Page 73 of Wheelie's Challenge
Chapter Twenty-One
“We gotta movenow,” Wheelie said, as he rushed over to Breaker and Iceman. “How long’s Tigger been in there?”
“Just a few minutes. We were just ready to storm in,” Breaker said as he took out his 9mm Glock.
“He’s probably armed, so we gotta take him by surprise.” Wheelie took a gun Iceman handed him.
“These doors are shit—barely hanging on the hinges. We can kick them in easily.” Easy came over and joined the trio.
“Do they open inward?” Wheelie’s voice was tense.
“Yeah, so should be a cinch to kick in.” Easy threw down his joint and stubbed it out with the toe of his boot. “Dixie’s in the back. Fish showed up to help out. The window in the bathroom is busted, so they can go in through there if we need them to.”
Wheelie ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t trust Tigger. He could be hurting Sofia now. Let’s go. Tell Dixie and Fish to hold tight and just watch the back. If we need them, we’ll give them the signal.”
The four men crossed the parking lot from the side and quietly went up to the door. Wheelie heard Tigger screaming and cussing at Sofia, but he didn’t hear her voice at all. He knew he had to keep a level head and not let his emotions rule him. He motioned for Breaker to stand on one side of the door and Wheelie stood on the other side. He lifted his hand then brought it down and the two men kicked the broken down door wide open.
Sofia was in a corner, her head down and Tigger had his hand raised with a belt in it as if he was ready to strike her. Tigger spun around, his eyes wild, his face and chest marked with dried blood, and that’s when Wheelie saw the lifeless body of the man he’d hated for years lying on the ground, and he thought it was fitting that the asshole bleed out in a rundown motel.Karma’s a bitch, fucker.Wheelie looked at Tigger again and he saw Sofia behind him, her arm raised up and a beer bottle in her hand. Her face was twisted in rage and she slammed the bottle on the back of Tigger’s head. The shock of it threw him forward and Breaker and Wheelie quickly grabbed hold of him while Iceman and Easy took away all his weapons.
“You fuckin’ cunt,” Tigger said as blood trickled down his neck.
Wheelie sunk his fist into the ex-Insurgent. “Don’t disrespect my woman.” He handed him over to Iceman. “Take this piece of shit to your clubhouse. Banger wants to ask him a few questions.”
Breaker, Iceman, and Easy dragged a belligerent Tigger out of the room, and Wheelie rushed over to Sofia and cocooned her in his arms. “Did he hurt you, baby?” He cupped her chin and tilted her head back and peppered her face with feathery kisses.
“No, but he was about to. I was scared shitless.” She kissed Wheelie passionately then pulled away. “Tigger killed my brother.” Her voice quivered and he drew her into him and held her tight.
“I’m sorry for you.”
“I know Russ killed your sister and that’s awful, but he was my brother. I remember our times when I was growing up. I guess I still love him. Is that crazy and wrong?” Tears glistened on her face.
“No, babe, it’s not wrong. The Russ you knew will always be inside you and you’ll miss him.”
“But you’re happy he’s dead.”
Wheelie inhaled a breath and exhaled loudly. “I’m not gonna lie to you—I am. I’ve had hate and bitterness eating away at me for a damn long time. I never could reconcile the fact that he was still living and Kendra was dead. I feel at peace now.”
“I understand where you’re coming from. I guess I should take him back to Colorado Springs. I know my mom would want him to have a proper burial.”
“We can’t do that, babe. You know that. I can’t have the fuckin’ badges all over my ass.”
“I was here. I’ll tell them Tigger did it.” Sofia stroked his cheek. “I want to bury my brother.”
“I’ll talk to Banger about it, but there’s no way we’re getting the fuckin’ badges involved in this.”
Sofia rested her head against his chest. “I’ve been in your world for a long time. I know how it works. If you can’t send him back, can I at least have his ashes?”
“I’ll ask Banger. I’m sure Panther and the brothers are in thick with a funeral home.” Wheelie kissed her hard. “I know about the baby,” he said in a low voice. He felt Sofia stiffen in his arms. “And I couldn’t be happier. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Her eyes sparkled and a smile broke her lips. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel about becoming a daddy, but I’d planned to tell you last night, but then the whole Russ thing came up and… you know the rest.”
Dixie and Fish came in with two other members of their chapter—Scratch and Termite. “We’re gonna take care of this,” Dixie said waving his hand over Russ’ body.
“He’s her brother. This is Sofia—my woman.”
Dixie nodded to her. “Sorry for your loss.”
“Sofia would like his ashes. Are you in thick with any funeral homes?” Wheelie asked.
