It didn’t take me long to find it
“Hey, kid. You having fun?” The strong male voice practically made me jump out of my skin, scaring me half to death. When I whipped around, the same tall biker from the front gate was standing there, staring at me.
“It’s okay.”
“You seem lost,” he replied, eyeing me curiously.
My gaze briefly dropped down to the galaxy painted bike, and I smiled, trying to pretend like I cared to be here. “Just admiring the sick paint jobs these bikes have.”
The old biker nodded. “They are pretty. So, you gonna tell me what happened to you?” He eyed me curiously, checking out my shiner and barely bandaged hand.
“Got in a fight and lost.”
“Seems pretty bad. Want me to take a look? I used to be a medic in the military.”
I shrugged. “No thanks.”
He scrubbed at his chin, trying to decipher if I was up to something or just stupid. “We got a medic tent on the other side of the rally. If you change your mind, that’s where you can find me.”
“Okay, thanks.”
He started to walk away, but abruptly stopped. “Be careful out here, kid. Most of us are pretty cool, but there are a few bad apples running around.”
Just as the words left his lips, all hell broke loose. Over to my left where the games were being held, a few shots rang out, and suddenly, everyone at the rally began to scatter. The tall biker took off, running straight toward where the shots rang out.
“Shit, that must be the sign.”
I quickly dropped to the ground, getting under the bike and disconnecting a few wires before inserting the tiny one I had in my pocket into the connector.
Amongst the chaos, I jumped on the bike, roaring the big mammoth thing to life just as people started racing by grabbing their own. Without thinking twice, I took off, racing through the crowd on the stolen thing of chrome beauty I managed to snag.
“Hey, stop!” someone shouted from behind me. “That bike isn’t yours!” I briefly glanced back, my face partially covered by the hoodie I was wearing, to see two blonde twins wearing the colors of the Celestial Sons MC racing after me.
Fuck, I told Beretta I wouldn’t be seen, but those bastards were on my tail. I quickly raced the bike through the gates, past some more Celestial Sons, and down the road, not even daring to look back again.
The graveled road was unforgiving beneath the wheels, and there were a few times I thought I was going to eat shit. Traction was horrible, and the tires were all over the place.
“Don’t eat shit.”
“Don’t eat shit.”
I shouted over the roar of the bike.
Chancing a glance, I looked behind me, watching as the dirt kicked up and created a cloud of concealment for me. If I could just get off this road, I probably could shake the two twins chasing after me. I knew they were back there somewhere; I could hear the roar of their bikes following me.
The second I hit the pavement, I was gone, speeding down the road and away from the rally as fast as I could. I knew I only had a two-minute jump on them, so I was going to have to make it up by taking risks—risks that could end up costing me.
I darted behind a building, then drove another half mile before I saw where I could hide. There was an old, abandoned salvage yard a few blocks away. I remembered it well. Mr. Sinclair had me scale the fence a few times to grab him parts and other various shit. I got so tired of it that I created my own entrance, removing a panel of fencing in the alley. It was big enough for the bike and me to squeeze through and hide.
From behind me, I heard their bikes catching up, so I took the chance, ducking under the fence as I rode through, immediately cutting the engine when I did. Someone would have to be looking for the opening, and if those bastards from the Celestial Sons MC were smart, they’d just keep on riding, never giving the salvage yard another thought.
It was as if the angels above had heard my prayers, because just as I concealed the bike with a tarp and ducked down behind a few pallets near a wall, I heard their bikes race past, leaving me alone with the bike.
Knowing I’d be here longer than I’d like, I settled in, resting my head against the concrete wall, waiting for darkness to come.
“Don’t worry, Joey. I’m coming back for you. I just need the shadows of the night to hide me.”
Chapter Nine
