Page 32 of Fractured Souls

He doesn't get another word out before my fist is flying straight into his face. I watch as blood pours from his nose, and he stumbles back before his own anger takes over.

Then all hell breaks loose.

* * *

6 Hours Earlier: Blade (Noah)

I’m eating breakfast with some brothers, shooting the shit when my phone rings. I glance at it. Seeing who it is, a bad feeling hits me hard in the stomach. I answer it and quickly move away to hear better because the main room is pretty loud right now.

“Brother?”

“Yeah, Noah, we have a problem. We wanted to find Harley before school today, to hopefully get her to come back with us and bail on school, but as soon as we got here, a girl came running up telling us that Harley took off out towards the main road. We just got out here, and she's gone, brother. She got in a taxi and took off before we could stop it. Can you try to find her? We’ll come back now to help. I'm worried. Something isn't right.” He rushes it all out so fast that I don't think he is even breathing.

“Alright, okay, well shit. Take a breath, Gray. There are some of us here today. I'll get everyone to go split up and search and call me if they find her, but Gray, you guys need to stay there in case she comes back today. Alright?”

“No, Noah, we need to help. I don't even know if Ry can hold on without losing his temper on some poor kid here.” I'm already shaking my head even though I know he can't see me. “Nope. I'm pulling the big brother card. Stay put. I mean it. If we need you to leave, I will tell you. Otherwise stay and tell me if she comes back. I'm off now, brother. Good luck.”

I hang up and head back towards the main room and let out a loud whistle so everyone shuts up.

“Alright, listen up! We've got a problem. This was going to be brought to Church tonight, but now shit’s happening, so I need all hands that have nothing of importance to do to get the fuck ready and get outside to their bikes, NOW!”

I take off outside, not waiting to see who is doing what. I know they will follow my orders. One, I am the enforcer, and you'd be stupid to cross me and two, Rage is like a father to me, so I get a little more leeway with things.

About two minutes later, at least ten brothers come out and three prospects. As they get ready to take off, I yell out, “We are looking for Harley, short redhead, about 5’3ish and has a scar on her face on the right side. I know that's not much, but it's what we have to work with. Split up in groups of two to three. Head out to the Wilson's house, snoop around quietly, some go by the school, the rest of you split off to heavy taxi areas, bus stops, I don't fucking know where else. We just need to find her. When you do, keep a distance. Do not lose her and call me immediately. Sorry, that's all you get, brothers. Be safe, let's ride.”

After about two hours of nothing, we finally get something. A prospect, Connor, called me and said he saw a girl who looked like her at a bus stop farther into town.

I speed that way with another prospect, Daniel, riding next to me. We get there, and I tell them to hold back as I head up to the stop. When I reach the bench, she's not there. But that's when I see her sitting on a bus by the window.

She has the most beautiful large, round, hazel eyes that I want to examine up close because she's too far away. I feel like I'm stuck in a trance just staring at her eyes.No wonder my brothers are so taken with her.I know this is her from the way the guys described her hair. It's long and copper with beautiful flowing waves. I can see her scar on her cheek and something in me burns with anger at someone hurting her. Which is outrageous because who knows what it's from.

She has bruises on her face, and her left eye is a little swollen. I can just barely make out the top of a bruise on her neck where her hoodie isn’t covering it. I clench my fists because this girl should not be getting hurt.

She has been staring right at me with an awed but confused expression on her face until something close to panic comes over her and she quickly turns away and ducks down.

Then I realize I've spent all my time stuck staring at her and not getting on the bus. I turn and take off towards the front of the bus but as soon as I get to it, it speeds away.

“FUCK!” I yell, startling people who had been walking around me.

I quickly memorize everything I can about the bus and what the route says on the back screen part before turning around and booking it back to my bike. I parked around the corner to keep from scaring her, which I really regret right now. I get on my bike and take off after the bus with both prospects’ bikes sounding behind me. We get stuck at a red light sitting in heavy traffic since we are in the middle of the town now and it's always busy.

Fucking shit, I can't lose her. Not now. Not ever. Fuck, what am I thinking? I’m so distracted by my thoughts when the light turns green that I don’t see the truck coming at me from my right until it's too late. I hear a sickening crunch as I get thrown from my bike. It wouldn't be the first time I have crashed, but I have never flown through the air before.

It feels like time slows, and I squeeze my eyes shut knowing I am going to hit the road or even another car hard. I try to tuck into myself as much as possible as I hit the pavement and slide. Son of a fucking bitch, that hurts like a motherfucker. My head is throbbing, and my body hurts, but I can't focus enough to tell where I am hurt the worst. Before I can even think to move or get up, my vision is blurring. I can faintly hear muffled shouts and cars braking before everything goes out of focus and I pass out.

* * *

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

That sound is annoying as hell. My head hurts like a bitch; it feels like my brain is pounding in my skull, giving me the world's worst headache. I slowly crack my eyes open to realize I am not at the clubhouse.What the fuck?

My mind goes into overdrive thinking about where I was. Goddamn it, the crash. Why the hell would the prospects bring me here? They know better. We rarely ever come to the hospital. And if we do it’s because Doc is forcing us to. I’d much rather get patched up and lay in my own bed doped up on pain meds or even just dealing with the pain than be in the hospital.

It’s not that any of us have anything against hospitals. Well, Axe, one of my brothers, struggles because of past issues, but the rest of us just don’t want to deal with it. And shit is expensive as fuck.

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