Page 12 of Rebel

“I’m not sure, but they made sure I understood their threats loud and clear.” I shuddered at the way they’d been so casual in their threats. My hand went to the exact spot where his slap had landed. “It was an experience.”

“Holy shit, Nikki!”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “I know.” It wasn’t easy to talk about, but after another drink, the details spilled from my lips as if I was talking about the weather. “Logan or should I say Rebel, is worried that this isn’t the end of things, and I believe him.”

“How did your life suddenly turn into an action film?”

I shrugged. “Good luck, I suppose.” We talked some more and drank some more before we both drifted off to sleep.

***

The morning alarm came far too soon, but this was the last day of the festival, and I planned to put on a damn good show—then head home and decompress for the next forty-eight hours. After a quick shower and copious amounts of coffee, we made it to the site in good time.

“You ready?” Mia poked her head into the studio the way she always did, a reassuring smile on her face.

“As ready as I can be after recent events.”

“Excellent.” She gave me a thumbs up. “You got this. I’ll be right there if you need me.” She pointed to the tiny production booth with an uneasy smile.

“Thanks.” The show was going well, the live vibe really made it even more amazing than the usual weekday shows. “That Rolling Stones tune never fails to get me deep into my feels, you know what I mean?” A smile spread across my face, and in that moment I felt more relaxed than I had since before I met Logan at the bar last night. “Next caller, you’re up!”

“Hey Nikki, this is Bonsai, and I have to tell you there’s nothing hotter than the smooth, honeyed voice of a woman who loves the open road and classic rock.”

“Well, thank you Bonsai.”

“I love listening to your stories and the other listeners, and if anyone needs a ride west my rig takes off just before midnight.”

I laughed at his irreverence. “Well you heard the man, folks. And this one is for you Bonsai.” I played another classic road tune, one of the last of the set before I could officially pack us up and head back to the city, putting this crazy weekend behind me.

More calls came in from people within the radio station’s reach and even some attending the festival. I smiled and laughed, listened to their stories, and shared a few of my own. It was exactly what this festival was supposed to be about, community and truth.

Mia tapped on the screen between us. “One more call.” She mouthed the words to me, and I nodded.

“Okay ladies and gents of the road, we have time for one more call so let’s make it a good one. Caller, you’re on the air.”

The line fell silent for several long moments before a gravelly voice filled the air. “Nosy reporters ought to mind their fucking business,” he began, his tone grew angrier by the second. “If she doesn’t stop poking her nose where it don’t belong, she might just find that sexy little body buried in the desert with countless others.” The line went dead the moment the last syllable was spoken.

My heart raced in my chest, and I couldn’t breathe as fear gripped me. Those men, the Blood Fangs MC were out to get me, and I had no choice but to take their threats seriously. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Mia standing up, and that moved meinto action. I slapped on a smile and leaned in close to the mic. “Sounds like someone isn’t too happy about… something. Maybe a few covers from local rock band, The Speak Easys, will help. See you on the other side.”

Mia burst into the studio with wide, frantic eyes, arms folded and a look of pure worry on her face. “What the fuck was that?”

I shrugged and ignored the way my heart hammered in my chest. The biker’s words echoed in my mind, the dark warning, the anger that strained every syllable he spoke. “That was my new fan club,” I deadpanned.

“That dude sounded seriously pissed off.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I think that little stunt put a bigger target on my back than I realized.” Logan’s words came back haunt me, and I swallowed the lump of fear that settled in my throat.

Mia nibbled on her bottom lip, which she only did when she was really nervous and worried. “Part of me wants to brush this off as good entertainment, but that guy sounded too serious and seriously dangerous.” She studied me for a long minute. “Are you thinking about posting the video?”

Was I? “Kind of, yeah. I mean at this point just so that it’s out there just in case something happens to me. On the other hand, it feels like I’d be poking the big, bad biker bear.”

“Hard agree on both counts. How about we table it for now and discuss it in our production meeting when we get back to the city?” Her mind was already spinning with ideas, I was sure.

“Yeah, okay. Let’s table it for now.”

The song had finished and it was time for me to get back on the mic and give the listeners the full Nikki experience. “Okay so now that we’re all a little calmer, let’s talk about fleeting connections made on the road. Any connection, as long as it’s fleeting, is on topic so call and give me all the deets.”

The rest of the show passed in a blur, and for the first time since my very first time on air, I felt nervous, ill at ease, and unfocused. Eventually the second half of the final show was over, and I was off air.

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