Page 10 of Brave as It

It's a brand burned into my very soul.

A Hellion came into my life on New Year’s Eve and stamped my heart in a way that is crippling as I try to put it all behind me. Wesson, the Hellions, my family, and everything in between.

How am I going to put Haywood’s Landing behind me if everywhere I go there is another Hellion something or someone staring me in the face?

As if a gift from God himself, there is a sign directing me to Interstate ninety-five right in front of me. Yes, main highways, time to pivot. Maybe there won’t be Hellions on a run or a transport that swarms around me. Honestly, I can ignore the motorcycles and the trucks. I know they have a transport company which means any man behind one of these rigs could be one of them. Pedal down and drive on out, forget Wesson, forget Haywood’s Landing, forget it all. At least that’s what my mind told me. It wasn’t long before I found the Interstate and south bound putting all things Hellions, Wesson, and home behind me.

My gas light in this nondescript car popped on in Florence, South Carolina. Not knowing this car and who had it before, I didn’t want to push my luck on how far I can go after the alert. I did take a moment at a rest area to check the registration, insurance information, and tags. Everything seemed legit, it is registered to a holding company and the insurance card in the glove box proved I had coverage as a driver.

I can’t decide if I want a cop to pull me over, question me, and take me away so I can get out of this or if I want to be under everyone’s radar, do what needs to be done, and then face what comes after. Since I don’t actually know what is expected of me which means I don’t know when this will end, all I can do is take things one step at a time.

Like getting gas in what is my new to me car. Sticking to the big stops, I decide to pull off and top off at the new gas station. My plan was to get gas, find a side road, and start life. It was the concept, drive until the gas ran out and that’s where I can plant myself until I get my next instructions.

There are a few flaws in this plan.

Once again, they were present.

Here I was at a huge gas station with I swear close to a hundred gas pumps and a giant beaver as a mascot and whopulled in beside me? A freaking group of Hellions. Their vests or as Wesson calls it a ‘cut’ say Conway, SC. Outside of the city and state, the shit was exactly like Wesson’s just different ride patches.

He once explained that the back of each Hellion cut would have the insignia of the skull with wrenches crossing over it and flames. Some places had the city and state on the back, some just the state. The front always had their road-name on the left chest and if they hold an officer position that patch is on the right side of the chest against them not when facing them. Any other patches present are ones earned on a ride or by some memory.

Fuck me.

I can’t stop here to start over. I didn’t get far enough away. I don’t know what I’m involved in and what will be asked of me. I can’t risk Wesson finding me. This is supposed to be a trip to find myself, at least that’s what I told him. Well, no matter the truth behind what I’m doing, I can’t do any of it with the Hellions around.

It’s a gamble if Wesson will miss me, look for me, or simply let me go. With everything my dad did, I’m certain my family is blacklisted by the Hellions, if that is a thing. Even though Wesson tells me he claimed me making me safe within the club, I don’t believe it. My dad and Diem’s not actual father brought a whole bunch of trouble to Haywood’s Landing. Even though it cost my dad his life, I don’t see how any Hellion can let that go. Why not punish me for sins of my father?

Then there is Wesson. As much as he promised me all kinds of things, I can’t tie up my faith in a man. My mom, Diem’s mom, even Diem and myself, we relied on Reign’s Enterprises for everything. When it all fell apart so did our lives. I can’t rely on anyone. Especially Wesson Vaughn.

Did he ask me to stay? Absolutely.

Did I stay? Obviously not.

Was he angry I left? Oh yeah, the fury radiated off him when I shut down any conversations to change my mind. Am I wrong for running away? Probably, but I have my reasons. Those very reasons I didn’t share with anyone, not even Diem, because they love me too much and would talk away my decision.

Using the new credit card provided to me, I filled up my car and got back on the road headed South. I had no specific destination in mind. I had no rules except get distance between me, Haywood’s Landing, and especially the Hellions. No place to be or time to be there. My only goal was to get as far away from home and start life again.

I let the signs pass by and the miles move under me when I crossed the state line to Georgia. The Hellions are in the Carolina’s, I remember Wesson saying something like that. Maybe Georgia is the place for me. I like peaches, this could work.

I start paying attention to the exits waiting for my gut to tell me where to pull off. I hit the exit and make a right onto some road. In Brunswick Georgia, at least that’s what the last sign said, I head west on highway eighty-two.Get away from the coast, I think to myself. As much as I love the beach and it calms my soul, I can’t be found easily. The miles move on as I now work my way inland in Georgia. God, I would miss the beach. There is something comforting while inhaling the salt in the air and feeling the sand between my toes.

Pressing on, I’m in the middle of nowhere when it’s time to find a gas station. At a quarter of a tank, I always begin to get anxious. Dad always told me it was bad to let the car get below that since it would work the crud from the gas tank into the engine. The thing is, I told myself go until I needed gas and start over.

How many times have I failed to keep a promise to myself?

The last stop, I couldn’t stay. The point is to get away from the Hellions, not land myself in another one of their towns. If Wesson asked me to come home, I don’t know that I’m strong enough to say no. When he asked me to stay it killed me inside to deny his request. I want nothing more than to be with him. Only fate doesn’t seem to want that for my destiny.

Finding a gas station, I filled up before parking to the side of the store. I grabbed some snacks and more water since the ones I packed in my cooler had long since ran out. The day drags on when all I have done is drive. It was a little over six hours into my adventure when I got off the Interstate in Brunswick. According to my phone, I’m now in Sumner, Georgia and it’s been almost three hours on this country road to get here.

I’m in the process of reserving a hotel room when I hear them.

The pipes.

I know that sound.

It played over and over in my head. Diem told me how it feels to ride with Colt. Wesson doesn’t have a bike anymore. He said after the accident it wasn’t something he wants. Bike or not, he lives that life and it’s beautiful. The passion, the loyalty, the love, and everything about being a Hellion is much more than a motorcycle.

The accident that changed him forever may have taken his bike away, but it didn’t take away the Hellions.

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