Page 4 of Utah

“Never say never. I didn’t think I’d ever have kids, but here we are.”

She didn’t have a rebuttal. Instead, she chattered on about baby names and gender reveal parties. Honestly, I checked out when she started talking about making sure I did my research on which preschool to enroll my child in. I was only nine weeks along. I couldn’t think that far ahead. But Evie was a planner by nature—an attribute that would come in handy for sure.

3

A thundering gunshot rang out. Then another, followed by three more. A bit overkill just to extinguish my life, but as the seconds passed and my heart continued to beat, I slowly realized I hadn’t been the target.

When I snapped my eyes open, my brain was slow to register what was going on around me. I saw both cartel men on the ground several feet in front of me. Dead.

I barely had enough energy to remain upright, the wound to my stomach leaking profusely, but I summoned everything in me and turned my head just in time to see movement to my left.

“Utah!” someone shouted, the ringing in my ears interfering with the sound of the person’s voice. “Utah, are you okay?” A man dropped to his knees beside me and ran his hands over my torso. An involuntary, guttural groan escaped when he touched my stomach. “Sorry, brother.” Knox looked me in the eye as he gingerly inspected me. “Just trying to assess the damage.” He wiped the blood from my brow, but the gash on my forehead was deep.

“He’s dead. Fuck!” Renner yelled beside me as he and Brick bent over to retrieve Crash’s lifeless body.

I hadn’t allowed myself to grieve his death moments earlier because I believed I wouldn’t live long enough to do so. But as my lungs continued to take in air, an ache began to bloom in my chest for our fallen brother.

Crash didn’t deserve what happened to him. He was the most innocent of all of us, barely living long enough to make any major mistakes. His naivety had been his most endearing and, at times, his most annoying quality. He’d been loyal, trustworthy, and an integral part of our club. We’d give him the proper burial he deserved, and I looked forward to exchanging stories about him, if I survived.

The pressure from my wrists being bound disappeared when Knox cut the zip ties. Blood rushed to my hands, and a wave of burning pain ensued. But the feeling was nothing compared to the pain from my stab wound.

“Can you stand?” Knox rose to his feet and tried to help me up, but I was deadweight. I couldn’t muster the energy to move. In fact, I was getting weaker by the second. Brick appeared on my other side, and both men gently lifted me to my feet. I didn’t recognize the sounds coming from me as they led me through the woods and toward a black SUV.

“We got you,” Brick said, gently maneuvering me into the back seat, the rest of my energy depleted as he strapped me in, careful of my injury. “Knox, stay here and watch him. I’ll help Renner with….” His voice trailed off at the end, never saying Crash’s name.

“How… how did you find us?” Uttering those words stole what little vigor I had left.

“The tracker in your watch. Obviously the one on your truck was useless because it’s still at Cloud Nine. And as far as your phones, we tracked them to the side of the highway wherethey must’ve tossed them. If not for your watch, I don’t know…. We never would’ve….”

As soon as our eyes locked, I nodded in understanding, fully grasping the severity of what could’ve happened to me, whatdidhappen to Crash.

Months ago, Prez had insisted that we put trackers on our bikes, trucks, and phones. His paranoia took it one step further when he had us put them in something we wore daily, such as rings or watches. And it was because of his fear something would happen to one of us that my life was ultimately saved.

Knox stood guard over me while we waited for the guys to come back, his presence offering a small measure of comfort. His stoic expression battled with the pain hiding behind his eyes. A part of me wanted to comfort him but I had to use all my energy just to keep myself alive for as long as I possibly could.

When Brick and Renner finally returned, they carefully placed our brother’s body in the back of the vehicle. The weight of grief settled heavily on my chest as one painful breath after another escaped my lips. Moments later, we headed out of the dense wooded area and back onto the highway.

“No hospital,” I grumbled, my words barely audible.

Knox sat beside me. “I know.”

I had enough gusto to speak one more word. “Ria.”

Again, Knox replied with “I know.”

Every time my eyelids fluttered open, they’d close just as quickly. Voices pierced the air around me, but I couldn’t decipher one from the next. The only thing I was aware of was that I wasn’t dead. Or was I? I barely remained conscious enough to find out for sure.

A stabbing pain in my stomach shoved me into alertness.Groaning, I started to writhe in agony, but I barely managed to move before someone put weight on my shoulders to hold me still.

“Easy, big guy.” I winced as I pried my eyes open. Tag stood over me, his face inches from mine. “You hurtin’?” he asked.

“Wh… what gave it away?” Those four words were the most I’d spoken in what felt like forever.

“Hold on, I think he’s still here.” He released me and took a step back.

“Who?”

“The doctor.”

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