Page 12 of Jade

The Crows are a 1% club who we’ve run into from time to time. Our main rivals, the Devilhead Warriors MC—another all-female club—are bad news. Rumor has it they’ve been pawns for the Crows, running drugs down the border for the past six months.

I watch in horror as three motorcycles tear across the square, ripping through the banners and knocking over tables and chairs. Festival goers try to flee as pandemonium ensues.

Dustin’s hands are on me when headlights sting my vision. I scream, and he cradles me against his chest. We crash sideways onto the lawn, narrowly missing the bike’s front tire as it screeches past.

The gang of sleds roars through the crowd; people scream and dive out of the way.

Dustin, still on top of me as I plant my hands on his chest, cusses.

“Are you okay?” he asks, shifting to the side as I shake myself off.

“Yes, I think so.” I push the panic down. “Holy smokes, what the hell was that?”

Sapphire and Sin race toward the fray. Dustin pulls me to my feet, his eyes frantically searching mine for any signs of distress as he holds my cheeks. He frowns, picking a leaf out of my hair. “I’m gonna fuckin’ kill them.”

“We need to help the others,” I whisper, my heart racing. “Now, Dust.”

“You’re stayin’ here,” he tells me firmly.

I shake my head. “Dusty, no!”

“I need to get my motorcycle.”

“Mine’s closer,” I tell him. “It’s over there.”

It takes a split second of indecision. I know he’s torn between leaving me here and having me ride on the back, where I’d also be in harm’s way, but this is the life I chose. I’m no stranger to danger. In the end, he tugs on my hand, and we race toward my Harley.

I hand him my keys as we dodge through the crowd. In the distance, I hear the sirens.

We get to my motorcycle. Dustin climbs on, kicks the stand up, and starts the engine. He passes me the helmet. I quickly fasten it as he turns and says sternly, “Hold on, Tilly. This is gonna be a bumpy ride.”

The motorcycles are still tearing up the square like lunatics, the lawn ripped to shreds as people scream, dodging out of the way.

Please don’t let anyone be hurt.

Please don’t let anyone be hurt!

Dustin races toward the action. We’re on the tail of a Crow, chasing him down, as Dustin guns the accelerator. I wrap my arms around his waist, far from scared. Dustin bumps his fender. The Crow topples sideways and crashes into a vacant table. He falls off, rolling uncomfortably as he cries out, clutching his arm. Hopefully, he broke some bones.

Diamond and Ruby are on him in seconds, tackling him to the ground when he tries to get up. Dustin races toward another menace, heading for a group of people running for their lives.

I’m not usually an adrenaline seeker, but this has my cortisol doing overtime. Dustin tries to cut the sled off in front of us, and I pull my dagger from my boot, throwing it into the tire. A few moments later, the bike flips, and the dude flies off, wailing when he gets flung into a nearby tree.

Holy fuck!

Dustin hoots, pumping his fist in the air.

Sin and Sapphire run over to the guy, but he doesn’t get up. Everything happens so fast. Dustin maneuvers, ready to circle back around, but all of a sudden, the straight pipes subside.

I lay a hand on his arm. “We need to help the injured,” I say. I know his instinct is to race after the Crows who got away, but people are on the ground in distress. They need us.

“You’re right,” he says. He comes to a stop and kicks the stand down, turns off the bike, and I climb off. He takes my hand, and we run toward a man lying face down on the lawn.

“Sir!” I call out. “Are you okay?”

Dustin flips him over, and I press my hands to my mouth when I see Diamond’s father, Gus, gasping for air. His little dog, Burt, barks as he circles his owner frantically.

I know Burt well enough to call him. He comes over, and I cradle him in my arms as Dustin props Gus up and checks his vitals.