Page 27 of Bloody Quarter

There was no reasoning with the rage flowing through my body. “What’s his name?”

“No, Lora, please,” Evie begged.

“Tammy, what’s the fucker’s name?”

Tammy’s wide eyes stared at me as I looked over my shoulder. “Ke…Keith,” she stuttered. Passing the driveway, I pulled back in and looked at Evie and then Tammy. “Do you know which vehicle is his?”

“Lora….”

“Answer me!” I smacked my hands on the top of the steering wheel, only able to see red. I hadn’t been able to help Sadie, and now my sister had been attacked. It was too much. I could teach this one fucker a lesson he wouldn’t forget.

“The black truck,” Tammy answered again as she pointed to the fancy Dodge Ram up near the front of the line.

“Stay here. No matter what, you stay in the fucking car, do you understand?” They both nodded, and I popped the trunk and got out.

Stomping over, I grabbed the tire iron and hid it behind my back as I walked casually toward the truck. There were fewer guys on the lawn, but they were watching me. When I got to the truck, I started with the headlight. Crushing it in with a satisfying smash. The next to go was the side view mirror, and with each swing, the wilder and more lost I became in the act.

Thump. Smash. Crack.

Raising it above my head, I brought it down on the windshield, and a large crack splintered across.

“What the fuck?” A voice boomed, and I looked over to see a guy stumble down the front porch steps, his eyes wide as he stared at the truck. He wobbled on his feet as he came closer. Raising the tire iron again, I screamed and brought it down on the windshield, spidering the original crack. “Stop it, you crazy bitch!”

“You want me to stop?” I put my weapon on my shoulder like a baseball bat and waited as he tried to stomp toward me. “You must be Keith. Good,” I said. As soon as he was close enough, I dodged to the side, swinging the iron and catching him in the stomach. Any other time, it wouldn’t be a match, but I was fast, enraged, and sober while he was drunk. Swinging at him again, I caught him in the side of the knee, and he yelled in pain as he went down.

“She’s fucking fourteen, you piece of shit!” I swung for a third time, but he got his right arm up, and I missed his head. He yelled as the hard metal connected with his elbow. Panting hard, I pointed the iron at him. “That’s statutory rape, and I’m going to have you tossed in prison for the rest of your life, so I really hope you like getting ass fucked.” Keeping a wide berth, I took a final swipe at the truck, and the driver’s window smashed in. “You won’t see the outside of a cell again. I’ll make sure of it.”

“Fuck you, she wanted it.”

I raised my weapon and acted like I was going to bring it down on his head. Keith cowered, but instead, I jogged to the car and got in, handing Evie the tire iron.

“Jesus Christ, Lora, you scare the shit out of me, but I fucking love you,” Evie said. “I’m so happy you’re my sister.”

“Fuck you, assholes,” we all yelled out the windows as I flew backward out the driveway and then slammed the little Honda into drive. Reaching the stop sign, I pulled out onto the main road. Evie stuck her head out the window and howled like a wolf, making me smile.

“I love you, too. Both of you, I’ve got your back, always.” They nodded and cheered as we blasted the music.

When a bright light flashed behind me, I looked in the side mirror. A vehicle was gaining on us quickly, and a trickle of fear raced down my spine as I noticed the driver’s side headlight was smashed in. Shit. I floored it, but the little car groaned at ninety.

“What’s wrong,” Evie asked.

“I think they’re following us,” I said, and both girls looked back.

“Shit! Step on it,” Evie yelled.

“I am.”

“Go, go, go,” Tammy squealed as the truck roared closer, the single high beam lighting up the inside of the car.

“The pedal is to the floor,” I said as we careened around a turn in the road, and the car shook. My heart pounded in my chest, and my hands were sweaty. As we hit the straightaway, the truck swerved out to try and pass. I jerked the wheel to keep them behind us.

“Just let them pass,” Evie said, her hands gripping the handle on the ceiling.

“No, then they can stop and block us. We need to get to town. Where is your phone? Call the police.”

Evie dug around in her pocket as I jerked the wheel again, and the car slid sideways slightly. Shit, shit, shit.

“I got it,” she said, pulling her phone out of her pocket, but her hands were shaking so badly that she couldn’t get it to unlock.