Page 31 of A Biker for Noelle
“You do know how to make an entrance, I’ll give you that.” Unbodied words echo through the building. “Seems I have something you want.” Heavy boots hitting against steel fill the air, and then a suited man steps from the shadows and stands within the glow of the fire’s flames. I recognize his face from the photograph.
I emerge from my location and step into the light, my weapon trained on the motherfucker talking. One of the goons makes a sudden move at me, and I shift my aim in his direction, putting a bullet in his head before taking aim once more at who I assume is their boss. We stare at each other in an intense standoff.
“You’re outnumbered motherfucker,” I seethe.
“But I’m holding all the cards, my friend.” Vincent studies me. “All I want is what is promised to me.” He walks over to Noelle and caresses her cheek with his knuckles. “I may keep her to myself for a while, use her up a bit, you know, break her in before selling her to the highest bidder. That pretty face of hers will fetch some good money.” He spews his disgusting words, and it takes every bit of self-control to keep my feet from moving.
“I bet you’re wondering why I stayed in this worthless town.” He turns and eyes me again. “You see, I wanted you to find me. There’s a debt to be paid, and I always collect the debt.” He pauses, trying to increase the tension in the room, and admittedly, it’s working. “My brother, Carlos.” He narrows his eyes at me.
This motherfucker is here to avenge his brother.
I smirk. “Your brother is rotting in a shallow grave.”
His eyes flare with anger. “A life for a life. That’s how you will settle your debt with me.”
The man holding Zack pushes him to the side, where he stumbles to the floor, then shoves Noelle to her knees, rips off the blindfold covering her eyes, and presses the gun to the back of her head. “Just in case you feel froggy during our transaction. You don’t want to see your woman take her last breath right before your eyes, do you.” His expression turns sinister. “Then again…” he pauses, and the other bastard holding my mom forces her to her knees and proceeds to remove her blindfold, “… you are getting a front-row seat to the unaliving of the woman who gave you life.”
“You want a life for a life, then take mine.” I offer myself, hoping like hell he takes the offer, though taking my life will not save his. My mom violently shakes her head in protest, her words muffled by the gag in her mouth.
“Tempting offer.” He scrubs his chin.
I suddenly spot movement in the shadows and watch Zack being slowly dragged into the darkness. A few seconds later, just behind Vincent, the shadowy figure appears again, but I can’t determine what or who it is. Then, the glow of the fire catches the gleam of a shotgun barrel, and I know who is waiting for the right opportunity to present itself.
“I accept your offer. Toss your weapon,” Vincent orders.
“Let her go first,” I demand before unarming myself.
Vincent glances at his man and nods, and my mom is lifted to her feet and shoved forward. Still bound, she staggers out of harm’s way to the safety of one of my men.
I lay the gun at my feet and kick it across the floor, then look at Noelle, her eyes soaked with silent tears. She tries speaking, but her words are muffled.
“Tell your men to stand down,” Vincent demands.
“It’s been a good run, brothers,” I say to my men and start to raise my hands. That’s when the room explodes with a loud bang, and Vincent collapses to the floor. Reaching in my back pocket, I retrieve the handgun I took from the truck’s glovebox, quickly take aim at the motherfucker holding Noelle, and put a bullet through the middle of his forehead. The last bastard alive decides to be a coward and runs, but Tech appears, stopping him before he reaches the exit and fires the final shot.
I rush to Noelle. Overcome with waves of emotions, her body trembles, so I work fast to remove her binding and gag, then pull her into me. “It’s okay, baby. I got you.”
“Zack!” she cries, looking desperately around the room.
“He’s okay, baby,” I assure her.
Poet emerges from the shadows, looking like he has one foot in the grave, with Zack at his side.
Noelle leaves my embrace, rushing to her brother.
I look at Poet.
“I don’t want to fuckin’ hear it,” he breathes through the pain.
I clamp my hand down on his shoulder. “You look like you could use a beer.”
“Brother, I need somethin’ stronger than that.” He carries the shotgun in one hand and holds his side with the other.
Noelle and Zack join me as Rooster walks over with my mom. I look down at Zack and scruff his hair. “You okay, buddy?”
“Yeah.” He kicks his shoe at the dirty floor.
I turn and face my mom. “Ma.”
