And I haven’t been there for her.”
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up. It’s just life. Go home to Bodie. I’ll make sure Sasha calls you tomorrow.”
“Alright. Yeah, maybe you’re right.” A long sigh left her lips. “Thanks.”
Suraya was halfway to the door when it opened again and this time it was Acid, Zook, and Dawg that walked in. I backed up toward the bar and slipped behind it, reaching underneath to press the panic button. The authorities should arrive soon. Hopefully before shit could go down. My cell phone was in my pocket. I pulled it free and hit Grim’s number, relieved when I saw that it only rang once before he answered. I didn’t dare say his name or hello and placed it on the countertop out of view.
“Well, look what we have here, brothers. The same bitch who decided to give us all a good time.”
Suraya was staring at him like he was crazy. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
My gaze went from her to Acid and I gasped. No wonder he was pissed. His face was completely deformed and nothing like it was before. A long scar ran down the left side and tugged his eye lower than normal and ended at his lip with a puffy curl. Gave him a mean appearance that was accentuated by the sneer on his lips. Sasha cut him good. Holy shit!
“Don’t you remember, baby?”
Suraya was losing her patience. I edged my way around the bar and tried to grab her closer, but she shook her head. “I don’t know what the fuck you’re trying to prove. Leave me alone. I have no interest in speaking to you.”
Shit. Acid’s face grew red and he yanked a gun from behind his back. The end of the barrel was pointed at her chest. “Quit fucking with me, bitch. Get on your knees.”
“Fuck off!” she screamed, clenching her fists. “You don’t know who you’re speaking to. Bodie will kill your dumb hick ass for messing with me.”
Acid snorted. “I don’t think so.” He turned in my direction. “Get Grim on the phone.”
Trembling, I slid behind the bar and lifted my cell, hitting the speaker button. “Grim?” The fear in my voice was palpable.
“Trish? What the fuck is happening?”
“Acid is here at the Blacktop. I’m with Suraya.”
Bodie’s curse could be heard in the background.
“You stay cool, baby. Okay? I’m on my way.”
“Grim?” Acid asked with attitude. “You’ve got five minutes before I start shooting more bullets.”
More? He didn’t shoot any yet. I paled when I realized he was going to fire soon.
Grim’s voice was deadly calm. “Don’t do anything dumb, Acid. We both know this isn’t about the girls. I’m staying on the line and I’m on my way.”
“Good,” Acid bellowed as he lifted the gun higher and pulled the trigger. A bloodcurdling scream launched from my lips as I stood helpless and watched the bullet pierce Suraya’s chest, directly into heart. Her eyes widened and then she made a funny sound before falling to the ground. Two more shots rang out and both Zook and Dawg shot her too. I didn’t realize I was still screaming until Zook had grabbed my arm and tugged me toward Suraya.
Falling to my knees, I didn’t know what to do. I pressed a palm over my friend’s chest and tried to stop the bleeding. There were three wounds, and I didn’t have enough hands to touch them all. “Suraya, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” I kept repeating the words as her body shook and she convulsed. Blood spurted from between her lips. “We need to call 9-1-1!”
“No gonna make it in time,” Zook announced, unfazed.
I slowly became aware of Grim yelling over the phone. “They shot her,” I wailed.
“Who?” Grim shouted. “Who’s shot?”
“Suraya!”
“Fuck!”
Motorcycle engines could be heard in the distance. They were coming but it wouldn’t be in time. Suraya tried to speak but couldn’t. The bright shine that was always so full of life in her eyes was fading.
“Trish,” she managed to speak one word before her body jolted. Once. Twice.
The light completely went out. Like someone flipped a switch. Nothing but a cloudy gray filled her eyes. A foggy remnant of the place her soul used to live.
Wailing with grief, I hunched over Suraya and burst into tears. My shoulders shook as I wept for my best friend and her sister. Sasha was going to be devastated. How the fuck did this happen?
Gunshots rang out and I heard multiple voices approaching the building. I was