Byte continued clicking, “Fuck! I’m getting nothing on her phone.”
More clicking.
“Fuck yeah! Got her car!” he shouted.
Carbon pounced like a starving dog, “Where?”
“I sent you the coordinates,” he said as Carbon’s phone dinged.
“I’m going with you,” I informed. He didn’t respond as he walked out the door.
Phoenix ordered, “Edge and Coal, follow them with the cage.” I wish I didn’t hear his next words, which I assumed were directed at Copper, but I did. “You got a doc in the club or someone you use when you need to be patched up?” I’m guessing Copper nodded because Phoenix continued speaking, “Good. Get them here now, just in case.”
CHAPTER 7
Duke
Carbon looked at the coordinates and knew exactly where her car was. He was on his bike and out of the parking lot in mere seconds. It was all I could do to keep up with him. That fucker was fast for a big guy.
It didn’t take us long to get there. I was surprised we both made it in one piece and also that we didn’t get picked up by the local police. I had never driven so fast and so recklessly on unfamiliar roads before, but we had to get to her as fast as possible. I just knew something was wrong, I could feel it in my gut.
We stopped on the side of a dark, winding mountain road. The tire marks on the pavement and the mangled guardrail indicated we were likely in the right spot. Walking closer to the guardrail, I studied the surrounding area. Brush and small trees leading to a drop-off had been flattened, tire tracks clearly visible, right up to the edge.
I looked toward Carbon. He was frozen in place, just like I was. Neither of us said a word. If we didn’t say it, maybe it wasn’t true. But we both knew what happened.
Her car went over and there was no way she could have survived.
We were both still standing there in silence when Edge and Coal pulled up in the cage, followed shortly by Phoenix, Dash, and Copper. Phoenix walked up to the guardrail and looked out at the drop-off. He shook his head and turned back to me, “Did she…?”
I could barely speak, it was almost a whisper, “Looks that way.”
Phoenix nodded solemnly. He walked over to Edge and Coal and whispered something to them. He walked back to where I was standing and quietly said, “I’m going to need you and Copper to help me get Carbon in the cage. I can tell by just looking at him that he’s going to lose it any second now. Can’t say I blame him, but it’s going to take all three of us and even that might not be enough.”
“Now?” I asked.
“Yeah. The sooner the better.”
Phoenix carefully approached Carbon first and placed his hand on his shoulder. I started moving quickly toward them, expecting Carbon to respond with violence. Shockingly, the big man crumpled to the ground in the middle of the road and roared his pain into the night. He folded in on himself, his body shaking as he sobbed. We all stood there quietly, giving him our silent support. I had tears running down my own face and I bet every brother there did as well.
In between Carbon’s cries of pain, I heard it. I wasn’t sure at first, but then I heard it again. “Shhh!” I hissed. “Did you hear that?”
“No, what was it?” Dash asked.
“Listen,” I whispered-yelled as I walked closer to the edge of the road.
“Help me.” It wasn’t loud, but it was definitely a female calling for help.
I whirled around. “You heard that, right?”
Obviously, they did because Carbon was on his feet and running toward the drop-off, the rest right behind him.
“Get a flashlight!” Phoenix yelled.
“Already did, Prez,” Coal said and proudly handed a flashlight to Phoenix.
Phoenix turned it on and what we saw will forever be ingrained in my memory. There, about 20 feet down, was Reese’s car, precariously sitting in a large tree, with Reese still inside. My eyes met hers, filled with a mixture of fear and relief.
Copper started barking orders, “Someone call 9-1-1! We need a couple of fire trucks out here. Check the cage and your bikes. Bring me all of the rope and cordage you can find. Hurry!”
