I parked up and walked into the town centre, which was empty and desolate, because guess what? Online stores destroyed shopping centres, and they’re starting to feel like zombie apocalypse scenes could be filmed there. I delivered the papers, tucked the receipt inside my leathers, zipped up safely, and left the council office, heading back to my ride. That’s where things went bad pretty fast. The first thing I noticed was my ride laying on its side, which was definitely not how I’d fucking left it. Son ofa bitch! I picked up speed heading over there, and that’s where I made my big mistake.
I didn’t check my surroundings as I headed for it, and something heavy hit me in the face, sending me down onto my knees, momentum carrying me onto the pavement. Suddenly I was surrounded by leather clad fuckers, and they yelled curses, punching and kicking at me, while I raised my arms to try and defend myself, desperate to try and block some of their blows.
I’m an accomplished fighter, but surrounded by about ten guys, and already half concussed from a blow to my head, I wasn’t getting up again any time soon. All I could do was try and protect the most important parts of me, in the hopes they’d stop before they killed me.
“Phoenix scum!”
“Fucking die!”
I kept trying to protect my face and head, and take the pounding, grateful for the heavy leathers protecting me by absorbing some of the momentum, but I was starting to weaken and if I passed out, they’d kill me for sure.
Something jabbed hard at my back, a foot? A boot? Baseball bat? I had no idea, but as I was starting to fade into unconsciousness, I sensed them leaving, running like cowards, as I lay there in pain, wondering if I’d lost my chance at a life with Glory after all. My entire body was throbbing with pain, and my breathing was laboured. I wished I could see her just one more time, to remind her to live, and love. To keep healing. Fuck.
“It’s okay, son, just breathe. The ambulance is on its way,” someone murmured as they leaned over me, smoothing the hair from my eyes as they finally drifted closed.
Something was beeping, andlow voices were arguing somewhere near me, but when I forced my eyes open and they fought the brightness of the room, I caught sight of dark leather and large bodies and sucked in a panicked breath, the beeping growing faster and more erratic.
“Henley? Brother, just breathe, you’re safe.”
I knew that voice. I trusted that voice, and the panic immediately dimmed, as I realised the leather clad men were my brothers, and not the assholes who attacked me right out there in the street where anyone could see. Where they should have seen.
“Is he awake?”
I groaned, forcing my eyes open again and casting them around the room. Everything looked a little blurry, but the dark haired man leaning closest to me patted my shoulder.
“You’re okay, brother. Few scratches, some bruises, you’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, you’ll walk it off, man. It’s all good.”
I snorted, and winced as it sent a ripple of pain down my back. Actually, of everything, my back was fucking killing me the most, and wasn’t that what the pain relief was for? That baseball bat must have done serious damage for it to throb like that.
“Hey, settle down, brother.” Was I moving?
My hand felt around for something, anything. Was I trying to call for a nurse? Trying to find some method of pain relief? I had no idea.
“He needs something. Get the nurse.” See? It worked.
“Wh… they were… bikers…” I gritted out, feeling like the words were torn from shredded lungs, every breath seeming to burn its way in and out again.
“We know exactly who it fucking was, brother. They get theirs tonight.”
“Fucking Double Ds, that’s who it was.”
“Grease got the footage, they fucking ganged up on him, cowardly cunts.”
I just lay there and let them talk, because I had no idea what I could possibly add to the conversation. I’d been jumped, knocked half senseless, and beaten. There was so much I didn’t know. So many questions. So many… where the fuck was that pain relief?
“Pain,”I whispered, and Micro patted my arm.
“Nurse is coming, brother, just rest. We’ll make them pay, I promise.”
I didn’t even care about that right now. A new problem was occurring to me. Glory. Where was she, and was she safe? Did they go after her too? Was she waiting at home, wondering where the hell I was? What time was it? I had no idea.
“G-Glory.”
Micro nodded, his features clearer now than they’d been at first. My vision was improving, while everything else continued to throb and burn.
“V’s picking her up, brother. She knows. She’s on her way.”
