Sinner’s Redemption by Rebecca Joyce

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Montana

The second I heard Ashe shout brace, I knew what was about to happen. I knew the route he took. We planned for every contingency. We left nothing to chance.

When Dakota walked into the boardroom yesterday morning and told me we needed to talk, I thought it was about his assignment with the club. Not that he learned Petrovitch was in the city. I didn’t bother asking him how he got the information. None of that mattered. If my brothers said that motherfucker was here, then I believed him. Dakota had always had an uncanny ability to know everything. That ability served him well during his time in the military. Thanks to his information, we had time to plan.

All of us did.

It wasn’t the best plan, but it was what I had to work with. I wasted no time calling Dad and telling him what was going on. I had planned on asking him to get Tessa, York and mom to safety, but he informed me that Tessa left with Kali and Kansas for the Gala.

A small wrinkle, but easily fixed.

After calling Kansas and giving him a heads up, I called my branded brothers, and we got to work doing what we did best. While we expected Petrovitch to show at the Gala, none of us thought he would open fire and create pandemonium.

Then again, I should have expected it.

My brothers and I only arrived moments before him. I had just entered the Gala when Pippen texted that Petrovitch had shown, armed for war with several men.

That was all the warning I needed.

That’s when my plan went to shit fast.

First, Malice took off, running into the crowd. Then bullets were flying. People screamed as they ran for cover. But not my woman. Fuck no. My stubborn woman refused to listen to me. Instead of running from the danger, my Tessa wanted to run towards it.

It took everything I had to get her the fuck out of that place.

All I wanted was to get her to safety.

I should have known it wasn’t going to be that easy because the second Ashe shouted ‘brace’, my worst nightmare came into fruition as the SUV we were in plowed through a barrier and into the Hudson River

The second the SUV hit the murky water I wasted no time unbuckling my belt.

“Kansas!”

When my brother didn’t respond, I turned around to find him hunched over, blood pouring out of his chest. Kali, his beautiful wife, lay in his lap with a nasty gash near her hairline.

“Tessa!”

When she didn’t respond, I looked around the SUV to find her lying on the floor of the vehicle as water slowly pooled over her. Grabbing her, I hauled her into my arms, quickly checking for a pulse. Finding one, I sighed. “I got you, baby. It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

“Ashe?” I yelled, praying the fucker was coherent.

When silence reigned, I cursed as I carefully laid Tessa on the seat and moved towards the unconscious man behind the wheel. Seeing a nasty goose egg, I closed my eyes and prayed.

I was only one man.

“God please. Don’t make me choose.”

Tessa moaned.

Turning to face her, I whispered, “Come on, baby. I need you to wake up. I’ve got a situation and I need your help. I can’t do this by myself. Please wake up.”

“My head hurts.”

“I know, baby. Open those eyes for me. Come on.”

“I’m wet,” she muttered, opening her eyes. A second later, she stiffened. “Are we sinking?”

“Yes, and we don’t have a lot of time.”

“Who’s hurt?”

I sighed, smiling.

That was my woman. I knew eventually her brilliant brain would kick in. Looking around the vehicle, I said, “They shot Kansas in the chest. Kali has a nasty gash, and Ashe is unconscious.”

“So, then we prioritize. The worst case goes first. That’s Kansas.”

“Kali’s pregnant.”

“And your brother has a chest wound. He takes priority.”

I shook my head. “I can’t leave his wife behind. He would never forgive me.”

“If he dies, you lose a brother.”

I heard what she was saying, but I couldn’t do it. I refused to lose my brother again. I wouldn’t.

“You go. Take Kali with you. I will get Kansas and Ashe,” I said, as the water level continued to rise. “Baby, go. Take Kali and get out of here.”

“There is only one choice. I am the only one qualified to help Kansas. Get Kali and Ashe out of here. I’ll stay with Kansas until you come back for me.”

“FUCK THAT!” I roared. “I’m not leaving you!”

My woman smiled, placing her hand on my face. “I love you, Montana. I always have. But you know I’m right. I need to be with Kansas. I can do this. Just like I know, you will come back for me. Now go.”

Quickly kissing me, she climbed over the seat and picked Kali up, handing her over to me. Laying Kali on the seat, I quickly unbuckled Ashe. “Baby, when I knock out this window, it won’t take long for the vehicle to sink. Do what you must, then get the fuck out of this vehicle.”

“That was my plan,” she said, leaning down to listen to my brother’s chest.

It was now or never.

Taking one more look at the love of my life, I reached for my gun, aimed, then blew out the front windshield. As I said, the moment my bullet cracked the glass, the weight of the water came rushing in. Pushing Ashe out the window, I reached back for Kali, taking a quick look at Tessa, who was unbuckling his seatbelt. Trusting my woman, I carefully held Kali as we exited the sinking vehicle.

Swimming for the surface, I just crested the water when someone grabbed my shoulder. Turning for the fight of my life, I roared as someone shouted. “Montana! It’s me, Arizona!”

Handing him Kali, I quickly said, “I’ve got to go back and help Tessa with Kansas!”

“Dakota is already in the water. So are others,” he said, floating next to me. “Come on, brother, let us help you this time.”

I wanted to trust him. I wanted to believe but my woman was down there with my baby brother. I couldn’t leave them. I had to go back down there.

Diving, I ignored my brother’s screams as I swam down into the depths of the Hudson River. The water was dark, almost black. I could barely see anything, but I refused to give up. Seeing the chrome bumper of the SUV, I swam harder as my brother’s body floated towards me. Grabbing him, I raced for the surface again.

I don’t know how she did it, but my woman fucking got my brother out of there just like she said she would. I couldn’t wait to give her the biggest fucking kiss. Cresting the surface once more, I swam for the dock, seeing my crew, a few of the Diamondbacks, my dad along with several ambulances, police and divers jumping into the water.

The divers quickly swam towards me, taking Kansas from me. Soon we had Kansas hauled onto the dock as my dad and Arizona helped me out of the water.

Looking around, I stopped when I couldn’t find Tess.

“Where is she?”

“Kali’s fine. She’s already on her way to St. John’s Presbyterian.” My dad said.

Shaking my head, I frantically looked everywhere. “Tessa. Where’s my Tessa?”

“Son,” my dad cautiously muttered. “She hasn’t…”

Shaking my head, I was about to jump back into the water when several arms wrapped around me.

Fighting as hard as I could, I couldn’t break their hold as I screamed, “TESSA!”

I stood motionless as I watched diver after diver come up empty-handed.

I refused to move when the crane lifted the SUV from the bay.

I stood firm when the divers called off the search.

I stood rooted to that spot on the dock, never taking my eyes off the murky water, praying for my woman to pop her head up, begging, pleading with God to grant me this one wish.

“Son,” I heard my father say, as he placed his hand on my shoulder. Shrugging him off, I refused to move. “It’s been hours. I’m so sorry, son.”

“She’s not dead.” I growled, daring him to say otherwise.

“Son, York needs you. It’s time to leave.”

“I’m not going anywhere.”

“Montana,” my father said, his voice firm. “She’s gone, son. The sooner you accept that, the faster you can heal.”

Turning to my dad, I grabbed him by his suit jacket and pleaded with him. “She got out. I know my Tess, dad. She’s a strong swimmer. She got out. She’s alive. You hear me! She can’t be dead!”

Grabbing me, my father wrapped his arms around me like I was a small child. Holding me tight, I held onto him for all I was worth as I cried. I couldn’t remember the last time I cried. I didn’t think I knew how to anymore. I couldn’t do this without her.

She was my everything. I needed her to be alive.

“Please,Dad. Please.”