Page 73 of Beautifully Shattered
“We’re fine. I need a new pair of boxers, though.” He laughs, but I can tell he doesn’t find this the least bit funny.
“Uhhh, guys?” Jols’ uncertain voice has us all alert. “Something’s not right.”
My exact fucking thoughts, but before I can do anything about it, the loud crack of gunfire starts piercing the air.
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“Hold on!”
I barely catch Ringo’s shout over the sharp crack of gunfire, a squeal leaping from my throat as he takes off, the sudden force nearly throwing me off him.
The roar of his engine smothers some of the chaos as we swerve past the SUVs and men firing into the pine forest. JD is right on our tail, and as we clear the last vehicle, a massive BOOM explodes behind us.
Whipping my head around, I catch sight of the rear SUV engulfed in flames, and a man running blindly, his whole body on fire, screaming in agony.
“Oh my God!” I cry as bile rises up my throat.
“Don’t look, Angel!” Ringo yells, gunning it as we speed past a cluster of rusted drums scattered across the road.
It’s not hard to tell that they were deliberately placed there, leaving no space for a car to get through, but enough room for a smaller vehicle… like a motorcycle.
Shit.
“I think it’s a trap!” I shout close to Ringo’s ear, hoping he’ll hear, and when he nods, I know he has.
“Fuck. I think you’re right.”
“We’ve got company!” JD bellows, coming up beside us, and I don’t need to look back to see, because the headlights in the rearview mirrors show me.
“Fucking Rebels!” Ringo roars, pushing the throttle harder as a pack of motorcycles chase us.
I cling to him, my muscles tight as my heart hammers, terrified we are going to lose control and crash, but as we round another bend, and Ringo starts slowing, I risk a look ahead.
There’s another roadblock, and this time, it’s a wall of bikers with their guns pointed right at us.
“Fuck, Angel.” Ringo’s hand grips my thigh, giving it a firm squeeze, and my heart sinks.
He knows we’re trapped. He knows there’s no way out of this.
We slow to a stop, and the motorcycles behind us do the same, staying back as a man up front steps forward wearing a cut the same as those guys we killed in the hospital.
Satan’s Rebels.
“Give us the girl and we’ll let you live!” he shouts, and a whimper slips past my lips before I can stop it.
Ringo’s hand tightens on my thigh, silently telling me he won’t let that happen, before he opens the visor on his helmet to respond.
“I’ll never give her up!”
The Rebel laughs like Ringo just told him a joke, and the rest of his men copy.
“We gotta go bush.” JD’s low voice draws my attention, but Ringo doesn’t look his way. His gaze remains on the Rebel still laughing.
Flipping open my visor, I glare straight at the smug Rebel, hoping my voice comes out stronger than I feel.
“What do you want with me?!” I call, and he grins wide, eyes gleaming as he finally focuses on me.
“It’s nothing personal, darlin’. Just business. If we bring you in alive, we get a good fuckin’ payday.”
