Page 48 of Riggs
We soon reach the small broken boat dock Pop doesn't use anymore but is close enough for us to gain access to Piper. "Bean," Cain calls quietly to his daughter whose roughly twelve yards away. Her head whips around, trying to see through the darkness, so Cain calls out again. "Piper."
"Daddy?" Piper says low, her voice shaking with fear.
That's when gunfire rings out, and men start yelling. Both Cain and I hoist ourselves from the water, and belly crawls toward her. "Daddy." Piper whimpers and Cain wraps her in his arms the moment we reach her. "Oh my God. Daddy, they have Gampy and Luna," Piper begins to sob quietly.
"Listen to me, sweetheart." I make Piper look at me as more gunfire cracks like thunder not far from our location. "I need you to be brave and go with your dad. He's going to keep you safe, but you need to get in the water. Whatever happens — whatever you hear going on behind you, don't let go of your dad, and don't look back. Got it?"
Her head nods. "Got it."
Lowering myself to the ground, I peer under the boat trailer to get a look. Near the house, I notice an extra man hiding in the shadows. The three Savage Outlaw who are standing on the porch run, taking cover behind Pop's pickup truck parked at the far side of the porch. Rising, I press my back to the side of the boat. "Can you tell me what room they have Pop and Luna in?" I ask my niece.
"We were in the living room before Luna helped me escape out the bathroom window," Piper whispers. With no time to get more details, I kiss my niece on the forehead, then give one final look at my brother before I watch them crawl toward the water. With Piper on his back, Cain looks back one final time, wearing a look on his face like it's the last time he'll ever see me again, then he disappears as they wade further into the water and ripples become the only evidence they were there.
The snapping of a twig alerts me to someone's approach. Peering under the trailer again, I notice a pair of boots walking in my direction. Doing my best, I tuck back in the shadows of the boat as his footsteps get closer. The figure slowly appears near the engine of the boat. Slowing my breathing, I watch him as he pays close attention to the water in front of him; too close for my liking. He steps past the boat, never looking down. His focus is solely on the water. He steps out onto the broken dock. Fearing, he will notice my brother wading in the water, I act. Pulling a knife from the inside of my boot, I jump him from behind. He fires off a shot, hitting the water, just before I slit his throat.
Bullets hit the boat and splinter the rotten wood beneath my feet. Tossing the body into the bayou, I duck back behind the boat, draw my pistol from inside my cut, and return fire, hitting one of the men standing at the side of the house. The gunfire continues for several minutes. Dropping to the ground, I line up my shot. Another Savage Outlaw steps into my crosshairs and I pull the trigger, watching him slump against the house before falling to the ground.
Everything falls silent.
Taking the opportunity, I make a run for the house. Once there, a Savage at my feet starts to move. Aiming my gun, I put a bullet in his head. Now that I have a better position, looking out in the direction I left my men, I catch sight of Wick, along with Fender as they approach the house, their weapons out in front of them. Peering around the corner of the house, I notice three bodies — one on the front porch, and two on the ground at the tailgate of Pop's truck.
Needing to gain entrance into the house, I walk around back knowing I'll find the bathroom window broken from Piper's escape. I pull myself up. Shattered glass cuts into my skin as I hoist myself through. Getting to my feet, I pause when I hear a loud pop, then a thud.
"Shut the hell up old man, or I'll blow your fuckin' head off."
I don't know the voice, but I realize he's talking to Pop. Without another thought, I rush out of the bathroom, only to be met with the barrel end of a sawed-off shotgun. "Drop it, motherfucker."
Dropping my handgun, the asshole walks backward and guides me down the hall into the living room. The moment I enter the room, I spot Pop unmoving on the floor, blood coming from a gash on the side of his head.
"Nice of you to join us." I look across the room and see my woman, frightened, her face beaten, sitting beside a bearded man. He pulls Luna closer, and gropes her breast, before running his dirty hand up her thigh. "She's perfect, isn't she? Tits, ass, and she can't talk back." He stares me down as his hands touch my woman.
"Rex." I don't hide the disdain in my voice.
"Aww," he grabs Luna by the chin, making her face him. "I see my girl has told you all about me." He forces his lips on hers, and she resists. I look down at Pop when he moves a little. "Resilient old bastard," Rex kicks him. "I give him points for that."
"I'm gonna enjoy killin' you," I smirk.
Rex laughs. "That's a good one."
"Are you okay?" I sign. Luna nods, and Rex yanks on her hair.
"Why must you go and disrespect me like that?" Rex fumes, wrapping his hand around her throat and begins to squeeze. Luna coughs and pulls at his fingers, trying to free herself.
Having watched more than enough, I quickly disarm the dipshit who has me at gunpoint. Turning the gun on him, I pull the trigger, sending his body backward. At the same time, I feel a pain rip through my chest.
Time slows.
I point the shotgun at Rex, who is now standing. Suddenly, I find it hard to breathe, and my arms begin to feel heavy. Losing my grip, the weapon drops to the floor, and I fall to my knees.Okay. So, this time is different. I think to myself.
"Looks like I won." Rex hovers over me, with the gun that just put a bullet in my chest pointed at my head. With all the strength I have, I pull the knife from my boot for the second time tonight. Grabbing the barrel of his pistol, I growl. Surging upward, I bury my blade in his jugular.
"Wrong. Motherfucker. I. Won." I pull the metal from his flesh, and blood gushes from the puncture wound. His eyes grow wide, and he stumbles backward, Rex hits the wall, and his feet slide out from under him until his ass is on the floor. I watch the life leave his eyes.
Luna steps in front of me, her eyes frantic, as she pulls at my cut, removing it. "Baby," I gasp, trying to get her to calm down. Suddenly, I feel drained and fall to the couch. The front door bursts open, causing Luna to pick the shotgun up off the floor and stands in front of me.
"Oh shit." I hear Wick's voice though it sounds distant. I do my best to take a deep breath but find it difficult. Luna sets the gun back on the floor, strips her shirt from her body, and presses the cloth against my chest. That's when I remember. The fucker shot me, and I glance down at my blood-soaked shirt.
"Luna, sweetheart, I need to tend to Riggs," Wick talks calmly to my woman. Tears stream down her beautiful face. She shakes her head no and applies more pressure to my chest, the blood already soaking through her shirt. Wick gently pulls her from me, and she fights him. Ripping my shirt open, Wick gets a look at my wound.
