Page 35 of Ripper
“I’ve been doing real good without you, Anna. That ain’t gonna change. I’d be doing much better if you’d get your ass out of town and stay gone,” I said with a tight-lipped smile.
“I told you, baby. I’m sticking around for the long haul this time. I don’t need you or the Blazing Rebels to do me any favors. No, I’ve found myself a place where I finally belong,” she said, with a wink.
I watched her get up, pulling her hair to the front of her chest as she walked away. That’s when I saw it. Plastered on the back of her new leather jacket was the black and white etching of the Freeway Kings’ sigil. The wordFreewrapped on the inside of the road sign, the little tinge of green peeking through. Those were their colors, their emblem, their message that they weren’t fucking around this time. I heard it loud and clear.
Chapter Eight
Veronica
I sat in Uncle Axle’s empty living room, clutching a piping hot coffee cup in my hands, trying to cope with the fact I hadn’t gotten any sleep in ages. I thought about having to tell all of Uncle Axle’s employees that he had to make an emergency visit out of town and that I’d be handling things for the time being. Any free moment I had, all I could think about was what he must’ve been going through. The threatening words on the other end of that phone call replayed a thousand times in my head, and it took every ounce of energy I had to go on with my day. I was one step closer to getting him back now. I had the chance I needed to show the Blazing Rebels what I was made of.
I finished the rest of my coffee, glancing over at the window to see that the sun was finally starting to come up. I ran a shower, feeling the warm water wash away the anxiety that settled beneath the surface of my skin. I felt it run down my eyelashes, cheeks, and chest as I desperately tried not to think about the lengths I was going to have to go to in order to see my uncle alive again. The mere thought of having to betray Ripper was too much to bear, but I didn’t know what else I could do. I took a deep breath and wrapped a towel around my warm body before I headed to the drawer to pick out an old T-shirt and jeans. I slipped them on, painting a light wash of pink lip gloss over my lips, and I tucked the loose strands of my hair behind my ears. My eyes and nose were red from crying. The bags were prominent, swollen under my thick, black eyelashes.
I relaxed my shoulders, grabbing the keys to my bike, and I quickly glanced at my phone screen to see that it was just after seven-thirty.Whatever it takes. You’ll do whatever it takes to get him back.I rode down to the Ironhead Tavern, feeling the heat on my back and the wind in my hair. I was no longer worried about balancing on my bike well enough, keeping a steady speed, or accidentally ramming into one of the cars in front of me. My mind was elsewhere and my body was running on pure adrenaline now. I parked outside the Tavern, and I didn’t spot Ripper’s bike out front yet. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, and I swiftly pulled it out, my heart beating rapidly thinking it would be another unknown call.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Ronnie. It’s me.”
“Anna. Hey,” I said, about to hang up the phone.
“Look, I know things got a bit heated the other day, and I wanted to apologize for not being straight with you earlier,” she responded.
“You could’ve got me killed, Anna. Do you have any idea what you put me through? I barely know my way around town and that was the last thing I thought I’d have to do to earn a little extra cash.”
“I know. I know, I just thought that if I told you upfront you wouldn’t have gone along with it.”
“Yeah, no kidding,” I scoffed.
“I’m sorry, Ronnie. I really am, but look I still need to give you your cut. How about we meet at the new thrift shop that’s opening up near the deli downtown? Can you get away from the shop today?
“The shop’s closed today. Uh, yeah. Yeah, I can meet you. I’m just coming to pick up what I’m owed. Okay? Any sign of trouble and I’m out.”
“You got it.”
I heard the sound of a bike revving as it approached. It took one quick glance for me to realize it was Ripper, and even though the stakes were high and I was ridiculously on edge, the sight of him made me feel good.
“Awesome. I was thinking of heading there around five. You in?”
“Yeah, just text me where,” I murmured.
“Great! See you then.”
“See you.”
I hung up, slipping the phone back into my pocket as the thought of Anna flashed across my mind. I could already tell by the things she had me do and the way she always talked about the kind of life she lived out there on the open road that she’s seen some things. I wondered if opening up to her about this could help me because I knew there was no way I could ever tell Ripper. I imagined the disgusted look on his face if he were to ever find out, and I truly didn’t know how long I’d be able to keep this from him.
“Hey there, sweet pea. You ready for this?”
“Yes, I definitely am.”
“We’re gonna be meeting Tank here in a bit. He’s gonna talk you through what your first little assignment is going to be and then we’ll be on the move,” he said.
I could sense the excitement emanating from him. It made me smile even though I felt like I was being torn apart from the inside out. I tried not to meet his gaze, but it didn’t matter. He tilted my chin up, looking me deep in the eyes, and I could already tell that he was onto me.
“You okay, Ronnie? You look like you haven’t slept in days.”
“I haven’t. I’ve been so busy with the shop lately, but that’s looking up now. I got someone to cover for me, and I only have to stop by a few times a week to check up on things. Uncle Axle had to make his way out of town for a bit. Family stuff,” I lied.
