Page 38 of Deuce

I loved my work.I loved being a teacher on call, and I loved being self-employed, setting my own hours and deciding who I wanted to work for.I adored the creativity, the sense of accomplishment and the joy on a bride’s face when she looked in the mirror and saw her dream become a reality.

Katherine and I managed to nail down her preferred style and materials within the first hour.I spent some time taking measurements and agreed on a time for the first fitting.Usually, it took at least two fittings, and with the wedding still eight months out there was lots of time for alterations especially if she lost the weight she was hoping for.

I packed my supplies back in the car and waved to Thor, who had remained discreetly down the street from the client’s house while I conducted business.I didn’t want to have to explain his presence.

I glanced at my watch as I slid into the driver’s seat.Almost noon.A nap sounded like the perfect way to spend the afternoon.Maybe if Deuce was finished with his club business, he could join me.I fired off a quick text to him and headed home.

I was still daydreaming about Deuce when a motion in the rearview mirror caught my attention.Thor was trailing me by a couple of car lengths, hugging the center line as bikers tended to.A black sedan came barreling up behind him and pulled into the oncoming lanes.As I watched in horror, the driver pulled up beside Thor and yanked the wheel to the right sending the car careening toward the biker.

Thor braked sharply, falling back.

The car missed hitting him by a fraction of an inch, fishtailing for a moment before the driver regained control.With the bike behind him, the sedan pulled out again and gunned it.

I gulped.Was he going to try to ram me instead?

I stomped my foot down on the accelerator, praying my car had enough guts to outrun the threat.

The needle on my speedometer leapt up, and I hung onto the steering wheel with both hands as the car surged forward.I’d never driven this fast, and I prayed to whatever god was out there that I didn’t lose control.

A loud honking sounded ahead of me.To my horror, I saw an eighteen-wheeler barreling toward us.If it hit the sedan head on, I’d become collateral damage.

I tried to coax a bit more speed from my valiant old car, but it was going as fast as it could.I was afraid to brake hard at this speed, afraid I wouldn’t be able to maintain control.I could see no chance for escape.A rock cliff rose sharply on one side of me, and a guardrail blocked a steep downhill slope on the other.The sedan remained stubbornly in the opposite lane.

At the last possible second, the driver slowed and dropped back in behind me.The transport truck flashed past in the opposite direction, horn blaring angrily.

I let out a deep breath I hadn’t known I was holding.

But it wasn’t over yet.

The black sedan was inches from my back bumper, so close I could see the angry set of the driver’s face.

I heard approaching motorcycles minutes before they swept round the curve and joined Thor behind the black sedan.

Before the driver could react to the reinforcements, Thor zipped around the sedan and pulled in front of me.Turning his head, he motioned me to follow him.I had to trust him.

Up ahead, the road forked in two directions.The main highway continued on while the secondary road led to a rest area with an outhouse and some picnic tables.Thor pulled into the rest area with me right on his tail.Beside us, the sedan flashed past on the main road, with the remainder of the bikers chasing close behind.

I brought the car to a stop and dropped my head to rest on the steering wheel.I started to shake.Tears rolled down my face.

When the tap sounded on my window I lifted my head.Thor motioned me to roll down my window.I fumbled for the control before managing to lower the glass.

Thor ran his hands through his hair, pulling it away from his face.“Deuce is on his way.”

I looked at the empty highway.I couldn’t stop shaking.

Thor followed my line of sight and shook his head.“You’re okay.That asshole won’t be back.The guys will take care of it.”

“Thank you.Thank all of you.”I didn’t ask what that meant.Part of me hoped it was a permanent solution, but that didn’t solve my main problem.Someone wanted me, and it was starting to look like alive was optional.I shuddered to think where I’d be if Deuce and Rattler hadn’t been behind that van when this all started.

The rumble of a motorcycle sounded in the distance, growing louder as it approached.It came into view, and I fixated on the way the sun glinted off the chrome.

Deuce.It had to be Deuce.Ineededit to be Deuce.

* * *

Deuce

I barely managed to get off the bike before Sophia threw herself at me, sobbing.I wrapped my arms around her and looked over at Thor.He nodded in answer to my silent question.One less asshole left in this world.

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