Blood of Cupids (10 page)

“There has to be fifty bikes down there. I’m not going to
stand around while they plan an attack on us, Gracie.” My dad said.

“Fifty?”

“Yes, fifty.”

“But, I thought they were a small club.”

“And apparently they have friends.”

“Then let them come to you, Dad. Fight them on your own
ground.”

“Last time they came to us, they killed your mother. You
expect me to let them take someone else I care about? No. This is ending
tonight.”

“You can’t kill all fifty of them.”

“I’m not planning on killing anyone.”

“What?”

“I’m only sending a warning.”

“What kind of warning?”

“Gracie, you know I’d rather keep you out of this.”

“This is my home now. What happens here is my business.”

“This filthy city will never be your home, and you’re coming
back to us as soon as you finish your degree next year.”

“And what if I don’t?”

“Then I’ll make you.”

I threw up my arms and stormed out.  There was no
talking to him when he was like this. What was I supposed to do? Just sit
around the apartment and wait to hear about something on the news? And I wasn’t
too naive to how these things worked—the news didn’t cover the shit that
happens on club ground. If the cops here were anything like the cops in
Alexandria, they’d just cover things up and get a payday.

And what about Ryan?

The way he held me before he took off: it was like he was
saying goodbye. Does he think there’s a chance he might not live through this?
What are they planning? And what about Dad? If there are fifty bikes down
there, they have something big going down. No. I was going down to that
clubhouse whether they liked it or not. I was not about to sit around while my
family was in danger, while Ryan was in danger.

I sat in the bar across the street until the sun went down.
I thought maybe a few beers would give me the courage to follow my father. A
week earlier, I’d sat in the exact same seat, staring into Ryan’s green eyes.
How could so much happen in one week? How did I care so much about an enemy?

I heard the bells from a nearby church. It was six thirty,
and it was dark. I watched my father and the fourteen other members of the club
leave my apartment. They rounded the corner and disappeared from sight. Then I
heard the roar. Three beers in, it might as well have been fifty bikes starting
their engines together. Fifty bikes. My family was terribly outnumbered. I
stepped onto the curb and lifted my arm. A cab rolled to a stop, and I got in.

“Where you heading?”

“Southwest Philly, please.”

“Where about?”

I had no idea. Shit. I actually didn’t know where the
clubhouse was.

“Take me just across the river, on the outskirts.”

“Miss, it might not be so safe for you by yourself.”

“I’m not paying you to give me safety advice. Now take me to
the shadiest part of town.”

He shut up and took his foot off the brake.

I didn’t see the bikes, but I asked him to let me out
anyway. I knew rolling up in a checkered cab would make me stick out in this
neighborhood. But how could I find the bikers?

I looked down at myself. I looked like a fucking schoolgirl.
I rolled my skirt a few times, and undid some buttons on my shirt, tying the
bottom under my bra. There, now I looked more like a “mama”. If only my boobs
were bigger. There was nothing I could do about that now.

I pushed into a dark bar and skipped to the counter, eyeing
the bartender.

“Any idea where the fight is tonight?”

“It’s invite only tonight, Sweet Cheeks.”

“Oh, I was invited, I just forgot where it is.”

“Not enough room for brains and beauty in that little
package, huh?”

I wanted to clock him across the face. How dare he speak to
me like that? But I was playing a part, and me punching the dirty bartender
wouldn’t get me an address.

“Did you just call me pretty?”

He laughed. “Two blocks south, and turn right, by the water.
You won’t be able to miss it.”

“You are so helpful.”

I pouted my lips, bat my eyelashes, and got the hell out of
there. The cabbie was right; I did not feel safe in that neighborhood. I
decided to run the two blocks; I ran straight into the swarm of bikes.

Okay, Gracie, you’re up.

I heard yelling and music. It wouldn’t be hard to find the
match. But where were my guys? I hadn’t seen them. I did a quick spot check.
Two patched-in bullies were hiding out in an old truck behind the venue, and
one was sitting in a bulldozer. They weren’t that good at being discreet. I
noticed another up on the roof. Really?

I stepped up to the two guys guarding the door.

“Hiya fellas.”

“Sorry Mama, this one’s closed tonight.”

“Oh, no. Ryan invited me.”

“Ryan invited you?” I saw them exchange confused looks.
Please let this work! I gave a big smile, over emphasizing my dimpled cheeks.
The bigger guy opened the door and winked at me. “Okay sweetie, you can have a
seat up front.”

“I think I’d rather stay in the back. You know, those
fighting guys sweat a lot.”

“No, Ryan’s orders. Ladies sit in the front.”

Ryan’s orders; why was Ryan giving orders?

“Well, okay then. Thanks boys.” I stepped in and looked
around. I didn’t see any faces I knew. Where the hell was my father?

An older man came over the loud speaker. This was a pretty
legit venue. “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to tonight’s match. In the blue,
all the way from Boston, Massachusetts, we have Danny Sims!”

Danny climbed into the ring. He looked strong, big, and an
entire section went wild for him. Was Ryan going to fight this guy? Was this
whole match thing actually happening? I honestly thought it would be a cover up
for something bigger. Maybe it still was.

“And in the red…” Time slowed as I saw Ryan. His hair was
wet, falling into his face. He lifted his arms to the sky, welcoming the
display of his defined torso to the room. I wanted to reach out and touch him.
I wanted to stand up…but he couldn’t know I was here. I slouched in my chair.
“From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, we have our very own, Ryan Cassidy!”

The room erupted, and my heart stopped. Ryan Cassidy? Ryan
Cassidy
?
Not only was he high up on the totem pole, he was the fucking president’s son.
I wanted to disappear. I wanted to take back my whole week. What the hell was I
doing there?

I needed to get out. Could I slip out without being noticed?
I slid to the floor as the bell rang, signaling the start of the match. He was
light on his feet, jumping around his opponent. Then he swung. It was a strong
uppercut, and it sent the other guy back a few steps. The crowd was screaming.
I could still run. I could get out. I stood up, knocking over a beer onto the
girl in front of me. She stood and pushed me. Normally I’d fight back, but I
was trying not to draw attention. She continued to push, and I lost it, kicking
her straight against the ropes of the ring. This distracted Ryan, and the guy
in blue hit him with a left hook. Ryan fell, and I screamed.

He lifted his head, and looked right at me. It took a second
for it to sink in, but when it did, his jaw dropped.

“Grace. No. No. Get the hell out of here.”

I nodded, dropping everything, and ran out of the building.
I heard yelling; a loud noise, and then I felt my arm go numb. I became dizzy,
using my other hand to fight the burning sensation of my upper arm. I kept
grabbing at it, but I couldn’t feel anything. I looked down. My hand was red.
The color was blinding even in the darkness. It was blood. There was so much
blood. It hit me: oh my God, I had been shot. How? Why? I just needed to get to
the road. There were so many loud noises—guns I think—as I approached what I
could only assume was their clubhouse. If I could just make it past there…

An explosion. I saw it first, then the sound radiated
through my ears. The blast lifted me off my feet and threw me back. My head
slammed against the ground and everything went black. It was as though I was
closing my eyes for an extended period of time. Every time I opened them, I saw
something new. I heard something new. I was disoriented. Nothing made sense.

Then I heard the bikes. That must have been my family.
They’d blown up the Cupids’ clubhouse, and I was stuck here, motionless, in the
middle of a field. I was not getting out of this alive.

The next time I opened my eyes there was a shotgun pushing
against my chest.

“My arm…” I begged. It hurt so much. I could feel the
pounding take over my body.

“Who are you?” It was a deep voice, a voice I strangely
recognized. Why did I recognize it?

“Ryan?” I cried. I knew it wasn’t him, but I wanted him
there. I needed him to be holding me.

“Ryan? You know Ryan?” Shit. I wasn’t thinking clearly. Once
they figured out who I was, God only knew what they would do to Ryan. I tried
to fight my muscles, but my head answered his question with a nod.

Darkness again.

I felt my body lift off the earth and my head fell against a
hard surface.

“Grace, I’m here. Please wake up. Grace.”

“Ryan…” I squeaked out. Something was wrapped around my arm.
It was so tight, and all I could hear in my head was the sound of my blood
pumping.

“Yes, babe, I’m here. It’s okay. It’ll be okay. I promise.”

His voice was cracking. It was so loud. There were people
everywhere.

“You know her?” It was the voice again.

“Yes, she’s my…she’s my friend.”

“Why is she here, Ryan?”

“I don’t know.”

“How did she know you were down here?”

“Shut the fuck up. I don’t know.”

“I can’t find her wallet. What’s her name?”

“It’s Grace.”

“What’s her last name you idiot?”

“I don’t fucking know!”

If I had any control over anything in that moment, I
would’ve cried. They were about to figure out who I was: in front of everyone.
Ryan was about to find out that I was not his friend; I was indeed his enemy.

“Pops!” It was Ryan again.

“Ryan, what happened?” There was a different voice.

“I don’t know. She ran out of the match when I saw her. They
must of thought she…I don’t know…someone shot her, and then clubhouse blew.” He
was having a hard time getting words out. “She must have been too close. I told
her not to come tonight. I don’t know why she’s here. Grace.” He was shaking
me. “Grace. Please wake up.”

“Grace?”

“He doesn’t know her last name.”

There was silence. Someone touched my forehead, my cheek. I
opened my eyes and was staring at an older man, an older Ryan. He moved my hair
from my face and sighed. His lips pursed and his brow furrowed.

“It’s Brennan. Her name is Grace Brennan.”

“Shit!” Screamed the voice. “Are you fucking kidding me?”

He stood up, leaving my view. Only Ryan remained. Complete
shock filled his face: shock and betrayal. Please, Ryan, say something.

“Grace? You’re…You’re Grace Brennan?”

I nodded. The blackness took over.

Darling J,

Oh how I miss you. So empty my life has been these past
few years without you in it. I fought myself every minute, every second, but I
thought I was doing what was best for my family, my daughter. Did you know I
had a baby girl? She’s simply beautiful, and she’s my whole world, but I catch
myself staring at her and wishing she were half yours. So how can I do what is
best for her when I’m not doing what is best for me?

I must see you. Each night as I close my eyes, your face
calms me to sleep, but I fear I’m losing you. Your eyes are blurring in my
memory, and I just can’t let that happen. As I lose pieces of you, I lose more
of me.

My husband is leaving for a ride next weekend, for at
least a week, and I will be coming into the city with Gracie, my little girl.
Find me. I’ll be there. Please, find me today, tomorrow, and past the light.

I’ll be seeing you,

E