Page 43 of When The Noise Stops

"She opened the stall and took off. Got back in the car. Sister still asleep. She locked the doors. Started the engine. And that's when she saw it."

"Saw what?" Sully said.

Lila looked at each of us. Slowly.

"The sister in the passenger—"

A twig snapped behind Tiny.

Somebody burst out of the woods behind us in a black hoodie, screaming like hell was chasing them.

My hand went straight for my pistol.

Tiny shot to his feet and squared up.

Sully knocked his chair backward.

Hawk snatched a log out of the firewood pile like he planned to beat somebody to death with it.

Deacon yelled, "WHAT THE FUCK?"

The person doubled over laughing.

Then pulled the hood down.

Ronny.

Dead silence.

Lila fell sideways off the cooler, laughing.

"Got you," Ronny said, pushing the hood back.

"Big bad bikers scared to death."

Tiny stared at her.

"I almost punched you in the fucking face."

"But you didn't."

"Grizz went for his gun."

I stared at Lila.

Her laughter died.

"Okay," she said.

"That one might've been too far."

"You think?"

Her lips twitched.

"A little."

"Don't ever do that shit again."