what you are demanding, I will do it this last time because I have given you too much time already. But there are a few things you have to answer for.” Lion hands me a sickle, and I don’t even pause. I swing it through the air and come down on his wrist, taking pleasure in hearing and seeing the bone break, leaving his hand hanging on by muscle and skin. All the smart-assed comments stop from all the screaming he is doing. I look at Lion who grabs Franklin’s head, forcing his mouth open, picking up the pliers. I grasp his tongue and use a smaller knife to cut off his tongue. “That’s for lying so fucking much,” I hiss in his face. All of his bravado is long gone, and I take satisfaction that I am the one who caused that.
“Go inside, baby, I’ll finish this,” Lion tells me, and I hesitate. I want to finish this, but realistically, I have gone as far as I can. I drop the knife and walk out without another word.
Lion
“I have to agree with Ronnie, you really are an idiot;. You had it made with her, but you just couldn’t be happy; you had to have more. Watching her leave with tears in her eyes makes me want to kill you myself, but I think you need to feel the fear she felt when she was on the run, and I want to give my babies a chance to have a little fun.” I cut the zip ties, and his hand plops to the floor, his stump still spewing blood. I have to help him up, and he rocks on his feet from pain and blood loss. “The fact that a weasel like you killed my father blows my mind, but I am sure hewill be happy that the same cats he gave to me are the ones that will avenge his death.” I open the door and push him through, and I call for Jazz and Blues. “I suggest you run,” I tell him when I hear them roar, and he stumbles off.
I make my way back inside the house to find Rebel standing in front of the windows, watching Franklin run across the yard. I installed cameras to be able to watch Franklin’s run, but he didn’t get far, and Rebel and I watched Jazz take him down almost instantly. Slowly, she sinks to the floor and cries, and it rips my heart out. She is finally feeling everything she has repressed, and I sink down with her and hold her through it. A few hours later, there is not much trace of Franklin left, and Rebel and I are cleaned up and cuddled on the sofa.
EPILOGUE
Lion
“It’s finally healed,” I tell her, looking at her back as she’s sitting on the side of the bed.The property of Liongoing down her spine has me harder than steel. Knowing she only has two tattoos and both of them profess our love makes me feel like beating on my chest.
“Ooouuu, take a picture so I can see it!” she says excitedly. I do and show it to her. “Damn, I love it.” I take her hand when she hands me her phone back and kiss the tattoo on her left hand. She has half of a lioness with a crown on her thumb and web, and I have half of a lion’s face with a crown on my right thumb and web. When you put them together, they merge into one.
“I love this tattoo.”
“Mmm, me too,” she kisses me and heads into the bathroom. So much has changed and then again, not a lot at all. She went back home after being gone for two years. She donated everything there except the things that have sentimental memories of her mom and uncle. She put the house on the market, and it sold almost instantly. She also went by the bank to thank Yadira for the help she gave her when she had to make a run for it. She also had a sit down with the girls, and theygave Ms. Adelaide a retirement party that went on for at least two days. Rebel also announced she wanted to close the brothel, but they had a fit. They were able to change their lives from the money they were making and the education and training they were able to take advantage of, so she agreed to leave it open for a little longer. Personally, I told her to keep the damn thing, she instituted a Sinners night, and for that, she gained free protection, even though being my ol’ lady she was going to get that anyway. I love her business. Between the hotel and the brothel in the quarter, it’s a cash cow. Add that to my company and things are great. We don’t have to touch her inheritance. Honestly, my money alone would be more than sufficient.
