Page 46 of Huge Dynamite
“No.” Grabbing my phone, I send a quick text. “I’ll have the inspector here later today. All I’m worried about is the gas coming into the building. But I don’t think it will be an issue. The title search is done, I’ve been preapproved for the mortgage, and I’m putting twenty-percent down. I want to close as soon as possible—tomorrow, if you can. I’m taking some time off from work this week, and I’d like to get as much done here as possible.”
“Okay.”
Clea shakes my hand. Turning away from her, I nearly glide down the front steps and onto the street in front ofmy building. Just as I turn around to look at it, a group of small children comes running up. Circling around me, they hurry down the street, probably on their way to school. If I wasn’t a doctor and didn’t know better, I would swear my racing heart is swelling. Healthcare. For this community. What could be better? From there, who knows? Maybe I can open clinics in all different emerging areas around Arizona, and then the country, and then maybe Doctors Without Borders and…
A grin spreads across my face. Never, in my entire life, have I ever felt so free. Sure, I’m emptying my entire life savings into this, and no, I don’t have a fallback plan if it doesn’t work out but I’ll make it work. There’s never been anything I’ve ever wanted more. Closing my eyes for a moment, I place my hand on my hip and think of my bird tattoo, imagining it taking flight.
This is it. For the first time ever, I’m free.
Warmth churns in my belly and I’m so damned giddy, I just wish I had someone to share it with. Picking up my phone, I stare at the screen. After the way we left things, would Seth even take my call?
Sighing, I push Seth from my mind and call the hospital to confirm that I won’t be in this week, and maybe next week as well. Since I’ve never so much as taken a vacation week, they’re surprised but fine with it. No sooner than I hang up, it rings.
My heart does a little flip-flop. When Seth and I exchanged numbers the other night, I never thought it would cause this much angst. Maybe he’s thinking of me like I’m thinking of him?
Looking at the number—damn. It’s Robert. What a way to bring down a day. Nope. Not answering it. I don’t owe him or anyone else an explanation of what I’m doing with my life. Tucking the phone back into my bag, I look back up at my building, imagining everything it can be—
The loud rev of a motorcycle engine grabs my attention.
“Seth?”
Whipping around, I see two men on motorcycles riding by slowly.
Crap. Disappointment churns in my gut, replacing the warmth that had just been there. No, it isn’t logical to think Seth knows I’m here, and even if he did, would he care? But still. Taking a deep breath, I focus on the two men driving by. As they pass, I read the backs of their jackets: Unchained Dogs. The rival motorcycle club of the Steel Knights.
Shit. A chill shoots down my spine and I shiver. Watching the men on their bikes practically crawling down the street, my hands grow cold and my breathing becomes shallow.
Maybe it’s because of the other night, when some of the Unchained Dogs were fighting with Seth and the other Knights, but I know in my gut that these guys are bad news.
At the end of the street, they circle back and slowly come toward me again.
Tensing, my knees lock and I swallow a gulp of air. What the hell do they want with me? The most I ever did to them was fix them up when they came to me in a million pieces. Fight or flight is kicking in, and part of me wants to run, but no. Standing tall, I take a deep breath. There’s no way I’m going to be intimidated. This is my building, and maybe even my home, and no one is going to ruin it for me.
As they pass by so slowly, I wonder how they can stay balanced on those machines, one man raises his hand and salutes me. The other points at me and nods. They are definitely sending me a message. But what is it?
A cold breeze passes over me, and looking up to the sky, I see a dark cloud blocking the sun. Shit. Something is wrong. I can feel it. Nodding to the men in response, I swallow hard.
After the second pass, they pick up speed and race away. Whew. With a shaking hand, I lift my phone. Seth should know. It’s not that they did anything, but something in my soul tells me he should know the Dogs were here and—
Feeling something off, I glance up from my phone, and looking across the now-grayish dark street, I spot someone standing there. Squinting for a better view, I see it’s a tall, thin man in a leather jacket next to a bike with an Unchained Dogs emblem on it. Leaning back against a building, his arms are crossed before his chest.
Noticing me, he stands up tall, uncrosses his arms, and places his hands on hips. When he does, his jacket opens at the waist, exposing a shiny gun.
Lifting what I think is a phone, he snaps a picture of me just as a seven- or eight-year-old boy runs up to me. He’s breathing heavily and gasping for air.
Squatting down, I look him in the eye. “Are you okay?” Keeping an eye on the man, I make sure he doesn’t pull the gun while there’s a child around.
Nodding, the boy takes one more deep breath. I can hear the rattle of asthma in his chest.
“Just my rattlesnake breath,” he answers.
“Rattlesnake breath? Is that when it feels like your lungs are shaking and it’s hard to breathe? I get it.” Nodding, I force a smile. “Where’s your mommy? Or daddy?”
Pointing in the opposite direction, the boy smiles. Turning, I see a heavyset, middle-aged woman carrying grocery bags hurrying up to us.
“Jonny!” she snaps when she approaches. I can hear from her voice that she’s relieved he’s there and okay. “Leave the lady alone.”
“It’s okay.” I stand to talk to her. Putting out my hand to shake hers, I realize she has groceries in both arms. “Can I take one?”
