♕Harley Anderson♕

With me being unable to race due to Jack and his minions hunting us down, Enrique instructs me to make a few local deliveries. Dealing drugs has never been a thing I've thought of doing, even when I joined the gang, but I suppose that I need to do something and right now the gang is too preoccupied with preparing to take Jack down to give me a proper role to play.

So, obligingly, I shove a few bags of Cocaine and Marijuana under the car seats of the simple Volvo Enrique gave me the keys to and I drive around the Kings territory, dropping the drugs off to various people. The customers are local- and frequent according to Enrique- which is why the man who deals with the drug dealing in the gang, Sergio, can't be bothered with the small deals at the moment. He's focusing on the ones worth millions while I deal with the ones worth thousands.

It's uncomfortable pulling up to various pick-up points that were scribbled on a sheet of paper for me before I have to take a wad of cash from someone's hand and then give them a bag of poison that slowly kills them. But I do it. I push away my moral compass that's spinning as it tries to find direction. My customers include a woman with red hair and beautiful skin- too beautiful to be an addict- as well as a teenage boy who has bags under his eyes and looks like he hasn't showered in a few days. A young man my age receives a bag of coke and it's a pity that he's chosen this lifestyle because he'd be handsome if he didn't look like death warmed up. But the customer that saddens me the most is an older man who I deliver to at his front door.

His hair is charcoal grey, a few white strands here and there while his skin hangs and is scarred from years of hard work and stress. His eyes are wide, a blue I've never seen before, but are hidden behind hanging eyelids. They tell stories of pain and hardship.

"Mr Gregory?" I address him as he comes walking down the steps of his front porch to the car. He can't be older than fifty-five but still, he waddles slightly.

"That would be me." He says and I nod, sticking my hand out for the cash. He places three stacks of money on my hand and I try not to gape at it.

"Two bags." He clarifies and I nod, pulling them out of the inside of my jacket where I kept them concealed for easy access. He takes them hastily, tossing them into a flower pot nearby.

"Tell Sergio I say hello." He tells me. "And that my daughter is doing well... she'll be out of the coma in a few days they reckon but her mother is still in the mental patient's institution in Florida." I try to hide the sorrow I feel for him but I feel like I fail. He's a drug addict because he's had a hard life, and while that's no excuse, I still can't help but feel bad anyway. So I nod, offering this drug addict a smile of kindness before opening the car door.

"I wish your family the best Mr Gregory." I say and he holds my door so I can't close it, making my breath hitch in a fright.

"Are you the new dealer?" He asks, offering a smile of his own. "You seem too kind for this line of business... although it would be nice to see a friendly face every now and then."

I shake my head. "Something like that. You may be seeing more of me, I'm not sure."

Mr Gregory leans back, patting the top of my car as he closes the door shut. "Alright." He gives a little wave and I offer a nod, starting the car up and pulling off. Returning my cellphone from the passenger seat, I dial Lina's number and she picks up on the third ring.

"You done?" She says in greeting and I nod as I turn the car before remembering she can't see me.

"Yeah, I just need to put some fuel or else I'm not getting back."

"Where are you?" She asks and I give her the first street name I see. "Oh, you're close to the boundary Harley so be careful. There's a station further down the road, turn left onto Yellowwood Street, it should be on your left. I'll meet you there... I won't be long."

"Okay, bye." I end the call and toss my phone to the other seat, following her instructions along with the GPS to reach the station. It's empty when I get there, not a car in sight and the convenience store is old and hanging in its hinges. Knowing that if I don't put fuel, I won't get home, I swallow the fear and climb out before putting fuel in the car.

"I can't tell if you're incredibly stupid- or brave- to be at station all on your own, so close to the boundary when you know Jack wants you." A voice says and I gulp, twisting around to see none other than Persephone standing on the other side of the car. My hands become sweaty when I realize what mess I've found myself in, looking around in a plead to see another car. But none pass by. No help is coming.

"Persephone," I breathe out. She's clad in her usual attire- black denim. But her blonde hair is pulled back in a messy braid that makes her look like a deadly Queen. And she is quite in deed deadly. She's as beautiful as the day I first saw her, only this time I know she's here to hurt me and not just drag me back to her beloved leader. "You shouldn't be here, it's not your territory." I know my words are useless because territory or not, it won't stop Jack from getting revenge.

A devilish smile worms its way onto her face as she cocks her head to the side. She's toying with me.

"You seem to be doing well..." she eyes me up and down. "Tell me, is Enrique treating you well? Making you feel like the princess you are?" Her tone is patronizing and I smile sarcastically, feeling the gun tucked into my waist band burning into my skin.

"Yes, much better than Jack." I reply distastefully and she takes a step forward so that I take a step back, even though there is a car between us.

"Well that's a pity because Jack is requesting to see you and since we all know you're going to put up a fight, I've been forced to come get you."

I react before she does, breaking into a sprint for the store in front of us. Clearly she wasn't expecting that because her jumping over the car to where I was previously standing means I'm ahead of her, pushing into the store with all my force. There is no one at the counter and I realise I am alone.

Although, even if there was someone here what good would that do? Wouldn't they call the police? That wouldn't go smoothly considering that I have a car full of drugs. I lock the door behind me, Persephone running to it and trying to pull it open. Her face is a look of pure rage and I turn on my heel, running into the fairly large store before hiding behind a set of shelves as far down as I can get. I search around for an emergency exit but there isn't any, not even a back room, and I realise then that the only way out is the same way in.

Suddenly, I hear glass shattering and I realise that she broke the door. The sound of glass crunching under her boot follows and I crawl on the floor to another aisle.

"You thought that locking a door could keep me out?" Persephone calls, her voice a calm kind of angry. It terrifies me even more than if she screamed.

"What the fuck-" I hear a new voice say after a door is heard closing shut and I wince at the thought that someone just walked in on this. An innocent person who is no doubt supposed to be the man behind the counter. A grunt follows his greeting and I hear scuffling of footsteps on the floor before a very specific sound that chills me to my very bones- the sound of a gun clicking.

"Come out and I'll take you to Jack. You tell us what you know about the Kings and we can figure something out." Her graceful voice sings. I almost scoff at her words that we'll figure something out when I know it just means Jack will kill me, but I don't. I can't afford to give up my lame hiding place. "Or," she grinds out, "you can force me to kill this very innocent man. Come out and I'll let him go, keep hiding and I'll kill him. You choose Harley."

I consider her words and I almost jump up to my feet but I know Percy. She's an assassin. She's trained to kill. That man will be collateral damage- a point she'll make to prove that she's in control. He's already dead and no matter what I do, I cannot prevent that.

"One," she calls out and my breath hitches, throat constricting, "two,"
The next number doesn't come as she pulls the trigger. I flinch at the sound and hold back a gasp as I hear a body hit the floor. "I don't play games Harley. You've made this harder than it's supposed to be. There's no way of getting out of this."

Her footsteps follow and I assume she's stepping over the man's body. If she gets hold of me, I may very well be next. Maybe Jack doesn't need me alive and she just wants to make the kill entertaining. I don't know. And I don't intend on finding out.

"Come on Harley." She drawls, a bored tone lacing her voice. "I'm surprised you actually let that man die. I thought you were a total wuss when it came to murder."

I listen to her footsteps closely, keeping a hand over my mouth to keep my deep breaths at bay. She's still far behind. Maybe if I try, I can make a run for the door and slip outside and make it to the car. But she's fast. Persephone is genius. Katalina will be here soon and she will realize something is wrong. I just need to hold Persephone off. So I crawl quietly on the floor, around in a circle, her at my heels. I grab a can on the shelf, tossing it to the other side of the room so that she can think I'm there. I think I've tricked her when I hear her pause but then she laughs. A deep, loud and humored laugh.

"Seriously? You really thought I'd fall for that?" She tsks and I decide that Lina is taking too long. She said she would be here soon but how long is 'soon'? I need to at least get ahead of Persephone and what better way to do that other than by shooting her so that I can make a run for it? So silently I sit, waiting for her to come around the corner, my gun in hand. I hear her stop on the other side of the shelf and just as she turns to my aisle, I whip the gun to try and hit her face- throw her off guard. But she must have been expecting it because she catches my arm, blocking the blow with brutal strength and smirks.

"Nice try."

All the lessons on self defense that Danté and Cyrus ever taught me flash in my mind but none of it prepares me for this. For a brutal gang member acting on instinct, yes, but not for a skilled and strategic assassin. Still, I fight back when Persephone knocks the gun out of my hand, it sliding out of reach, and she elbows me in the chest so that I stumble backwards. I hit the floor with a painful thud, watching as she smirks down at me. I reach for the first thing I can- a can of string cheese and I throw it at her before tossing biscuits at her face while I try scramble to my feet.

"Really?" She laughs, glancing down at her chest covered in biscuit crumbs. She enjoys this- this game of cat and mouse. Still, I get back up on my feet before running the other way, seeing the door as my breakthrough. I'm wondering why I can't hear any footsteps chasing me when a blinding pain like nothing I've ever felt hits my shoulder, dots clouding my vision. My legs trip over themselves as I reach out to grip my shoulder. But I'm tackled to the floor from my waist and I groan as my head knocks on the surface. I'm flipped over, Persephone pinning me down and I cry out in pain when she presses down onto my right shoulder, the pain enough to make me want to hurl.

"You're a brat, y'know that?" She says as I try to make my way through the blinding pain. "Jack could've made your life a living hell and he instead helped you. And what do you do? Betray us! Stupid little girl."

I try push her off of me but with my left hand trying to succeed, I fail miserably. That's why she shot my right side- because it's my strongest and I'm now at a disadvantage.

"It didn't have to be this way." She says, wrapping her hands around my throat and applying pressure. I gasp for air, trying to take some oxygen in but none comes. None at all. My ears ring and my head feels like it's on fire and my eyes feel cloudy. I'm going to die.

Just when I realised I wanted to be alive, Persephone is going to kill me. Long and painfully- restricting my air passages. I'm going to die. I'm going to leave behind Danté and Ray, Katalina and Audrey. I'll never see Mason again or hear Mia's laugh with Olivia. I don't want to die.

If this is my last moment to live, I won't go down without a fight. I will not. I will no longer give in to every fight life throws at me.

I will not.

My fingers claw at her hands and my vision becomes increasingly blurry so I see nothing but her smile staring down at me.

What a glorious death- strangled on the floor of a convenience store.

Suddenly, I'm breathing in air and it's never felt so good. I take in large gulps, allowing my senses to return to normal and I blink rapidly, not understanding why I can no longer feel Percy's weight on top of me.

"Merde. This bitch got you good."  I hear a voice say before Katalina is looking down at me. I almost weep out of joy and relief and she extends a hand, helping me up. I cry out when she pulls me by my right hand and she crouches down to my level as I lean my back against a shelf. Reaching a hand over, I touch my shoulder blade before bringing my fingers to my face to see blood.

"She shot you." Lina observes and I nod, now noticing Persephone laying on the floor.

"Is she..."

"Dead? No. I would love to kill her but she's more useful as a pawn." Lina says and all I can do is nod, still trying to catch my breath. Lina smiles.

"Come on, let's get you home."

****

"I'm fine Cameron ." I say for the millionth time as he eyes me getting stitched up by the gang's doctor- the same one who attended to Jee. It hurts a lot- the bullet wound- and my head is pounding but I'm fine. I'm just glad Katalina got there in time.

"Do you know how to change the bandage Cameron?" The doctor asks from behind me where he places a soothing gel over the wound before wrapping it up.

"Unfortunately." Cameron grunts and the doctor nods.

"Very well. You need to change it twice a day. In the morning and at night." He instructs firmly. "Harley you're good to go."

I hop off the table, wincing at the pain in my shoulder before offering the old man who stitched me up a smile. "Thank you."

He nods and we leave the room, walking back out into the lobby. Ramiro is waiting there along with Bruno and Lina and the minute he sees me, Ray is embracing me in a hug that crushes my bones.

"Be careful Ray," Lina scolds him. "She was shot in the shoulder remember?" Ray pulls back then, eyeing my face that's contorted in pain and he gives me a sympathetic smile.

"Sorry," he says and I offer a smile.

"It's alright." I say, stepping out of his warm embrace. "Where's Persephone?" I ask and Bruno answers this time:

"She's in the backroom. Still outcold though. Katalina must have knocked her the fuck out." He adds, eyeing Katalina beside him. I chuckle a little before Danté steps next to me.

"We're heading back to the house." He says and Ray nods.

"I'll be there soon, too. I have a few things I need to get."

With parting goodbyes, Danté and I climb into his car and head back to the house.

****

Moving around with a bullet wound in my shoulder is a lot harder than I thought. Even taking a nap after we returned to the house was uncomfortable as I tossed and turned to try and get into a position that was comfortable but didn't hurt. I wake up grumpy, annoyed that my sleep was disturbed by the injury. The fact that it's on my right side only makes it worse.

"You okay?" Danté asks from where he sits on the couch. He looks handsome with one hand on the back of it and his phone in the other. Scowling, I walk to the fridge and pull out some orange juice.

"I can't sleep with my shoulder." I grumble, wincing when I try and get a glass from one of the top cupboards. I feel hands on my waist then before Danté pulls the glass down for me.

"It takes a while to heal." He tells me. I remember the day there was a shootout on the track back in Oregon. I had stitched Danté up after he was shot too but I never thought I'd ever get to know that pain. "But I think you need a hot bath. You need to relax. It's been a long and... eventful day."

Sighing in exhaustion, I nod. Taking a sip from my glass.

"Take one with me?" I ask and Danté presses a kiss to my forhead.

"Sure. Let me go run the bath." He stalks off then as I finish drinking my OJ. Ever since I spoke out to Danté about how I was feeling, things are better. I'm not so afraid to be honest about how I'm feeling when I get the rare moments of pure despair. It also made us closer- like we bonded in a different way. I haven't cut either, too and while it's only been three days, I see it as an achievement because I haven't been tempted to.

Rinsing my glass off, I head back to the bedroom where I grab a shirt and shorts. Entering the bathroom where the water has already been run, I smile. Danté smiles back, helping me take off my shirt so that I don't hurt myself. After peeling off my pants, I climb into the tub- that's incredibly large and might as well be considered a jacuzzi- before sighing in content at the hot water. Danté joins me a few minutes later and I lean my back against his chest.

"You're lucky Katalina got there in time." He murmurs, massaging my neck and I hum in agreement.

"She was strangling me." I admit.

"That's evident from the bruises around your neck." He replies and I lift a hand up to my neck, rubbing at them subconsciously. Sighing, I melt into his chest, enjoying the way the steam in the room provides warmth for my upper body that is out of the water.

"Do you know what they're going to do with Percy?" I ask, running a hand along Danté's arm. I feel him shrug behind me.

"Probably bargain. Try trading her in for something else."

"I thought Jack was a heartless man. What makes them think that Persephone is the one who can break him? I understand that it's clear they have a unique relationship but is it really enough?"

Wading his hand through the water, Danté lightly traces the new tattoo on my collarbone. "I'm honestly not sure. We don't understand the dynamics of Jack's gang but they do. I trust they know what they're doing."

A comfortable, and peaceful, silence ensues and I breathe in deeply. It's almost surreal that only this afternoon Persephone was strangling me on the floor of a convenience store after killing man. I never would have thought my life would be like this.

"A man died today." I find myself saying, addressing a weight of the situation I can't continue to ignore. "Persephone told me to come out because she'd spare his life if I did. But I didn't. I didn't trust her not to kill anyway."

"I hope you're not blaming yourself for his death." Danté replies gently, voice slightly on edge. And I know why- I've just started making progress, accepting Frank's death, and now I've helped kill another person. That can completely ruin the progress I've made so far. But it won't. I won't let it. I've made the decision to move on and I won't let Persephone, Jack, or even my brother, ruin that.

"No," I say softly, staring at the white foam sitting on the surface of the water. "No I do not. I just wish things could have been different."

"We all do amado." He replies before he sits up straighter, kissing my neck.
"But you need to relax now. The day is over."

I smile with relief. "I don't know how after everything that happened today."

I feel Danté move my hair away from my neck, his mouth leaving hot kisses on my skin. His voice drops, coming close to my ear as his one arm wraps around my chest, a hand resting on one of my breasts as he holds me tight against him. "Let me help you unwind then." His free hand that was resting on my knee trails down my leg, disappearing underwater and my legs open wider without demand. I bite on my lip as he works his magic, a moan escaping me. "Are you fine with that?" He enquires, pausing his fingers for just a second and I ache for the feeling of them again.

"Yes, more than fine."

"Perfect." He says as he gets back to work.

•••
I hope you enjoyed this chapter and are all safe!

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