Page 133 of Ride or Die

Austin warned me to be wary of Cruz, told me to be careful because if he was acceptin’ hush money from the ranch, then who’s to say who else he was acceptin’ bribes from. And I fuckin’ hate that I didn’t take his warning seriously because there’s a big part of me that feels responsible for letting it get as bad as it did. Hell, Tommy could’ve died. Clara could’ve died. And Billie? Well, I’m sure that asshole was gonna kidnap her. I’d have never fuckin’ forgiven myself. So, I spent the last couple months diggin’. And thanks to Butch and his guys, I know exactly what this asshole did. But there’s just one thing I don’t know. One thing I need to know.

Folding my arms across my chest, I move closer, looking down my nose at him long and hard. “Why?”

Cruz starts crying, blubbering as he looks around, eyes frantic, searching for some sort of lifeline I suppose, I don’t know. So, I stay strong, unwavering while I wait for him to tell me why he did what he did. But the longer I stand here, the more patience I’m losing.

“I don’t know what—” Cruz splutters. “I’m not?—”

“You came across that asshole outside the motel that night,” I begin for him, since he can’t seem to find the words. “And you thought… what? You could make a quick fuckin’ buck?”

“No. It’s not…” Cruz cries, sobs like a fuckin’ baby. “I just thought… I-I didn’t know?—”

The sound of a safety unlatching clicks loudly through the silence and Austin steps forward out of the shadows, pressing the barrel of his pistol to the back of Cruz’s head causing him to cry out.

“Finish your goddamn sentence motherfucker, or I will blow your fuckin’ brains out and mail ’em to your mama in Odessa.”

“I fucked up!” Cruz looks up at me, his eyes pleading. “I made a mistake. I didn’t realize… I-I didn’t know?—”

I reach out and grab his chin rough and hard, jerking his fat face to me and leaning in so close I can almost taste his fear on my tongue. “You didn’t know what? That a strung-out member of a fuckin’ outlaw motorcycle club would try to kill an innocent woman and her children?”

Austin presses his gun firmer into the back of Cruz’s head and the asshole starts sobbing again, his body shaking like a scared little bitch boy.

“You’re in a lot of trouble, Deputy Mendes,” I continue, glancing at Austin before meeting Cruz’s eyes again. “You’re scared now, but this is fuckin’ nothin’ compared to what Butch and his guys have in store for you.”

A darkness washes over Cruz’s face then, all faux innocence and remorse suddenly gone, replaced by a seething anger that etches into every one of his features, sweat dripping down his bloated cheeks.

With a smug grin, I nod, answering the question I’m sure is swarming around in his head. “Organizin’ to have their shipment taken to the patch at Odessa where your brother works.” I sniff a laugh. “Fuckin’ over Butchandthe goddamn cartel?” I click my tongue, wincing at the thought. “Boy, they’re gonna cut your fuckin’ head off.”

Cruz struggles then, growling like a wild dog as he tries yet fails to tug his hands free.

I step back, watching him, smirking the whole time.

“Fuckin’ shoot me,” he grits out, trying to look back at Austin. “Shoot me, motherfucker.”

“Nah, I ain’t a cop killer,” Austin gruffs, tucking his gun into the waist of his jeans.

Cruz looks back at me, his face suddenly fraught and sheet white at the sound of tires crunching over the gravel outside, doors opening.

“Come on,” he begs, his bottom lip quivering. “Please, just fuckin’ kill me.”

I fold my arms across my chest, shaking my head. “Sorry, no can do, my guy. I don’t shoot cops. Besides, I gotta get back to my girl—” I hike a thumb over my shoulder, shrugging. “It’s my birthday.”

When a few big shadowy figures wearing black facemasks walk into the barn, cloaked in darkness with nothing but the setting sun backlighting them, I offer Cruz one last icy smile before turning and walking out. Austin, Webber, and Jagger follow behind me as the masked men take over, nodding to us on their way past.

Clara

The setting sun paints the sky a kaleidoscope of colors; pink and peach, purple and mauve, candy floss clouds scattered up high above, as far as the eye can see.

“Morris!” Billie squeals as the puppy bounds across the yard, collecting her with force. She falls to the ground and the dog attacks her cheeks with slobbery licks that make her roll around in a fit of laughter, her high-pitched giggles floating through the air.

As I finish setting the table, I can’t help but smile at the sight, the warm summer breeze whipping through my hair.

We’re still at the farrier’s cabin on the ranch after the unexpected fire that tore through Cole’s house the night everything happened. I’m not an idiot. I don’t know the details, because frankly, I don’t want to know them. But I know the fire wasn’t an accident due to faulty wires like the investigationconcluded. Cain’s body was never retrieved. Not surprising since the fire left nothing but a pile of ashes. As far as anyone knows, he was never even in Texas.

We’ll be here for a while. Indefinitely, at least. Cole hasn’t decided if he wants to rebuild or get rid of his land, now that he’s been named foreman of Rattlesnake Ranch, Austin’s right-hand man, since Webber is getting a little long in the tooth—Webber’s own words. Cole’s considering selling up and putting his money into this place instead, cementing his legacy once and for all at Rattlesnake, and securing a future now since he’s no longer riding.

I know he misses bull riding. I’m sure the thrill of getting on the back of a raging bull is unmatched, but I also know he knows he made the right decision. I see it every time he looks at Billie, smiling a faraway smile at her like he’s imagining walking her down the aisle one day, in the distant, distant future. I see it in the way he and Tommy laugh together at their inside jokes, like they are and always will be the very best of friends. I see it in the way I catch him looking at me, like he’s trying to memorize every last detail and lock it away for safe keeping.

I don’t know what the future holds. Or where we will end up, but I know whatever we do, we’ll do it together. The four of us.