They both leave, probably taking a seat in the sitting room and I focus my blurry vision on what’s possibly the last thing my wife ever wrote. I remember in college, we used to write each other hand written letters all the time as we evolved our relationship into something more.
By the time I finish the letter, my vision is blurry for other reasons and not because I’m drunk. Thick tears fall from my eyes nonstop as I sob over my loss, smearing the ink. How did I not know any of this? Sure, I remember the case, but I never knew it affected her this much. That the man she was defending was Jade’s father. How crazy is that? But this is no work of fate. This is all my cunning wife’s doing. She brought Jade into my life not just for me, but herself.
“Are you okay?” Jade asks from the doorway. I don’t know how long she’s been standing there, leaning against the frame, watching me read. I know her question has a double meaning. She wants to know if I’m still going to kill myself. Am I?
“Your conscious is clear, raven,” telling her the only answer I can give. How can I keep my vow to my wife when I didn’t even know her? If I did, maybe she would still be alive. I could have helped her with the guilt she’s been carrying for so long. Maybe she wouldn’t have been so quick to give up, but with that same thought, if I could have gotten to Nichole there’s a chance I would have never met Jade. Nichole would have had no reason to seek her out.
The doorbell rings, the sound echoing through the house. I don’t bother to get up. It’s probably another one of my neighbors with late condolences. Tyson must have answered the door for me because I hear the alarm beep signaling the door is open. I don’t know why I didn’t hear it when they first came in. I was probably too focused on the act of killing myself. A loud popping noise, like a gunshot sends both Jade and I running. When we get to the door, I stare in horror at the scene before us not believing my eyes. On the floor is Tyson, clutching a gunshot wound to the chest that is bleeding profusely. Screaming, Jade falls to her knees before his body and moves his hand out of the way to press down on the wound herself, frantically trying to stop the bleeding.
“Don’t just stand there, call 911,” she shouts, breaking into my dazed, paralyzed state. Taking out my phone, I do as she asks. I’m a mess as I talk to the operator, still trying to process everything. I can’t believe Tyson got shot answering my door. That only means the bullet was meant for me. Who the hell did I piss off enough for them to want to kill me?
While Jade is still pressing her palm onto Tyson’s wound, I go to the open door. On the steps is a single black rose with a note. I leave the rose, but I pick up the note and read it.
Cancer may have gotten your bitch of a wife, but no one will escape our wrath
“What does it say?” Jade asks.
I read the note out loud and her face pales. “Do you know who did this?” I question.
“I’m not sure, but it could be a message from my father’s motorcycle gang. Nichole did go out of her way to make sure the VP was arrested and received the death penalty.”
“But why come after us now? That doesn’t make any sense." My mind is buzzing for answers and soon my ears are filled with sirens from the ambulance pulling onto my street.
“Isn’t it obvious? After I read the letter, I looked into the case myself. Usually they take years to put someone to death even with lethal injection, but with Nichole calling for his head and with her connections, they executed Mad Dog Wilson, President of the Serpents Motorcycle Gang, two days ago. They must have learned Nichole was the reason behind why he was executed so quickly and decided to come after her. Learning she’s dead, they decided to refocus their revenge on her family.” Her face pales and a look of fear I’ve never seen before crosses her beautiful features. “Grayson, we’re all in danger now.”
I don’t get the opportunity to reply when the crew from the ambulance comes rushing in and takes over, pushing Jade out the way so they can stabilize Tyson. While they work over him, Jade gives them a playback of what happened. Once Tyson is stable, they tie him down to a stretcher, loading him onto the truck, and rush off to the hospital while we follow in Tyson’s car. Jade is a mess and in no condition to drive, so I do it. I'm no longer drunk at all. Between the letter and the gunfire, I am stone cold sober.
Tyson is rushed straight to surgery, so we have no choice but to wait. I pace the waiting area, not able to sit down. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was the only one who was supposed to die tonight. My death would not have affected Jade, but Tyson, Tyson is the man she loves. If he dies, that will destroy her, and I can’t bear to witness that. Pulling out my phone, I call Tyson’s dad letting him know what happened. As rich families go, where we’re mostly raised by nannies, he’s really close to his son. After I hang up I think about what Jade said. If she’s right, once the motorcycle crew learns they shot the wrong person, they will try again. And they will find out. Shooting someone as well known as Tyson Garfield will be in the news. Heads will roll on both sides when they find out just who he is, who his family is. What if they learn I have a son?
“Jade, you need to go somewhere safe. If what you said is true, it will not be long before they try again. What if they learn about Grayson?”
“Have you lost your damn mind? I’m not leaving my husband. Fuck, Grayson, how could you be so cruel to even suggest such a thing? I know you have low opinions of me, but I’m not a scumbag. I’m going out my mind while my husband is currently getting operated on for a bullet to the chest that was meant for you. I don’t even know if he’ll make it and you want me to just run away.”
“Jade,” I huff. "I don’t think lowly of you. You’re the mother of my child, and I care about you, but be reasonable here. This isn’t just about you. I know you love Tyson, there’s no doubt about that, but I’m confident he wouldn’t want you here, putting yourself in danger.”
“I have to agree with Grayson, but please fill me in on what’s going on and while you’re at it, explain to me how the hell my son got shot and is currently fighting for his life,” Tyson’s father bellows in his commanding voice. One you know not to ignore.
I gulp, wondering how in the hell Garfield got here so fast. He must have already been in the area when I called him, or maybe his connections told him his son was in the hospital before I could. I sometimes forget who he is and nothing happens here in New York without him knowing.
“A member from the Serpents shot him, thinking it was me since he answered my door.”
“And why would a small time motorcycle gang be paying you house visits? Visits where they want you dead?”
“My wife, sir. Apparently, she pissed them off when she saw to it that their newly appointed President got the death penalty for killing a club whore and Jade’s father. She then, somehow, found a way to speed up his execution.”
“Bloody hell. Did you know about this?” he snarls at me.
“No, I swear. I didn’t learn anything about it until Jade showed me a letter Nichole wrote her. You do remember the case Nichole took on that she lost and later got the conviction overturned? That man was Jade’s father.”
“It seems like your relationship with Jade runs deeper than your wife conning her to have your baby.”