Dice’s POV

I’m allowing you to ask me one question.

Did I know this was bound to happen to me? Probably. Choice is a straight line. There’s no such thing as good or wrong choices. You get what you deserve and the idea of having an option to lean towards something that’s right or wrong is there only to comfort you or exactly the opposite – chew on your heart strings if you took the easy way out.

Jay took me somewhere outside the borders of Vegas, I didn’t know where exactly, but what I did know – I was tied to a fucking chair. And he wasn’t alone anymore. To be more precise, the dick wasn’t even here. I guess I pissed him off with my little reckless yet amazing stunt back in the penthouse. Yay for me?

What he actually wanted from me, was still a mystery. At this point it didn’t even matter anymore. I knew I could act all tough and batman like, but we all knew I was just like everyone else. Made of flesh and blood and for my own dissatisfaction I could feel pain. But for everyone else's satisfaction – I hadn’t lost my snarky remarks along the road. Thank god for that.

I could feel the same two sets of eyes burning holes in me. Jay had gone away yet again and if I wasn’t mistaken I was still left with a dude twice my size but with a brain of a peanut and a chick who had one mighty right hook. I think I remembered her from that frat party. She’d been there. Long wavy blond hair, toned body. Stunning beauty. Five minutes from being dead. What she didn’t know and made me grin even wider - me and Death were great pals. Went way back. Maybe Luck was on their side, but why do you need Luck if Death’s your best friend?

„What the hell you’re grinning about?” I heard her shrill voice echo throughout the room.

I chuckled soundlessly, „Untie me and I’ll show you.”

„I could kill you. Not thinking twice about it.” I knew she had narrowed her eyes on me. Her threaths did not affect me, neither did her punches. Not anymore. I think she realized it. But what really killed me – not knowing who the hell were they. Didn’t feel like their first rodeo and definitely wasn’t mine. But let’s keep that a secret. For now.

„Oh please,” I scoffed, keeping my eyes closed, „I’d like to see you try.”

„Don’t worry, darlin’,” She sneered, „Trust me I will. When the time’s right.”

„Did you mean to say – when Jay allows you?” I smiled realizing an answer won’t come and she’s probably pursing her lips by know, ‘cause I know that she’s just a minion in the big parade. She had no saying in this. I knew how it went. „Just as I thought.”

„Shut your mouth, Red,” The big guy hissed. He seemed nervous, a bit too much. He didn’t want to be here. You know what? I didn’t too, but what choice do we all have? Maybe he could untie me and we could all go and get some slurpee's or something? My treat!

My shoulders twitched, the smirk still strong in my face, „I didn’t say anything.”

„I said shut it.” Oh did I touch a nerve? Boo-hoo.

„Okay,” I whispered simply.

„God, what’s taking him?” The dude continued.

„Chill out, Bozo, he’ll be here,” Bozo? Now that was a funny name. Was his parents on crack when they named him? Still better than Lucy, tho.

„Maybe the cops got him,” Bozo kept on going. Now that would be funny, ‘cause cops didn’t even know I had been kidnapped. Only if... no, MJ wasn’t that dumb to actually go to the police. „This is bad, this is so fucking bad, he had to be back,”

„So what’s the deal guys?” I raised my head to try and focus my blurry vision on the blonde and the retard. „You’re in some lame love triangle for crime?” Both sets of eyes narrowed on me. Holy shit – they were! „It wouldn’t surprise me,” I turned away, acting like I suddenly lost all interest in the matter, knowing that’s exactly what gets morons like them talking, „It’s Vegas after all. Every second person is a drug dealer, a junkey or simply an oh I don’t know, an idiot. Fucking easy to track them too,”

„What the hell are you talking about?” Bozo raged, his eyes growing wide and a vein popping in his neck as he stepped forward.

„I’ve worked in the police. I know the drill.” I shrugged, lying only partly. Have never worked in the police, but I knew in fact know how it all went down.

„You’re a cop?” I didn’t know his eyes could grow any wider, but look at him go, „Holy shit, Sarah, no one told me we’re holding a cop here!”

„Relax, idiot,” She huffed, „She’s not a cop. She works in a fucking bar.”

I rolled my eyes, wincing instantly because of the pain from the heavy beating earlier. I bet I could audition for Quasimodo right now, „I guess Jay hadn’t filled you in on the whole story.” Good, I had their attention. That was all that’s needed, „That’s true. I’m not a cop. I’m a lawyer, but I’m more than that. Come here, big boy. I’m not gonna hurt you, just raise my shirt and take a quick look on my back.” I smiled with a wink. He shot a look to the blondie.

„Go on, she’s tied to a fucking chair. She can’t do anything.” She said, before the dude managed his way to me. I leaned forward as much as I could so he could raise the shirt and take a look on my back and see a Crimson Dragon peeking at him. A tattoo every gang member had. I wanted to cover it up for a long time, but couldn’t. They hadn’t kicked me out after all, technically I was still with the Dragon’s.

„What the fuck’s that?” He exclaimed as soon as he had pushed the shirt up.

„What’s what?” I heard the heels clicking against the pavement as the blondie broke the distance. „Holy sh—„

„Don’t tell me—„

„Fuck, fuck, fuck! You have to be kidding me!” Her panic shouts were like music to my ears. I felt satisfaction washing over me.

„Still think it’s a good idea to hold me here?” I sneered. My smirk wasn’t for long tho, realizing I heard Harley’s roaring in the far distance. I should’ve been smirking, I should’ve felt joy hearing my savior’s arrive, but something told me this won’t be as easy.

My eyes locked on blondie to see her try and wipe off the crusted blood from her hands, „Shit...”

„Are those Dragon’s?” Bozo turned to her with clear fear in his face. She stuffed the revolver she’d been twirling around her finger for the past ten minutes behind her belt, before heading towards the stairs, which I realized where here just now.

„Keep an eye on her, I’ll take care of this,” She snapped and disappeared just like that. Keep a fucking eye on me? I’m tied to a goddamn chair! The harley’s stopped what it appeared to be just outside the warehouse. Dampened footsteps made me raise my eyes to the ceiling. Was I in some kind of a basement? Since when did warehouse’s have basements?

I could hear muffled noises, someone talking. Someone laughing. Bozo didn’t seem to like the idea of Dragon’s being here. He seemed distracted and probably didn’t think I could be a real threat just sitting there with a bloody face. He didn’t know the first thing about holding a sadistic freak captive. First of all, on no circumstances you should be standing so close to it, secondly, don’t ever have a loose hold on a gun, thirdly, check if the fucking person is really tied to the fucking chair. I would’ve shaken my head in disapproval, but that would lead on on what my intentions were. Did I forget to mention I had broken free a couple minutes ago? Oh and always take the jewelry off your captives. Keeps them from escaping. Maybe Lady luck finally ran out of dough and turned back into a bisexual and felt I was pretty enough for her? Gee, thanks for the offer, slut... but no thanks. Me and Death are surfing on the same wave now.

You want to know how fucking much it hurts to kick someone in the groin with a leg who has a sprained ankle? FUCKING MUCH! I think it left Bozo more stunned than anything, but I could be wrong. He did double over in pain after all.

„You bitch!” He hissed through bitten teeth, steadying his gun in my face. Either because of the adrenaline or the plain insanity kicking in, I somehow, ignoring the pain, jumped up. It was only a question of seconds, before the chair was flying towards Bozo’s oh-so lovely face.

A deja-vu feeling tapped on my shoulder, the memories expanding from those deep corners of my brain I had left them and starting to take over. I don’t know how, I don’t know why, but there was a gun in my hand. Bozo’s 9mm pistol... and I fired it.

For a second I looked over the now dead body laying on the ground, a couple feet from me. A hole in the head and a red puddle on the floor.

„Fuck...” I whispered. Strongly reminded me of something. The past. A gaping hole I was trying to run from. I tried to edit it in my brain, make myself more humane, trying to impress that I hadn’t actually killed all those people back in the day. Maybe the past was forgotten, but this was the present moment and there was no denying it. I was a murderer. I’ve killed a person.

There was no way the gunshot hadn’t been heard. It still rang in my ears, even when I walked up those stairs, holding the gun clenched in my hand, trying to wipe the last prayer out of my mind just like I had wiped it out of Bozo’s eyes.

I stumbled over a locked door. Who needs a key, when you can simply shoot the lock a couple of times and it comes undone, just like that.

It smelled like death here. Felt like my early twenties, a god forgotten place with god forgotten souls. And the Dragons staring straight at me. And blondie, who’s eyes grew wide.

„Dice...” I heard someone say. Was that Dog? How the fuck had he been? Oh and the chick was plastered to his side. Please don’t tell me this moron got this homicidal bitch as his Old Lady. Well... He’s never been the smartest cookie in the jar.

„Dice!” Mia’s face went pale and her jaw dropped. Despite my aching body and soul, I managed to get a wink out to her as I measured my way to the blondie. I noticed Matt, I noticed Brian and, man, did I not want them to be here and see what was about to go down.

Duke stepped in front of me, shielding me from the blonde. „You need a hospital,” He said quietly.

„I’m fine,” I glared, trying to get past him, but he didn’t let me.

„You’re bleeding,”

„Step away, Duke,” I said calmly.

„She’s Dog’s old lady, Dice,” He tried reasoning. Well, ladi-da, ain’t that convenient. Too bad, we still had rules and Duke knew that. What kept him trying to talk me out of it was the fact that someone would ruin some relationship with... someone.

„You know what she did,” I whispered just for him to hear, „There’s already one dead body downstairs, don’t make me shoot her just because you didn’t step the fuck out of the way.”

„Fine,” He huffed, „But make it clean.”

„Clean? Oh, baby, I’m about to get real messy.” I scoffed.

„You know what I meant.”

„here...” I shoved the gun in his chest, „And get MJ and the guys out of here. This is strictly Crimson Dragon’s beef.”

Brian’s POV

“Well, your bitch of a friend got exactly what was coming to her…and if it comes down to it, blondie, you’re next.” My eyebrows shot up to the dude’s words. Did he have a death wish on him or something? I feel panic rising in MJ, not even having to look at her. Either it was because of the threats or because we still had no idea where Dice was.

I noticed Matt’s locked jaw and clenched fists and I swear he was just a second away from letting the caged animal out and killing the bastard. I couldn’t allow that, that’s bad publicity and we had an album coming out. As much as I wanted to kick the living crap out of the douche myself, we couldn’t. I can’t believe I was even thinking it, but we had to let the biker’s take care of this mess.

„Come on, man, you need some fresh air,” I said, taking him by his upper-arm. He tried to jerk out of my reach, „Don’t be stupid, Shads,” I warned, getting a glare from him, before he surrendered and let me walk him out of the room.

„Why the fuck did you drag me out?” He raged as we walked the dark corridor, „I bet he knows where Dice is.”

„Yeah,” I scoffed, „And I bet you’d kill him before he had the chance to squeal.”

He sighed, before punching a wall to his left, „This is so fucked up...”

„I know,” I agreed, „Just, keep your cool, man. I don’t want to say this, but let’s just let the biker’s handle the situation.”

As soon as we walked back in that big space of the warehouse, something caught our eyes. A blonde chick talking to one of the biker’s. I hadn’t noticed her before. Where the hell did she come from? One of the guys wrapped his arms around her waist, kissing her on the top of the head.

„Sarah?” Duke’s voice chimed somewhere from the hallway behind us. „What the hell are you doing here?”

I stopped to look back, not really feeling that this grand reunion or what not would interest me. I had to make sure MJ doesn’t go strolling around and doesn’t get lost or even worse, fall through the floor boards and get herself killed. That would be the least of the fucked up things we needed.

Disappointment was strong in her face. Come on, girl, don’t give up. I held my hand out for her, pulling her close to my side as soon as she was with me again. „Don’t you even think about giving up,” I whispered against her hair after planting a kiss to the top of her head.

„This is stupid,” A single tear escaped and was threatening to slide down her cheek, but she wiped it away. Angrily.

„What did Duke say? He’s gonna talk to the bastard?” I asked silently as we measured our way back to the biker group. And by talking I didn’t mean the word filled conversation.

„He’s gonna make some calls, but yeah... He said he’ll have a word with him,” She rolled her eyes.

„Sarah, just... please, go back home,” I saw Duke pinching the bridge of his nose, „Dog, tell her! She can’t be here,”

„I want to help too!” The blonde exclaimed, pulling what I grew to know as Dog closer to her. „Come on guys, you know I’m good at finding shit out!”

„You’re not even supposed to know about this,” Duke huffed. Did the chick not know any fear? Even I was intimidated by the dude. And it was kinda impossible to intimidate me. But bikers, man... No wonder why Dice scared the shit out of me for the most time.

„Yea, how the fuck did you find out?” Ripper added, narrowing his eyes on the girl.

„Everyone knows about this,” She said like it was so obvious, „You tell Snitch and everyone knows, come on guys... Please?” She plead, but it seemed like someone else had to be pleading a lot harder than she was, because a gun shot sounded from somewhere... below?

„Is there anyone else here, but us?” Duke frowned, squinting his eyes on Dog.

„Nah, man, I checked the place before bringing the bastard here.” Dog replied.

„Then explain something to me, am I hallucinating or did I fucking hear a gun going off?”

„Duke, it’s probably nothing!” The chick added, nervously. He just glared back at her, before heading for some door. And would you believe it when I say something that strongly reminded of a walking death, paced through the door towards which Duke was headed.

MJ stiffened next to me. My jaw nearly hit the ground, when I realized that’s Dice. She was covered in bruises, her shirt was smeared with drips of blood, her face was far from being in the ordinary pale shade. Even from here I could see all those cuts and bruises. But she was alive. And holding a gun.

„Dice!” MJ was about to run for her, but I figured that was a fucking bad idea, knowing she’s probably pissed and armed. She threw her a wink and stopped to talk something over with Duke. He didn’t seem pleased with what she was saying.

I turned my head to look over Matt. „Breathe, man. She’s alive.” I said silently, trying to get him out of that state of shock.

For a moment he just stood there, with his mouth agape. Then it seemed the situation really hit him. Then he got angry. „What the fuck she’s doing? She needs a fucking doctor!”

I heard MJ sigh heavily, before explaining while massaging her temple, „She’s about to kill the girl. We should probably leave,”

„That you do,” Suddenly out of nowhere Duke appeared by our side. He had a small smile on his lips, „Come on Mia, walk out. You too, guys,”

„I’m not fucking leaving!” Matt raged beside me. Whoa, chill dude. She’s guarded by bikers, I’m pretty sure nothing can happen to her anymore.

„It’s not your call, man. Dice said she wants all of you out. Either you go on your free will or me and Ripper will throw you out,” Matt clenched his teeth, Duke’s eyes locking on Mia, before he pointed to the door.

„We’ll go, just please...” MJ left my side to step closer to Duke. Remember your place MJ, don’t make me kill someone today. „Did she kill someone? Did she kill Jay?”

Duke’s blues fixed on me, then Shads and finally returned to MJ. „No. She left him with a bullet in his leg.” That smell... smells like... like strong bullshit, but it seemed like both Shads and MJ bought it, „Go. And let us take care of everything. Dice will be out shortly. I bet it will only take a punch.”

„Can someone get me a chair and a rope... and a fucking smoke?” Dice’s voice echoed throughout the storage room. I couldn’t bare but roll my eyes with a small smirk on my lips. That chick’s crazy. But I guess that’s why she’s the knife mistress... Go figure those lunatics.

Notes