"I'm scared, Nova. They were really mad at you. I begged them not to hurt you, but they said you needed to be punished. I tried to stop them, but they said that I would be punished too. I'm so sorry, Nova. Please, let's go. I don't want to stay here anymore."
I pull back and gently slide my legs out in front of me, so they are no longer bent. I look at my little brother and his tear-stained face. There's a red mark on the side of his cheek that looks like a handprint. Then I look down at his arm. I’m pretty sure it's broken. I can't leave it like that, I can't leave him to heal on his own, he needs to see a doctor.
He's right. We can't stay here. I knew they hated us, but they’ve never gone this far before. I blow out a breath and then give him a little nod. "Okay, we'll leave. Can you go pack a bag? Only a few things, though, yeah? I need to clean up a little."
He gives me a small nod, wrapping his arm around me once again before rushing off to his room. I sit on my floor for a few minutes. I have no idea where we are going to go. I don't have enough money. "Shit." I don't even have my shitty phone; they took it when they got back. I can't even call Riley.
Twenty minutes it took me to pack the handful of things I'm taking. Mason sat on the edge of my bed quietly, waiting for me, as silent tears rolled down his face. I don't know where my aunt and uncle went, so I have no idea when they'll be back. We need to get out of here. But I have no way of getting hold of Riley and no way of calling a cab.
"Hey, Mase, we're going to have to walk, okay? Can you do that for me?"
He shakes his head at me and slides off the bed, stopping right in front of me. "Daddy’s car is still in the garage."
I drop to me my knees, so I'm closer to his level. "Mase, I don't have my license."
"But I thought Riley’s dad taught you how to drive?" he says, confused.
"He did, but I don't have a license. Roger and June stopped me from getting one, buddy. If the police stop us, then they'll bring us back here."
"Nova. Wh... what if they see us walking? What if... what if they catch us?" He sobs, his voice laced with fear.
I pull him to me, hugging him as tight as my body will allow. "Okay, buddy, let's try the car. But only to Riley’s. Can you run and get the keys for me, they are in the desk in Roger’s study."
"Okay," he tells me before running out of the room and racing into the study.
The room begins to spin as I bend down to grab my bag. I sit on the edge of the bed, taking in a few deep breaths, trying to steady the spin. I wish I didn't have to move, but we really do have to go.
Chapter Eight
There's excitement in the air as we ride back to the clubhouse, ready to party.
We'd gotten word of where the Poisoned Devils were allegedly holed up and made our way there. We didn't quite hit the jackpot; Snake wasn't there, but there were seven other members.
I smile as I remember the look of shock on their faces when we stormed the building. They didn't stand a chance. We took five of them out within seconds. The other two are nice and secure in the back of the van, being watched over by Tongue as Prospect drives it back to the compound.
I gently pull on my brake as the brake lights of my Prez and VP flash in front of me. Nitro holds up his arm, his hand curled into a fist, indicating for us to slow down.
Wrath and I pull up either side of him, knowing the signal also means we might have trouble. As we cut our engines just before the entrance to the bridge over the river, we see a car heading toward us. It's not driving very fast, but it’s swerving all over the opposite lane.
Nitro gives the signal to pull over to the far side. We don't want to be on the bridge at the same time as that arsehole. Based on their driving, it looks like they might be drunk. Fucking idiots drink-driving pisses me off. You want to drink, fine, but don't fucking drink and drive.
As we watch from our positions tucked into the side of the road, the cars movements become more erratic, and it seems to speed up. The driver has lost all control.
"Fuck," I yell.
"Holy shit," Wrath breathes out.
As the car swerves and turns to the right, we all jump off our bikes and race toward it just as it smashes through the barrier and lands into the river below.
I hear one of my brothers on the phone to emergency services, explaining what is happening as the rest of us run down the embankment. Myself, Wrath and Nitro all hit the water at the same time.
The car is going down, fast. I get to the driver’s window, and I'm shocked to see the girl from the diner the other day. I look up toward Nitro, but he and Wrath are focussed on the back of the car. I bed down, looking through the small part of the window that’s under water, and my stomach flips. The kid is in the back. He's awake and trying to climb into the front of the car.
The river is deeper than I realised and we're having to tread water to stay up. There are a couple of large rocks underneath but not enough to get any real footing. We need to move fast.We need to smash the window, but if we do that, the car is going to fill up pretty quick. “Prez, we need to work quick. The kid is awake, but she's out of it. I'm gonna have to drag her out," I yell over at him.
He bangs on the window, getting the kid’s attention. "Hey, dude, need you on this side. We'll get you out, but you need to be over here," he yells through the window. I'm not even sure the kid can hear us. The car is already starting to fill up and Nitro is just yelling through the glass.
The kid looks at him and then back at the girl in the driver’s seat then shakes his head, trying his best to wake the girl. I feel the car shift and dip as I realise that Nitro has smashed the passenger side window. I see him go under, and I’m guessing he's trying to pull the kid out. I need to move; I need to get this girl out before she fucking drowns.
