But I don’t trust the medical profession. Perhaps if my mom’s death hadn’t been a result of medical negligence, I would. Or if the doctor she took me to at thirteen hadn’t dismissed us both out of hand, telling me that being non-binary is just a phase.
I take a breath to modulate my pitch.
A hand squeezes my shoulder, and King, the president of the whole Outlaw organization, appears from behind me. “The brothers out there are good and solid. And we need you a long way from here.”
“Because I bring trouble,” I say, admitting that I am, indeed, the drama.
Niro shakes his head with a wry smile. “Dude, do we look like we mind trouble?”
“Safest place for you is a long way from here,” King says. “We can protect you, but it would be better if they couldn’t attack you in the first place because they couldn’t find you. Rae told me to give you her love, and to tell you that you can call her anytime.”
“I’m scared. I don’t know any of them.” The admission is hard.
King taps a cigarette out of its box. “You know what Shakespeare would say?”
I shake my head, not surprised he brought Shakespeare into it. Niro told me the Bard is how Rae won King over; by comparing the path he was on to all of Shakespeare’s vengeful kings who died in the end. “I don’t.”
He smiles. “Screw your courage to the sticking place, and you’ll not fail.”
“I’ll try to remember that.”
“Plus, they could benefit from your help. Turns out, they were hacked yesterday. Lost a shit ton of cash. You help them find that, and you’ll win them over in less than a heartbeat.”
I nod, because I’m out of everything…words, breath, composure.
King smiles softly. “You saved Rae’s life, Wren. I’ll always be in your debt. Call me when you need me.”
“And remember, it’s not permanent,” Vex says as he opens the door to his truck. A waft of warm air hits me as he does. Vex hates the cold as much as I do. “It’s just until we understand who hacked Calista’s systems to find you. They’d have to be good to get through them. So, we know we’re dealing with someone technically brilliant.”
The world starts to feel like it’s closing in on me. Not panic. Just a sense of overwhelm. Like the world is spinning too fast, and my center of gravity can’t keep up with it.
“Brought you these for the ride,” Niro says, handing me the container. It’s filled with his famous cinnamon buns that taste so good, they’re all I ever crave now.
“Take care, Wren,” Bates says, raising his hand in a wave from across the street where he’s keeping watch. Bates and Niro are a matched pair. Two enforcers who regulate each other. “Avery’ll miss you, so be sure to check in, yeah?”
I fight to find my voice. I’m going to miss so much of what is happening in their lives. “I will.”
A truck pulls up, and in it are Clutch, Halo, and Switch. I guess all the Outlaws are showing up for this move. The vice president, road captain, and medic all stay inside but raise a hand in my direction.
There are too many people, and too much noise for my half-asleep system. I reach for Niro’s hand, and he takes it without question. “Tell them all I said goodbye,” I say.
He nods. “You get stuck, you call me. I’ll come get you.”
I swallow again, trying to keep the choking wave of overwhelm down.
I climb into the truck, and the door is slammed behind me.
I don’t know what I’m headed to, but my range of experiences of new places says New Jersey was the anomaly. I’m headed to a horror show where I’ll have to explain who I am all over again. Where I’ll have to learn who to trust all over again.
But I won’t forget the peace I found with the New Jersey Outlaws as long as I live.
Even if that isn’t for too much longer.
1
CATFISH
COLORADO - ONE DAY LATER
