Page 68 of Sweet Revenge for the Bikers

“Do I look like a fucking liar? I don’t know who you are, don’t know fuck about you. You saying there’s a reason I should kill you? What I don’t know won’t hurt you.”

He looks thoughtful. Weighing his options. It’s probably obvious to everyone that his odds of taking on all three of us are low at best. His only ace is having a gun on Melody. As soon as he lets her go, he’s fucked.

“Mel, are you okay?” I center my gun on the goon’s forehead, daring him not to let her talk.

“I… yeah, I am. Just scared. Really scared.” The last comes as a whimper.

I lock eyes with the goon, letting him see the murder in mine as I look for the fear in his. “I notice you haven’t let go yet. We’re not gonna fucking ask you again.”

He looks around him, as if there’s any other way out. Unless he wants to get himself lost in the wilds, he’s not fucking going anywhere. He’s at least not making it if he tries to drag Melody along. “You—you swear you’re not gonna kill me?”

“Don’t give me reason to.”

“Okay. Okay, fine. I’ll let her go, see?” He releases his grip on her neck and points the gun toward the ground.

The moment she’s free, Melody runs to me, throwing herself against me. “Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God,” she keeps repeating as she struggles to breathe. Still aiming my gun, I wrap my other arm around her and hold her close.

“He’s the one who attacked me at the rally,” she whispers where only we can hear.

And there goes any sympathy I might’ve had for the guy.

A gunshot solves the problem, followed by Melody’s terrified yelp. The guy’s sporting a third eye, this one bloody and hollow. I glance over at Riptide, who’s just lowering his iron. “I didn’t promise shit.”

No argument here.

Melody shivers against me, but this time her voice is steadier, more determined. “How much did you hear in the car? He confessed to everything once he hung up. Clutch shot Lightning because Lightning saw him shoot Red.”

“What? No, fuck, she’s just trying to have you kill me to save her father! I swear, it wasn’t me. Why would I ever—” This time it’s Rebel who fires, but only into his leg. “Shut the fuck up. You’re coming with us. If it were up to me, I’d kill you right here, but there’s a line.”

Riptide laughs. “By the time Lightning and his boys are done with you, you’re gonna fucking wish we blew your brains out here.”

We use the goon’s shirt and pants to make sure Clutch isn’t going to bleed to death on the way back, then we throw him into the trunk of the car and drag the body into the wasteland, leaving it beneath some scrub to rot. Hopefully there won’t be anyone looking, ‘cause no one’s ever gonna find him.

“Kiss me?” Melody asks. “I just spent the last hour thinking I was about to die, and I don’t want to waste any more time not asking for what I want.”

I know exactly what she means, because I spent that same time thinking I’d lost the one thing I really wanted in life.

Her lips taste like everything that’s right in the world.

I barely let go before Rebel’s kissing her just as fucking hard, squeezing her so hard she squeaks. None of us thought we’d fucking see her again. Miracles do fucking happen. Riptide is last, picking her right off the ground and carrying her around with him as he kisses her like it’s his last chance.

“You okay with driving the car back?” I ask. “Hate to ask it, but we got three bikes, one car and four people who aren’t tied up and about to fucking die.” Riptide glares at the trunk. By now, Clutch has given up trying to kick it open. “No one’s gonna complain if you drive a little recklessly, you know, a little back and forth and a sudden stop or two.”

She laughs at that. “Yeah. Looking forward to it.”

36

MELODY

Pulling in through the gates to the Screaming Eagles clubhouse feels like coming home. Driving for over two hours to get back here was tiring after the wild day I had, but I’ve amused myself by bouncing Clutch around in the trunk. I think the guys are wearing off on me.

Still, I’m glad that’s over.

There’s a whole crowd waiting for us, so I’m guessing one of the guys called ahead. Either that or Snark and Rory have continued to track us. I still can’t believe the lengths everyone went to just so I could get back.

On the metal stairs up to the front door is Eagle-eye with his huge arms crossed over his chest, watching as I pull in. On the steps below him are Shadow, Outlaw, Thunder and… another Thunder, which I assume has to be Lightning. He probably shouldn’t even be standing up yet, but I’m guessing he wouldn’t want to miss this. I’m just going to assume that they all know what they’re doing.

Rebel, Mad Dog and Riptide fan out, clearing the way for me to pull right up in front of the clubhouse, where I set the car in park, pull up the handbrake and stop the engine. Every action feels a little bit like a step in being rid of all this craziness once and for all. At least the bad craziness. I’m very much looking forward to the kind of craziness that awaits me with the guys. As long as I get to shower and sleep a little first.