Page 16 of Blood & Ash

“Blood,” Shelby says in a whiny tone, that grates every nerve in my body like sandpaper.

“What?” I snap.

“I did something bad.” She offers me a faint smile then sticks out her tongue, showing me there’s a handful of pills resting there.

“You stupid fucking cunt.” I go straight for the drugs as she clamps her teeth and swallows. “The fuck did you take?”

“The same thing I gave your father and Eightball. Just wanted to tell you I’m sorry. Promise me you’ll watch after Ashley. And tell her I love her.”

“You don’t get to be a coward.” I shove two fingers down her throat, forcing her to gag. Vomit erupts fast and hard enough to shoot out of her nose, spraying the front of my fucking cut. I shouldn’t try to save Shelby’s life, but I do. Soaked in her puke, I gather the bitch in my arms and have Hemlock drive us to the nearest hospital.

With her head in my lap, pale skin, and purplish-blue lips, she looks up at me and smiles. “You should have let me die,” she whispers.

“Evil doesn’t die that easily.” I tell her, hating myself for having an ounce of compassion for her.

“I’m sorry.” She closes her eyes as I urge Hemlock to drive faster.

Eight Months Later

“What did you name him?” Ashley grins down at her nephew, mentally counting his fingers and toes.

“Ash.”

“Hello, Ash.” Her gaze lifts to meet mine. “Why Ash?”

“Because despite his beginnings, he’s going to rise from the ashes. And I don’t know. Thought it seemed to fit. You can say he’s named after you.”

“He’s lucky to have you looking out for him. I am too.”

“Just doing my part.”

“It’s more than that. Most people would have left us to foster care when Shelby deserted us. I can’t believe she took off like that from the hospital. You’re a good guy. She never deserved you.”

“That’s me, sweetheart. One of the good ones.” I chuckle under my breath. I’m anything but a good man. I put a kill order out on the woman who raised me. Had that piece of shit Marty set Shelby up with a new identity and a new life. One better than trash like her deserves.

I read in this morning’s local paper that Marty was the victim of a tragic accident. Gas leak. Real tragic.

Ashley looks at me like I’m some sort of hero.

I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing. I’ve got a club to lead. I can’t be playing babysitter to a newborn and fucking teenage girl.

But I’m all they’ve got.

I’ll figure it out as I go.

There’s a light knock at the door. I glance over to see Goose standing there wearing the dopiest expression on his face. “It’s done.” He personally escorted Shelby out of town. Out of our lives. What it’s done means I don’t have it in me to ask. That’s between him and the big man upstairs or the one down below. Shelby killed his old man and mine. If Goose killed her, then thebitch got what was coming to her and if he let her ride off to her new life, then I can live with that too.

All that bad shit is behind us and we’re starting anew.

I grab Ash from Ashley and place him in his crib. He’s a cute kid, even if his mother was a whore. “Come on. I’ll drop you at school.” I tell Ashley as Candyce, Kevlar’s sister, arrives to take care of the baby.

“Are you taking me on your bike?” Ashley’s eyes light up full of hope.

“Yeah. Why not?” I’m not putting any other woman on the back anytime soon.

Maybe not ever.

“My friends are going to be so jealous. I’m earning so many cool points today.”

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