PROLOGUE
Two weeks prior
When derelict buildings began to appear, I had a good idea where we were heading.
“Is this really a good place to meet?” I glanced in the rearview mirror at the trail of cars Cobra had met up with a few miles back.
Narcoosee Bridge only had two different directions you could go, and stone barriers on either side to prevent someone from driving into the water.
I leaned forward when I spotted a few black jeeps up ahead, and a few pickups on the other side of the low stone divider.
Cobra stopped his Pontiac behind a few other cars and cut the engine.
“Where are they?” I asked, searching for him.
“He’s right there.” Cobra pointed and I followed.
“Why…what is he doing?”
I stared across the bride to where Romero and Grimm stood with three robed figures behind them and a brunette between them.
Wasn’t she in that picture?
“That’s my fuckin sister,” Arlen choked out from the backseat.
My brain was screaming at me to get out, that something wasn’t right. David appeared from behind a pickup with Noah and a man I’d never seen before, slowly walking towards Romero.
I watched the scene play out in slow motion, wanting to scream but unable to open my mouth.
When they were finally right in front of each other, they embraced, hugging like the best of friends.
“What the fuck is goin on?” Arlen yelled, opening the back door of the car.
I twisted to tell her get down but I wasn’t fast enough to beat the gunfire that erupted up and down both ends of the bridge, both sides shooting at their own people. I glimpsed David and Romero calmly walking away as if none of it was happening.
“Ah, fuck!” I dropped down to the floor as bullets peppered the windows, covering my ears with my hands.
When I got back up, blood was smeared on the seat where Cobra had just been sitting, and he was gone. Taking a deep breath, I climbed across the front seat and through the open driver side door.
Who the fuck was the enemy of whom?
People with the cross tattoos were shooting at both each other and David’s followers, and vice versa.
As I crawled on my hands and knees using cars as shields, I couldn’t spot Arlen anywhere.
My stomach turned to stone as I heard the arrival of more vehicles, and round two transpired.
People were dying; glass and blood were everywhere. Deciding to take my chances, I rushed to the barrier and pulled myself up, barely missing a stray bullet.
Looking down at the navy blue water, my stomach fluttered and I started counting to three. I made it to two before someone shoved me from behind and came over with me.
CHAPTER ONE
Imade a deal with the devil and let him subjugate me in his hell.
It turns out that wasexactlywhat I needed.
The numbness he left me with gave me a blissful moment of serenity, and with it came the rage that broke the lock on the prison cell housing my insanity.
