Page 97 of Praying for Thunder

I exhaled, “Her name is Rya—”

Surprising me, a woman squatted next to Dio. “Is she one of the girls they’re selling?”

I blinked. “W-What?”

Dio was attempting to control an environment that had a lit fuse. “Thunder, this is Justice, Stallions’ road captain.” The energy was popping with concern and adrenaline.

I’d never seen a woman biker before. Nor had I ever seen a woman like Justice. She had jet black hair pulled back in a slick ponytail. Her sides were shaved like Dio’s once were.

Her grey eyes were almost too big for her petite face. “I have intel Titans are trafficking. What do you know?”

Dio asked her, “Can you please give me a minute?”

She shook her head as if displeased with herself. “Jesus. I’m so sorry. Kids in danger—” She shook her head again. “Makes me a little—” She exhaled. “Them hurting is a weak spot for me.” She tapped my knee. “And now you’re safe. So, I need to not get ahead of myself.”

I explained, “No, kids being safe is important to me, too. That’s why I tried to stop Grandma from selling the foster girls.”

The tent quieted down.

Peering up at everyone now staring at me, I sheepishly said, “But, she hit me with a pan, then set the house on fire—Well, Mr. Stannon tried to burn me with the house.”

As if nothing I just said was shocking to her, Justice’s red lips pursed as she thought out loud. “Stannon. I don’t recall a Stannon being affiliated with Titans.”

Pfft! “No. They hate each other.” Then something dawned on me. I asked Dio, “You knew I was with the Hell Titans?”

“No, Little Man. I would’ve come for you, had I. They were a last-minute sign-up for this rally, so Justice did some digging.”

“Last-minute?” My shoulders sulked, learning even more about how smart Onus was. “He had this event planned for months.”

Justice nibbled on the inside of her cheek before saying, “A clue of guilt. Human trafficking is frowned upon with most clubs.”

I tried again, “No. Grandma is dead. No kids are being sold.”

Me not having the information needed to save children, she exhaled. “I understand.” Then she stood and started talking quietly to someone else.

Her refusing to give up had me considering the possibility I was mistaken. My mind spun…

It felt like ice water rushing through my veins as I connected dots. I could barely form the words. “That’s why he killed her.”

Dio lifted my hand to drink more water. “Who?”

I gulped the needed fluid, then wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. “Onus. He made it seem like it was for me, pushing her into the fire—”

Unexplainably, a memory was revealed. The Voice I hadn’t heard for so long, spoke to me, “Listen…”

Then… I was suddenly back at the tree, Onus setting me down. There were screams… but Grandma was still alive, staring into the fire that almost killed me.

I grabbed Onus’ hand… not to leave me? No. It was to ask him to help my friend—

“Dio, the fire.”

Dio blinked, swaying on his knee. He swallowed, now swaying forward, as if having lived the memory with me.

And just like that, we were both sucked back in.

Onus’ hand rested on top of mine. “I’m coming right back.” His stare burned into mine. “You’re my boy.”

The memory, of Dio saying the same, disintegrated. Fragments of his promises and smiles broke into pieces—ashes. Those ashes lifted into the night…