Between Brothers

It Was Worth A Shot.

Saturday

Julian

We’ve been sitting here for what feels like an eternity, waiting for Gloria to call us back. She’s biding her time and making us sitting ducks. I don’t like this, I have a bad feeling but I’m not the one running the show. Garrett is and right now he’s deciding whether or not he’s going to put a bullet in our head or use us to get his daughter. 

“Not to interrupt your deep thinking but I’d like to mention Tara is still in the hands of a psychopath. Maybe we can get help from the Police Force.” I say, shouting from the couch. 

“I wouldn’t trust the cops with my s**t let alone helping get my daughter back, you idiots are going to sit right there”

“Come the f**k on, I get it you’re old and out of practice. Let us young whipper snappers take care of this, I’m pretty sure I know where she’s meeting us” 

Before I can say anything else, I feel a sharp pain on the back of my head. Being clocked with a gun doesn’t feel as good as I thought, the pain searing down my neck. f**k ME!

“Shut the f**k up you little s**t, I was and still am the man of the shadows. Don’t f*****g forget it. You think I let your idiots date my daughter because I liked you? No, I knew she’d be ok with you and you were too afraid of what I’d do to you to hurt her.” He paused and started to laugh. “But Daniel, that abusive dumbass really put that to the test. If it weren’t for the fact my daughter loves each and every one of you, I’d have a lot of fun watching you bleed.”

“Look, can we discuss your distaste for all of us after we get Tara back” Chris says, he sounds annoyed. But he’s fidgeting like his nerves are on edge, the possibility of him dying is looming in his head. I know it, but there’s nothing we can do about it now. Our number one goal is to get Tara back. 

Garretts phone rings and all eyes land on him, he holsters his gun and finally lets us breathe. 

“Be there in 20 minutes, you better not do anything stupid Gloria.” Garrett says into the phone, I guess that’s the call we’ve been waiting for but he doesn’t instruct us to do anything. He’s still pacing the room, rolling up the sleeves of his sweater, like he’s thinking hard about the next move. “Christopher, if I give you to Gloria you’ll die and for the sake of my daughter I can’t let that happen. So…” Before Garrett can finish, Chris is up and pulling on his boots. 

“Look, I have learned to take the consequences of my actions. I love Tara, so if dying will save her let’s fuckin’ go.” Chris doesn’t say anything else, just walks out the door and waits for us to join him in the elevator. Garrett smiles and shakes his head, I guess Chris gave him the right answer. Though he looks over at Daniel and Me and scowls, we’re not his favorite people. I can live with that.

There’s a all-black Chevy Suburban waiting for us, Garretts no doubt. I hesitate at getting in but I’ve come this far, I must see this through to the end even if I know It'sIts not going to be me that ends up with the girl. It’s Chris, it’s always been Chris. 

The ride to the docks was short but time seemed to drag on, so we stopped a few feet away from Senora Crazy herself. The menacing smile plastered on her face was disgusting and I’d like nothing more than to slap it off her damn face. Everyone slidsliding out of the car but Chris stayed behind and stopped me from leaving.

“If I die, please promise me something” He says, head in his hands. This man has already decided his own fate. 

“You’re not going to die Chris, let'slets go get our girl,” I say, shaking the cloak of fear off. 

“IF I DIE! Take care of Tara, I can’t let her down again.” He yells, he’s not f*****g hearing me. He can’t die, this motherfucker is invincible. He’s saved my ass in more ways than one from my dumbass parents to helping me be the man I am today. “I know I’m a d**k to most people but I want you to know I love you man. You’ve been my best friend through thick and thin, no matter how dumb I act or vicious I am you always have my back. You truly are my brother, blood means nothing.”

“Oh s**t! You’re gonna make me cry Chris. That was soo sweet, If I were gay I’d suck your d**k right now” I say, sarcastically fanning myself as if he’s turned up the heat. I joke because that’s all I know how to do, he’s scared I get it but this guy. He’s more than a friend, he’s my brother and I refuse to let him die because of a crazy bitches obsession. 

“Shut the f**k up! I mean it Jules, tell me you’ll take care of Tara if I die” He says finally looking at me, sadness is all I see. He’s just came back, I just got my damn brother back and he’s resolved that he’s going to die. Anger, Fury is the only emotion I feel. I don’t care about my badge, my life with Tara, my family isn’t gonna die. 

“I will do what I do best, and that’s be your wingman” 

We slide out of the car and see Daniel and Garrett standing there, waiting for us to join them. Garrett stares for a moment before walking towards Gloria. This is it, this is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. I take my badge, that I normally proudly put on display, and tuck it in my shirt. Today I’m not a cop, Today I’m a concerned lover, Today I’m a pissed off brother, Today I’m a murderer and I don’t give a flying f**k.

We’re standing here, staring at each other. It’s a Mexican standoff and I’m bored of waiting. 

“Four against One, that doesn’t seem quite fair” Gloria says, her venomous voice laced with silk to hide her true intentions.

“Gloria, you know we don’t give a damn about any of that. Where’s Tara?” Garrett says, clearly growing impatient.

“She’s around here somewhere, I need to remember where I put her. Maybe Chrissy can help me figure it out” She hisses. Chris walks toward her and she smiles, like she’s won the battle. 

“Oh Chrissy, you’re so sweet. See, I know you loved me”

“I fuckin’ hate you! Worst mistake I ever made was landing on your doorpost drunk and begging you to let me in”

“Yeah well, the worst mistake I ever made was letting that little b***h live.”

“Hand over Tara.” Garrett says but no one moves. No one says anything, no one moves. 

“Can we just move this along?” I ask, shoving my hands in my pockets. 

“Oh Poo! I was hoping for a little more time, but oh well. I guess this is it”

She points a gun at Chris, finger hovering on the trigger. Chris steps forward, pressing the gun against his chest. We all step forward, hands-on our own guns preparing for the worst. 

“Gloria, this is between you and me. Let’s finish this ALONE! Give them Tara and you can do as you please with me.” Chris says, causing Gloria to stare at him. 

There’s a loud banging noise in the distance, faint sounds of screaming. We look at Garrett who signals for me to go check, I run toward the noise but there’s a commotion behind me. The arguing gets louder as I try to ignore them and continue searching, as I find the car that’s literally rocking back and forth. I work to pop the trunk, I can hear Tara screaming. 

“I can hear you, baby, I’m right here,” I say, ripping the trunk open. There she is, beautiful as ever. Her eyes are wide and wet from tears, I pull her out of the trunk and she clings to me. The commotion pulls our attention away from one another, I turn to let them know I’ve found her but I’m drowned out by a loud bang! Someone's gun went off and I don’t know who yet.

***

Tara

The car stopped a while ago, I’ve been lying here in the darkness listening to the world pass me by. I can hear people talking, there are people close by. Maybe if I scream and make noise, someone will help me get out of here. 

I start screaming bloody murder, “AH!!!!!!!”. Kicking and hit the trunk until I hear someone hitting the trunk from the other side. 

“Hello! Hello! Please Help Me!” I say, my chest starts to constrict and I feel like I’m running out of air. Suddenly the trunk pops open and Julian appears. THANK f*****g GOD!

He pulls me out of the trunk and I hear the commotion behind us, I see Gloria pointing a gun at Chris and My Dad pointing a gun at her, I see Daniel slowly inching towards Gloria. It happens so fast I don’t have time to register any of it. 

Daniel grabs Gloria, and she struggles to get loose. Chris goes for the gun and tries to grab it and they all fall rolling around on the ground. The gun goes off and I feel my heart stop in my chest, someone screams so loud it pierces my ears. It wasn’t until Julian set me down that I realized I was the one screaming. I leap from his arms, only to fall from the piercing pain that sears through my body. There’s blood everywhere and no one has moved. 

My Dad holsters his gun and leans down to check the pile, Chris slides back his shirt is covered in blood. Daniel moves and he’s covered as well but Gloria she doesn’t move. She lies there holding the gun in one hand and her wound in the other, the blood covering her hand says she’s the one who was shot. 

“Ironic isn’t it?” She mumbles, laughing to herself. 

I lean down and put my hands over hers, placing pressure on the wound. The guys seem to be moving in slow motion because no one is moving, no one is trying to save her. She’s a horrible woman but she’s still… She's still human. 

“Someone call the damn cops and ambulance, she’s not a hyena dying on the side of the road,” I yell, tears stinging my eyes and making it hard to see. She coughs and looks at me, for once her eyes aren’t crazy or filled with hate. For the first time, she looks scared. 

“I’m sorry I killed your mother, you turned out to be a pretty good kid. Still hate you both though,” She says, laughing and coughing up blood. There are sirens in the distance and I look around to see if anyone else can help, but by the time I look back, she’s not moving. She’s lying there motionless, stuck in time. Her laughter has stopped, as did her cough. The woman I once knew is dead, maybe my real mom will meet her at the gates and kick her ass. Then take care of her because honestly, I think she was sick and lonely. 

I feel someone lift me to my feet, pulling me away from her. They’re warm and they smell amazing, I can feel their heart beating through their chest. They turn me around and hold me close to them, the rumble of their chest as they start to talk pulls me into a sweet lullaby. The tears rolled down my face, burning my eyes as I began to sob. They pick me up and carry me away from all of this, I peek up and see the scruff on their face but their throat tattoo gives my man away, I knew it was him.

“Christopher, you’re always carrying me away” I whisper, but he doesn’t respond. I slowly slip away and fall asleep.