AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nothing about Eagle’s demeanor screams tension. Even so, I text Xenia to warn her to keep the shop’s front door locked and only let in people she knows. She replies by asking if she should close up and go to the Pigsty.
The lodge would be safer than the shop. I’ve already shown Xenia the panic room and taught her the Pigsty’s security codes. However, with those assholes creeping around our territory, she might not be safe on the road without an escort.
“Stay there until I come get you,” I text back. “Put up your closed sign. Don’t open for anyone unconnected to the club.”
She responds with “I love you” rather than asking questions. I admire how quickly Xenia’s adjusted to this new wilder life.
Once I know she’s safe, I shove my phone in my back pocket and ride after Eagle who is a block up from me.
The unbearable heat wave broke yesterday. I can breathe easier now under the warm sun. The Valley will be changing soon, bending its knee to autumn and turning into an honest-to-goodness piece of art. I look forward to getting outside more with Xenia when she won’t be so overheated. There are many great spots in McMurdo Valley to watch the sunset. I can imagine a lot of picnics in our future.
On the flat roads, I can see straight up to where Dice leads our group. His brown hair is kept in check by his usual blue bandana. Yagger’s blond hair is golden in the sun. Eagle’s dark hair catches the wind and makes me recall how Clementine likes to tug at it whenever her little hands can get a good grip.
When we reach the hillier end of the Valley, I lose sight of the younger men. Only the back of Eagle is visible by the time we pass the road leading up to the Pigsty. With no assholes lingering near our clubhouse, the lead guys keep riding.
Over the roar of my motorcycle, I catch the sound of the Valley’s storm warning going off. With clear weather expected for the week, I know the horn warns of a different danger. If Ruin’s using his mayoral powers, something big is going down.
Gunshots echo back to me as I ride along a steep road lined with dense forest on both sides. I can’t see anyone except Eagle since the others have already gone over the hill. The sound of metal grinding against asphalt ping pongs off the trees and finds me.
Up ahead would be a perfect spot for an ambush. Hell, I think we once hit members of the Edwards family back in the day right here on this road. Now, we’re the ones under attack.
For a split second, I hesitate. My hand loosens on the throttle. My life until this moment slams into the reality that today might be the end of me.
I feel Xenia. Her fingers sliding across my scarred back. The sound of her voice when she calls out my name. The way she makes me feel when the world steals my hope.
Her presence quickly tumbles out of reach. I hear Eagle’s engine roar louder. He leans on the throttle, heading toward danger.Do I really have a choice?Can I just pull over and let my friends face the enemy alone?
Even though Xenia is still a stranger, I want to return to her rather than follow Eagle. I’m exhausted by the thought of more pain and fear. I don’t want to lick my wounds again. I’m looking to create something good with a beautiful woman who loves me.
Except Eagle’s also got a beautiful woman at home. And a little girl who needs to grow up with a dad.
Besides, this town belongs to my club. No one spills our blood without feeling their own life end. The Steel Berserkers Motorcycle Club has controlled the Valley going on nearly two decades. That’s why whoever is attacking us today can’t live to see tomorrow.
Xenia drops from my mind. I can’t see Irina or the baby, either. I return to the man I was in my youth. Young and bitter, I relished hurting assholes. Having power left me cocky. I never even felt pain until a fight was over.
With a pull on the throttle, I embrace the berserker inside me. The Valley and I breathe together. I forget everything beyond destroying whatever stands in my way. The man I become can’t love Xenia. He only wants to burn down the world.
I race up the hill. Eagle went over the crest moments earlier. Gunfire steals the day’s earlier tranquility. I hear at least two high powered rifles. Eagle’s pistol returns fire. Another handgun sounds off.
Those last shots feel panicked. Either Dice or Yagger are just trying to stay alive long enough for the cavalry to arrive.
Reaching the hill’s peak, I level out my gun. My gaze is never clearer. I search for my target.
Eagle’s hog has rolled off the left side of the road. He’s firing at three Halvorson workers. Two yellow trucks block the road. The vehicles also act as cover for two of the men. A third one strolls out from behind a truck, unloading an entire clip toward the right side of the road where one of the younger guys must be hiding.
My shot tears through the arrogant son of a bitch’s throat, ending him quickly. The two remaining assholes turn their fire away from Eagle’s position and toward me.
I steer my hog toward the right side, leaping off as the bike rolls down the embankment. The men fire blindly in my direction. I keep low to the ground, trying to use my hog for cover. When a bullet bounces off my calf, the pain barely registers.
Eagle opens fire on the men to allow me a chance to catch my breath. Yet, he’s got to be low on ammo by now. Is he close enough to his ride to arm up? I haven’t gotten a good sense of where all my people are located. Up ahead is one of the younger members, pinned down and likely hurt. Where did the fourth guy from our group end up?
I snatch my rifle from my hog’s side pack. If my injured leg cooperates, I can reach the woods and use the trees for cover.
While Eagle has their attention, I make my move. One of the assholes takes notice. Bullets whip past me. One skims my arm as I leap for the dense forest. The brush here is thick, nearly impossible to traverse, but I feel at home. The Valley has my back. I just need to remember who I am.
Crawling through the brush, I move closer to one of the younger men who occasionally fires his pistol.
The assholes are pinned down, unable to finish us off without coming into the open. If they really wanted to live, they could jump in their trucks and bail. With them cussing and swearing revenge for their dead friend, I don’t sense they’re done for the day.
