Desolation

“Hang tight, kid. We’re coming. Keep your head down.”

He hangs up and I look over to Rainer. “He said try and keep in this area, so they can catch up.”

“Easier said than done,” Rainer grunts, his eyes frantically searching for a way to get out of sight.

“This truck is made for off-road, right?” I whisper.

“Yeah.”

“And they’re only in normal cars?” I don’t know if they are, because I was too scared to turn back and look.

“Yeah, and bikes.”

“Then go off-road, Rainer.”

He nods, his jaw tight. “Keep your head down, Pippa. This might get painful.”

He suddenly swerves the car and the tires screech and squeal as he drops down a gully and into the trees. He dodges them, jerking us from side to side. I cry out and cover my head as it continually smashes against the dashboard. I hear the squealing of bikes, which means they have taken a risk and followed us.

“They’re fucking determined,” Rainer grunts, plowing through the trees as best he can. “Not sure how thick this scrub gets, but if it gets any thicker we’re in big trouble.”

Oh God. Hurry, Krypt.

Hurry.

~*~*~*~

NOW - Pippa

Rainer drives like a mad man, taking us in massive circles, side to side, back and forth, trying to keep in the main area. He reaches the road again finally and launches up onto it, smashing panels off the beautiful truck. There are two sedans lined up on the side of the road, and the moment they see us, the tires skid and the chase is back on.

It’s been at least fifteen minutes of hell, and both of us are scared. Rainer keeps the pace up as he moves rapidly down the road. He’s smart, because he’s managed to come out on the other side, taking us back towards the base of the mountain where the bikers will emerge. As if on time, we see them coming towards us. A huge group, bigger than what was up at the cabin.

They called for reinforcement.

Rainer swings the car around, trying not to hit them, and we go skidding down into a ditch at the side of the road. The bikes speed past us so quickly the sound is deafening. Rainer stops the car, pressing a hand to my head, checking to see that the sedans are gone. “They’ve gone after the bikes. Just sit tight, Pip.”

I lift my head and stare out. Rainer has blood on his face. “Rainer,” I gasp, reaching over. “You’re hurt.”

“Just from the glass shattering,” he says.

I pull my hand back just as I hear the hum of bikes. I narrow my eyes, turning to look out the back of the car. Three bikes come to a stop at the top of the ditch and fear seizes my chest when I realize they aren’t any of Maddox’s boys. We were watching the sedans, and in doing that we forgot about the bikes that were chasing us through the trees.

“Rainer,” I cry out.

He turns and spits a curse, reaching for his key. He doesn’t make it. One of the guys raises a gun and pulls the trigger. It goes straight through Rainer’s side and even my screams can be heard over the deafening shot. Rainer drops forward, blood spurting from his chest.

“Rainer,” I scream, scrambling to get to him. “Rainer!”

His body jerks and I don’t know if he’s alive or if he’s dead. His head is on the steering wheel and I can’t see if he’s breathing. Panic swells in my chest and I turn just in time to see a man at my door. He jerks it open and reaches in, pulling me out without warning. He tosses me to the ground and I scurry forward, aiming for the trees.

“Take another step, girl, and I’ll blow your pretty brains out.”

I stop moving and slowly turn to see the three men standing, guns aimed at me.

“Who are you? Lie and you’ll get a bullet.”

I open my mouth and squeak. “Pippa.”

“And are you an old lady, Pippa?”

I shake my head, fear swelling in my chest.

“What are you to the club?”

Oh God. Oh no.

“I . . . I’m just the sister to an old lady.”

I try to make it sound as unappealing as I can, hoping it’s not enough, but then praying it is so they won’t kill me.

“Which one?”

I swallow and shake my head. The man rattles his gun. “I’ll fucking put bullets in you until you answer. Now answer,” he roars.

“Santana.”

The man to the left smiles big. “Maddox’s old lady.”

“Please,” I whisper.

“Pick her up. She’s exactly what we need.”

I scurry backwards as the men descend, fully aware that they are going to take me. I don’t want to be taken again. I can’t. I don’t want that life. Even I know whatever they plan on doing with me would be so much worse than anything I endured with Artreau. The biggest of the three men steps forward, and then suddenly a loud bellow sounds out.

My head swings around and I see Tyke stumble down the hill. I can already see he’s in pain. It could be because of the frantic state he’s in, but either way he’s not running right. That doesn’t stop him. He lunges at the closest man and the two of them go toppling down the hill. I cry out, terrified. These three men have guns. Tyke will die.

“Tyke!” I cry out, and one of the men looks over to me, a smirk on his face.

I just gave myself away.

“How nice of the cripple to join us.” One of the men chuckles, tapping his gun against his forehead.

Tyke and the man he knocked over are still fighting. Tyke is furious, his face twisted in rage. The man is slamming his gun into Tyke’s face, but that isn’t stopping him. He’s like an uncaged animal, wild and crazy. They fight and fight, blood is shed, and I can’t stop the tears from tumbling down my cheeks as I watch helplessly.