Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 74270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74270 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 371(@200wpm)___ 297(@250wpm)___ 248(@300wpm)
“Ready for round two?” Rebel asks, grinning.
“God yeah.” I laugh, breathless and halfway to my next orgasm.
Mad Dog moves closer. “Let’s put that mouth to use. How ‘bout—”
Whatever he was going to say is lost with the violent crack of a gunshot.
5
MELODY
The atmosphere changes as fast as if lightning struck the middle of the party. A surprised, short scream escapes me, and the guys spring into action. We scramble for our clothes. All I can think of is getting my shoes on as fast as possible so I can run if I have to.
“W—was that nearby?” I ask, terrified. I’ve been in active shooter drills before, but I’ve been lucky enough to never need it. How do you even secure a field?
Rebel’s pulling his pants back on, keeping low. He scans the darkness with the intensity of someone prepared for violence. “Came from past the food area.”
There are a couple more gunshots, and then the more muted sounds of yelling and fighting. People are streaming past us, running from the source of the shooting, but not everyone. Quite a few of the bikers are heading into the mess.
Mad Dog, Rebel and Riptide are quick to get dressed and form a shield around me. Their phones all go off at the same time. They glance at whatever the message is and a dark look passes between them.
“What happened? What’s going on?” I whisper, crouched down to the ground and clutching the little backpack I’ve been using as a purse today. My shirt is on inside out, and I can’t find one of my socks, but I’d rather end up with a blister than a bullet in my skull.
“Don’t know yet,” Mad Dog growls. “But someone broke the rules, and we’ve been called in.”
“Oh, um, okay. What do I do?” The fact that I never looked for my father after ditching Red is starting to feel like a stupid decision. I’m alone in a dangerous situation with three guys who seem fine, but are really total strangers.
“We’re gonna find out what’s happening, and you’re gonna stay the fuck out of the way,” Riptide orders.
Rebel nods. “See that camper over there?” He points to a dark shape past the bonfire near the edge of the gathering. “Get over there, stay down and even crawl under it if you have to. Give me your phone. You said you ditched the guy you came with, do you have anyone else you can call?”
I dig my phone out of my bag, not mentioning my lack of coverage. “Maybe.”
He takes it and plugs in his own number. “We’ll come back to look for you, but if you get out before that happens, send a message as soon as you can.”
“Yeah, okay. Right. I’m good.” I’m sweaty and gross, a far cry from how I felt just a couple minutes ago, but adrenaline is making me jumpy, and my skin feels clammy. All I want right now is to get out of here. Uncle Clutch and Dad are probably freaking the fuck out. Even Red must be wondering where I am, if they haven’t kicked his ass for losing me already.
Riptide grabs me by the arms and kisses me hard before pushing me in the direction Rebel said to run. “Counting on it.”
Mad Dog looks back at me over his shoulder one last time before they jog into the chaos.
At first I do what I was told, heading to the edge of the rally, but I would rather find my family than huddle under a camper hoping for the best. I skirt around the perimeter, and it’s pure luck that I see a Devil’s Brigade logo on the back of someone’s jacket. It’s nobody I know, but it’s better than nothing. I follow at a distance.
Something rams me from behind, and I hit the ground hard, scraping up my hand. The biker who runs into me doesn’t even glance down. He’s too busy running from a small mob. I roll out of the way and force down my scream by squeezing my torn-up palm. The pain temporarily pushes back my terror. How do you tell the good guys from the bad guys? Or maybe there’s no way to know.
I send a prayer into the darkness, hoping there’s someone to hear it. “Please let everyone I know be okay.”
The Devil’s Brigade member I was following is long gone, but I spot another one and scramble to my feet. It isn’t until I’m a little closer that I realize who it is. I’m not used to seeing him in his full biker gear, but even with a bandana tied over his hair, I recognize my father.
“Dad!”
He stops and stands still, head cocked like he’s trying to figure out if he just heard what he thought he did.
“Dad! It’s me! Melody.”
Whirling on the spot, he scans the crowd looking very confused. Maybe Red didn’t tell anyone he lost me? He slides his hand into his jacket and breaks into a run. “Melody? What the fuck?”