Page 14 of Doc
The three men spread out as they approached, a tactical move I recognized from both my military days and my time with the club.They wanted to cut off our escape route, the deputy taking center while the Blood Pagans flanked him on either side.Behind me, Nova’s breathing had quickened, but she held steady, her slight frame pressed against my back.I kept my posture loose, but every muscle coiled tight, ready to snap the second things shifted from bad to lethal.
“You know,” the deputy said, stopping about ten feet away, “it’s interesting how history repeats itself.People just don’t learn.”He gestured toward the ravine.“Nosy reporters digging where they shouldn’t, ending up in unfortunate accidents.”
I felt Nova flinch against my back, but her voice came out surprisingly steady.“My mother was a journalist, not just a reporter.And what happened to her wasn’t an accident.”
Shit.I’d hoped she’d stay quiet, but I should have known better.Nova Treemont had her mother’s spine.
The deputy’s smile never reached his eyes.“Sweetheart, accidents happen all the time on this stretch of road.Especially at night.Especially to people who don’t mind their own business.”
“Is that a threat?”I asked, keeping my tone conversational while calculating our odds.Three against one, with Nova to protect.Not great, but I’d faced worse in the military.
The shorter Blood Pagan laughed, an ugly sound that scraped across my nerves.“Nah, man.Just friendly advice from local law enforcement.”He gestured at the deputy.“Deputy Bailey here knows all about road safety, don’t you, Bailey?”
Bailey.I filed the name away, another piece to add to Nova’s evidence pile.If we survived the night.
“Look.”I took another measured step back, bringing Nova with me.“Like I said, we’re just leaving.No need for this to get complicated.”
“It’s already complicated.”The taller Pagan moved to cut off our angle to the truck.“See, when the President of the Dixie Reapers takes in a dead reporter’s daughter, starts asking questions about old accidents… that complicates things for friends of ours.”
So this wasn’t just about Nova and her mother’s investigation.The club was already on someone’s radar.The President needed to know, and soon.
“I’m just the club medic.”My shrug carried enough bite to make it clear their words didn’t touch me.“Club politics never concerned me.”
“But you know enough to bring Mary-Jane’s little girl out here in the middle of the night.”Bailey’s hand drifted closer to his hip.“Looking for evidence that doesn’t exist.”
I felt Nova’s fingers tighten on my cut, knew she was thinking about the metal fragment now secure in my pocket.Evidence that very much did exist.
“We’re done here,” I said firmly, taking another step back toward the truck.If I could get Nova inside, get the engine started…
“I don’t think you are.”Bailey’s voice hardened.“I think you’re going to hand over whatever you found, along with any copies of Mary-Jane’s files, and then maybe -- just maybe -- you’ll drive away from here.”
The taller Pagan shifted his weight, his hand moving inside his jacket.I didn’t wait to see what he was reaching for.
“Down!”I shouted, spinning and shoving Nova toward the concrete base of the guardrail.In the same motion, I drew my weapon, dropping into a crouch that kept my body between her and the three men.
“Easy now.”Bailey raised his hands slightly but not looking concerned about the gun pointed in his direction.“No need for this to get messy.”
“Then tell your friend to keep his hands where I can see them.”My voice remained deadly calm despite the adrenaline surging through my system.
The taller Pagan slowly withdrew his hand, empty.A bluff, or he’d thought better of whatever he’d planned.Either way, we were in a standoff now, and I didn’t like our odds if it came to actual shooting.
“You pull that trigger, you’re assaulting an officer.”Bailey’s smirk returned.“That’s a long stretch in prison, even for a Dixie Reaper.”
“Funny, I don’t see a uniform,” I replied.“Just three men threatening a woman on a deserted road.Seems like self-defense to me.”
Nova had positioned herself behind the concrete barrier, but I could feel her gaze on my back and knew she was watching every move.Despite the fear she must be feeling, she remained silent, letting me handle the situation.Smart girl.
“Listen, Doc.”My name slid off Bailey’s tongue like something rotten.I didn’t like the fact he knew exactly who I was.“We can do this the easy way or the hard way.The easy way, you and the girl forget whatever you think you know.Walk away, live your lives.The hard way…” He shrugged.“Well, accidents happen.”
“You’re forgetting the third option,” I said, my aim never wavering.“The one where you back the fuck up, get in your vehicles, and leave.Now.”
The shorter Pagan spat on the ground.“You think you can take all three of us before one of us puts a bullet in your pretty little woman?”
My finger tightened imperceptibly on the trigger.“I only need to take one of you.And it’ll be you first, asshole.”
A tense silence followed, broken only by the soft sound of Nova’s breathing behind me.No one moved.No one blinked.
Finally, Bailey raised his hands in a gesture of mock surrender.“All right, all right.No need to get excitable.”He took a deliberate step back.“We’re leaving.But this isn’t over, Doc.Not by a long shot.”
