Chapter 16 ~ Last I Remember
Delaney ~
It’s been three days since our disagreement. We have forgiven each other, but I am still reticent.. quieter than usual. Not because I have nothing to say. Because, now… I am being petty. It’s my version of ‘be careful what you wish for’ He wants me to watch my tone.. the easiest way to do that.. Don’t talk. No tone. Ta-Da!
I answer and respond appropriately when spoken to.. just not volunteering anything. Just me and my petty little self. I told Maddox what I am doing.. and why.. because I didn’t want to worry him. Plus.. I promised to always tell him everything.
Venom asked “Baby? Did you hear Snake’s question?” I smiled sweetly and said “Oh no.. I didn’t. I am so sorry, I must have been lost in my own head again.. what was it?”
He smirks at me.. shaking his head “I asked if you had made contact with any of the missing girls’ friends?” I grinned “Yes. As a matter of fact. I have made decent friendships with two girls.. one is friends with Audra Miller.. her name is Sara.. the other is friends with Shana Woods, the first girl to go missing.. and her name is Bianca.. Pretty, right? Bianca.. Anyway, I had thought to mention the party at the club bar Saturday.. but haven’t yet.. Not without asking…One of y’all..let me know.. and I will invite them. Toodles.”
And I jumped up to go pick up Maddox and Valerie. I was laughing as I pulled through the gates. I know Axe and Snake are tormenting the shit out of Venom right now.
Once Maddox was back in bis seat after walking Valerie inside.. I asked “What’s our to-do today? We can go play in the simulator.. or work a short shift at the diner. Or we can go buy a bucket of worms and feed the geese at the pond.”
He grinned “I want to feed the geese. Are we still being petty together?” I laughed.. then sighed “I am being petty. You were just aware of it. This is one of those “Don’t do as I do” lessons. Don’t be petty. It’s exhausting.”
He giggled “I knew you couldn’t last long. You aren’t one of those kind of girls. You aren’t good at petty.” I ruffled his hair and asked him “Do you know what petty means?”
He smugly retorted “treating someone like they are of lesser importance. Like you don’t care how they think or feel. But you do care. You care if everyone is happy because you care..period.” I grinned and told him “You are one smart kid! You know that, right!?”
We bought some worms and headed for the park. Every duck and goose around the pond were rapidly making their way to us. Maddox was laughing his ass off when one of those murder chickens was honking at me.. chasing me.. trying to sever my Achilles tendon so he could hobble me and kill me. Goddess! Why did I suggest this? I hate geese!
We were walking back to the Jeep when I spotted three men.. watching us from the top of the hill. We were far enough away that I couldn’t quite make out their faces. Their stance was that of a military at ease.. and we would have to walk past them to get to the Jeep.
I texted Venom “Three men. Military bearing. Park at Central and Grand. I didn’t wait for a response. I turned to Maddox.. handing him the keys and cellphone. “When I signal you.. do not hesitate. Run for the Jeep.. run like your life depends on it. Lock yourself in the Jeep.. feed the clip into the Glock and chamber a round. Lay the gun on my seat and pop my door. Call Venom. Be ready, Buddy Roe.. I will be coming in hot.”
We were just about abreast of the men.. and I was bouncing on my toes.. my hands spread out. When the first one sprang at me, I nudged my chin up and out.. while uppercutting into his nose, with the heel of my hand. Maddox took off like a shot. One of them turned to give chase and I threw my dagger into his spine.
The first one that had sprung at me was getting back up from my palm heel strike to his nose. What a bloody mess. The third man hadn’t moved. Just gauged my action and reaction time. Not fooling me, asshole.
I jumped up and off the ground.. over bloody nose guy.. and hauled ass for the Jeep.. with both men hot on my ass. I parkoured off one tree.. to a taller one.. Dove out of the tree.. did two somersaults and landed in front of my Jeep.. I slung my door open.. pulling the gun into my left hand.. and aiming.. using the door as a shield.
I laid on the horn with my right hand and ordered Maddox into the floor in the back. He still had the phone to his ear, so I assumed Venom was keeping him talking.. like he did me.
Both men had taken cover at sight of the gun. The guy yelled “I just want to talk.” I responded “Bullshit. Talking don’t involve attacking. What do you really want?”
I could hear the rumble of the bikes as they entered Grand Boulevard. The cavalry had arrived. The man yelled “Do you know what collateral damage is, little girl? Sure hope so.. because that’s what you and that little boy are.”
I looked down and saw a blinking red light at thigh height.. just under the driver’s seat. I screamed “Maddox!” Grabbed him and yanked him out of the backseat.. flinging us both as far away from the Jeep as I could.. laying my entire body over his.
I saw Venom pulling into the parking lot.. just as the world exploded around me. Every inch of my body felt engulfed in flame.
I could feel blood weeping from my body.. I don’t believe there was anywhere that didn’t hurt. Venom had reached me… and gingerly rolled me over..
He was crying. My big bad biker wolf was crying “Stay with me baby. Look at me.. Focus on me. Please, baby. Stay awake.” I asked “Where’s Maddox? How bad?” He smiles through his tears “He’s fine, baby. A couple scratches.. but he’s good. You saved him, baby.”
I whispered “Need to see him. Let me see him.” He signaled to somebody and Maddox walked into my line of sight.. holding a towel to his shoulder. I reached my hand out to him.. and he reached for mine.. Last I remember…