But how can I be so sure of that? Diesel probably has more enemies on his back than most if he’s breaking rival club members’ necks with his bare hands.
What if this is the last time we interact?
Clearly, I don’t know the man well. But I’d like to get to know him.
If he breaks necks and kills people with his hands, what else can he do?
Shuffling back under the bed, I allow the tears to fall, not sure if I’m sad or frightened or worried.
What the fuck? He’s just killed two people. Two.
The smooth way he did it suggests that he’s an expert when it comes to taking people’s lives. How many people has he murdered?
I return to the back wall, shaking, unsure if I’m more scared about the two dead bodies bleeding out next to me, or Diesel’s killing skills.
The blood runs inches away from my body. I crawl away from it, tucking my legs into my chest. The second one is still alive, but barely, releasing a choke that I think might be his last breath.
The shooting isn’t as frequent anymore. Things seem to be getting quieter, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.
The bodies next to me start to smell, the scent of rotting human flesh traveling into my nose. I peg two fingers over my nose but it doesn’t help—the smell is too pungent.
I still hear the cracking bones echoing through my ears, reminding me just how dangerous this world is. As soon as this is all over, I need to get home.
But a small part of me doesn’t want to.
There’s no mistaking what Diesel did back there. He saved me from them.
He killed for me.
And I thought he didn’t care.
I roll my head back into the wall, exhaustion starting to wrap around me. Through the vents, I see daylight start to spread across the land. There’s a figure lurking outside too. Unsure which side they’re on, I lean in, squinting through the gaps in the vent to see better. It’s a man on a motorcycle, chilling—clearly not pulling his own weight.
As he shifts, I catch sight of the skull patch on the back of his leather vest. On it is the word JAX.
“We’re calling it a truce,” says another man, approaching the one sitting on the Harley. “For now. A few of our club members have been killed.”
“We go again soon.”
The bed suddenly engulfs me, the mattress weighing down like it’s about to crush me.
I’ve been through a lot, witnessed events that will be coming back to haunt me tonight. I’m shaken up, that’s all. I’m only hearing Daddy’s voice because, subconsciously, I want him to reassure me that this will all be okay.
Like I’ll be telling him all about this drama…
I look through the gaps in the vent again. I need to chill out. I might be able to gather some valuable information here that Diesel, Bishop, and Cash can use to their advantage.
But the conversation seems to have ended. The man walks away, and the other one starts up his motorcycle’s engine, revving the gears. Lifting his booted feet up onto the foot stands, he does a full circle around to head back the other way.
And that’s when I see Daddy’s face.
10
DIESEL
Ididn’t expect to kill so many, but I had to—for her.
They gave me no other choice. They were about to rape her. Something had to be done.